Lauren stood and kissed Patricia’s cheek. “You do always know the right thing to say.” Maybe she was overthinking this. Tonight, she’d talk with Ainslon.
Lauren flitted around the kitchen, making sure everything was in order for dinner. She’d done a lot of thinking over the day and concluded there was only one way they would be able to see more of each other. Even if it was only at night and in the morning. Was it quick? Yes. Too soon? Maybe. Did she care? Nope. The box sitting on the table held a new origami piece and a key to her condo. She only hoped Ainslon said yes.
The business was doing well, and Lauren couldn’t be happier. Everything was clicking into place. Hopefully in a few hours she would have two new houseguests. Shady liked it here, so there shouldn’t be an issue.
Lauren arranged all the ingredients on the counter. Tonight, Lauren wanted to introduce Ainslon to more of the food she grew up with. Now seemed like as good a time as any and Ainslon could take the leftovers to Edna tomorrow.
At a quarter to seven, her doorbell rang. After a quick check in the hallway mirror, she opened the front door and ushered Ainslon in. “You look beautiful.”
“You always say that.”
“I must not tell lies.”
Lauren slipped her arms around Ainslon when she wound her arms around her neck. “God, you always feel divine.”
“And you always smell divine.”
A shiver ran down her arms when Ainslon kissed her neck. Before things could escalate, Lauren pulled back. “None of that right now.”
“Later?”
“You better believe it, but right now, we cook.”
“I’ve been waiting for this all day.”
“You’re not too tired?” Fatigue danced around Ainslon’s eyes, but Lauren would do whatever she needed.
Ainslon smoothed out the collar on Lauren’s shirt. “I am tired but being here with you is what I needed. It’s been a long week and Nana forbid me from seeing her tonight or tomorrow and maybe the next day and I’m okay with that. I love Nana and I don’t want to lose her, but it’s taken a toll on me. Is that bad?”
“Of course not. Edna loves you and doesn’t want you to wear yourself out and that’s what you’ve been doing. I didn’t want to say anything, because I didn’t think it was my place, but you look worn out.” Lauren held Ainslon tight when she lay her head on her chest.
“You should have. I would have listened. I love you and I want you to be concerned about me. I want to be with her every minute, and I can’t. Nana already said she doesn’t want us putting our life on hold for her. She and Shelly spend a lot of time together. They’re getting along well.”
“You don’t need to feel guilty. Since you have tonight and tomorrow off from Edna—”
“And work. Justin insisted.”
“And work. We are going to put off dinner for an hour, so we can run to your place so you can pack a bag and pick up Shady. I’ll have to go into work for an hour or two tomorrow, but when I get home, I’m all yours.”
“That sounds like heaven.”
Lauren cradled her cheek and kissed her. “I do aim to please.”
“Don’t I know it.”
Three hours later, Lauren lay back on the couch with Ainslon in her arms and Shady at her feet. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had so much fun cooking with someone, and they’d planned to cook together at least once a month.
There was another first she wanted to achieve tonight. The small box goaded her from where it sat on the coffee table. “So, I was thinking.” She tightened her arms around Ainslon.
“Oh, what about?” Ainslon ran her hands down Lauren’s thighs.
“Us.”
“Us?” Ainslon turned in Lauren’s embrace and lay atop her.
Lauren closed her eyes when Ainslon ran her fingers along her cheek.
“I’m waiting, sweetheart.”
Lauren opened her eyes and lost herself in the melting gaze of the woman above her. “I love you.”
“And I love you.”
Lauren would never grow tired of hearing those three words from Ainslon “Darling.” She placed a tender kiss on Ainslon’s lips. She didn’t want Ainslon to move in with her on a whim; she wanted her to move in because she loved her and was ready to take the next step.
“Sweetheart?”
“Sorry. As I was saying.” Lauren cradled Ainslon’s cheeks. “I love you and wanted to ask if you and Shady would move in with me?” Ainslon’s eyes widened. “No pressure. I know it’s soon and we have—” Lauren closed her eyes at the first touch of Ainslon’s lips. She would never get tired of that feeling. She laughed when Ainslon buried her head in her neck. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes. Of course we’ll move in with you.”
“No doubts? No hesitations?”
“Yes, I have doubts and hesitation, but I love you and life is short and we should grab it with both hands and never let go. I want this. I want you. Being with you is as easy as breathing.”
“We’re going to be great.”
“No. We’re going to be spectacular.”
10 months later
Ainslon stood by the front windows, admiring the inside of their finished building. It had taken longer than she expected for everything to be finished because of unforeseen problems, but everything had worked out. The whimsical decorations that Patricia and Edna had a hand in designing surrounded polished wood and steel beams. The bottom floor housed their children’s book section and the top floor was dedicated to comic books, toys, and games. Tonight was the grand opening and she couldn’t wait. They’d created quite a bit of buzz over the last few weeks about the opening and expected a full house. Lauren and Easton had donated the sweet treats for the event, and they were offering a wide array of beverages.
If someone had told her fifteen months ago that this would be her life, she would have laughed at them. So much had changed in such a short amount of time. Or, at least, it seemed like a short amount of time to her.
She fell in love, moved her business, moved in with said love, and buried her grandmother. Edna died peacefully at home two months after Ainslon moved in with Lauren. Per Edna’s instructions, she and Easton followed her funeral arrangements to the letter, even down to the balloons she wanted floating around the funeral home and the disco music she wanted playing. It was a grand party and Edna had gone out the way she wanted to. In style.
Ainslon didn’t want the house, so when Easton asked if she could move in, Ainslon had agreed. She took a few pieces of furniture from the house and they’d sold many more, but it felt right. It didn’t bother her as much as she’d expected, walking into the house where Edna had died. Easton had converted Edna’s bedroom into an office and liked to joke that Edna was always watching over her shoulder, making sure she didn’t slack off.
Ainslon glanced back to the corner of the room where they’d set up the reading nook. A picture of Edna hung on the wall as an homage to her. It was the least she could do for the woman who had given her everything and never asked for anything in return.
They’d also welcomed a new member into their ever-growing group. Carrie and Larry welcomed a healthy baby girl that Ainslon and Lauren had babysat a handful of times. Carrie’s mother still hadn’t come around, but she and Lauren made sure to include the young couple in their get-togethers.
She relaxed back against a warm body when two arms slipped around her waist.
“What are you thinking about, darling?”
“Everything.”
“Must be tiring.”
Ainslon chuckled and tilted her head back and kissed Lauren’s cheek. “Very tiring.”
“Maybe you should sit down.”
Ainslon rolled her eyes and wiggled out of Lauren’s embrace to face her. “I don’t need to rest. I’m okay.”
Lauren held her hands up in a sign of surrender.
Ainslon narrowed her eyes. Lauren had been a pain in her ass for the last month and she couldn’t see that changing a
nytime soon. “You hear me?”
“Yes, I hear you. I noticed you didn’t throw up this morning.”
“Nope. I think I’m over that bit for the moment.” She slid her arm down and slipped her hand into Lauren’s, bringing it around to rest on the small, barely visible bump. “We’re both fine. I promise.” A month after Edna died, the topic of children came up again. They both knew it was early in their relationship, but they also knew it was the right time, and they were ready. Ainslon had taken Lauren’s worries to heart and agreed the sooner the better. Lauren had even agreed to sell her condo, citing that she wanted her child to grow up with a backyard to play in. Ollie was currently trying to find them the perfect house.
Ainslon smiled when Lauren placed both hands on her stomach. “I worry and I’m trying not to go overboard. You two mean the world to me and I don’t know what I’d do if I lost either one of you.”
“You won’t, I promise. I’m okay.”
“I’m sorry. I just worry.” Lauren slipped her hands in the pocket of her pants. The tight pants that showed off Lauren’s ass to perfection. “Eyes up.”
“I can look.”
“Yes, you can,” Justin shouted from the left of them, where he was dusting the shelves for the third time. “But we don’t need to see you mooning over your wife.”
“Shut up.” She sank into Lauren’s arms. After they’d decided to have a baby, they’d also decided to marry. Not only for their peace of mind surrounding their relationship, but as extra protection for the baby. It would be easier for Lauren to adopt the baby if they were married. The ceremony was small, but perfect for both of their needs, with only a handful of family and close friends in attendance.
“You’re really up for tonight?”
“Yes. I promise.” She pulled away and headed toward the stairs. Before her foot could step up, Lauren spun her around and into her arms. “I promise. I’m fine.” She wound her arms around Lauren’s neck. Truth be told, Lauren’s protectiveness was nice, if not a little stifling, but she knew Lauren meant well. “If I need to sit down, I will. If I’m hungry, I’ll eat. I’m really good.”
“Okay. I promise to tone down my nagging.”
“I love you and love that you love us both so much.” Ainslon pecked her on the lips. “Do you ever think maybe we should have jumped into the shallow end instead of the deep end?” Ainslon pulled back enough to gauge Lauren’s reaction.
“Don’t be silly. The shallow end would have never worked for us. We’re ‘jump in with both feet and hope to hell everything works out’ people. Sure, we have on a life vest, but there’s still the thrill of the unknown. That’s us.”
“We’re pretty badass, aren’t we?”
“You better believe it. Our bean sprout will be as badass as us. Trust me. I know these things.”
“You’ve never steered us wrong before.”
“And I don’t intend to now. We’re like Starsky and Hutch. Laverne and Shirley. Lucy and Ethel.”
Ainslon stood on her tiptoes and stared into Lauren’s eyes. “How about in our story we be Ainslon and Lauren with an epilogue including a mini-me or two?”
“We’ll be a bestseller.”
“More importantly, we’ll be a first edition.”
Ainslon squealed when Lauren dipped her, then brought her up slowly. “Every chapter is a new adventure.”
“With chocolate and a little bit of luck.”
“No one can say you never planned your priorities correctly.”
“Your sass isn’t warranted.”
“You love my sass and my ass.”
“I do love your ass.” Ainslon reached behind Lauren and squeezed said ass.
“Now.” Lauren moved away and pointed upstairs. “I know you want to do a final walk through before it’s time to open. Go. I’ll stay down here and monitor things.”
“Not coming with me?”
“You’ve got it handled. Besides, I’ll be here when you get back. I’ll always be here.”
“And that’s why I’ll always come back, because I know you’ll be waiting.” At the top of the stairs, she looked back. Lauren had already moved to talk with Easton. This was her life. Her legacy and she would do whatever it took to make sure it lasted. Not only for her or even Lauren, but also for their little bean sprout.
Life did have a way of shaking things up. Thank God for an eight-year-old boy’s love of Mary Poppins. Though, she had a feeling they would have met one way or another. She had to believe it because any other outcome wouldn’t be acceptable. Lauren was worth it, and she always would be. She turned, but quickly swung her gaze back around and met Lauren’s mischievous smirk.
By this point in their love story, some would say they were at the end, but not her. No. Ainslon smiled back before turning and walking into the comic section.
No, this wasn’t the end. It was only chapter one.
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Born near Chicago, but raised in Southern Illinois, where she still lives, Shannon spends her free time writing. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys binge watching fantasy, science fiction, or true crime shows.
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Website: smhfiction.com
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Check out Shannon’s other books.
The Adearian Chronicles
- Book One - The Oath – ISBN – 978-1-943353-17-0
Ex-mercenary, Lanis Welsh, is finally at a place in her life where she is content with what and who she is; High Priestess Anya’s Protector and Lover. After an unexpected request, she has no choice but to leave Anya’s protection in the hands of someone else and travel back to the one place that holds nothing but bad memories. When she is manipulated into signing an oath she has no desire to fulfill, she questions the very truths she has built her life on. As strangers become friends and enemies become allies, Lanis must face the demons from her past. It doesn’t take her long to realize there is more going on than anyone could have ever foreseen and nothing and no one can be trusted.
Adearian Chronicles - Book 2 – Revelations
– ISBN - 978-1-943353-33-0
What would you do if you were faced with finding and saving the one person who held your heart, but you only had two weeks to do it?
When the unexpected happens and Lanis’s world is turned upside down, she and Elson have no choice but to align themselves with two people from a strange land. With new enemies at play, and a Goddess that seems to have forsaken them, Lanis relies on the only people she can; her friends. To fight the demons that plague her daily, she has to separate her love for Anya, from the task she must perform. On top of the unknowns, she is gifted with a small black book that changes the way she sees everything and everyone around her. As her world starts to crumble, Lanis must face her fears and the nightmares that invade her dreams. With the hours ticking away, she must come to terms with the fact that she might already be too late.
The DragonWitch Tales: An Unexpected Beginning
– ISBN – 978-1-943353-43-9
Death ignited her powers. Love binds them.
Paisley’s normal, boring life is shattered one evening when a strange, but sexy woman appears out of thin air in her living room and claims Paisley as her wife. Things spiral out of control when Paisley is informed by her mother that she is a witch that comes from a long line of witches, that other realms exist, and that the strange woman really is her wife.
As her choices slip from her grasp, Paisley must learn to navigate her new life, a new world, and a new wife. As if that wasn’t enough, Paisley must deal with a growing attraction for a new woman in her life.
Throw in a dragon egg, an angry queen, a traitor, and Paisley realizes she’s going to have to learn to watch every move she makes.
As the push and pull between two women and her powers reach a standoff, Paisley makes a choice that will change the course of her life and the future of the world she calls home even if that means destroying her own happiness in the process.
The Details in the Design
– ISBN – 978-1-943353-79-8
Every stitch tells a story.
Avery Michaels has longed to work in the fashion industry since she was six years old. Now at thirty-two she’s fed up with her job as a food critic and signs up with an employment agency that promises to find anyone their dream job.
She is thrilled when she gets an interview with the fashion house of her choice, Catherine Davenport Designs. There’s only one problem. For the past six years, Avery has had a massive crush on Catherine, one of the hottest fashion designers of the past two decades.
In the midst of a new job, nosey friends, Catherine’s meddling daughters, difficult co-workers, and a dachshund named Polly, Avery also has to contend with a new woman that enters Catherine’s life.
From the start, Avery knows winning Catherine’s heart will be no easy feat. When curve ball after curve ball is thrown her way, does she scrap her design or make it work?
Add Romance and Mix
First Edition Romance Page 23