Unexpected Arrivals

by Stacy Eaton

  There was a very nice-sized bathroom and a large laundry area on that side, and then we crossed back past the stairs and went into the master bedroom. “Holy cow, this is huge!”

  Trevor glanced at me and smiled. “It is.” There were four windows in the room, along with a sliding door that led out to a small balcony that faced out back. The backyard was fenced in, and there were young trees that would someday fill the backyard with tons of summer shade.

  Trevor disappeared into the bathroom. “Wow.”

  I followed him in and found him staring at the shower. “Is there a door or curtain?”

  “No,” Margo said with a chuckle. “It’s the new trend. Open and inviting.”

  Trevor glanced back at me, and I saw an invitation in his eyes that he quickly tried to hide. I had to admit that I liked the idea; shower sex was fun. You could be as dirty as you wanted and still keep it clean. Images of whipped cream came back to mind.

  Before my head could get any further into the gutter, I spun around and left the room. I could instantly imagine how I would decorate the bedroom, not that I would ever have the chance.

  We headed downstairs and found the dining room and kitchen. I stood with my mouth open staring at the amount of space it had. Trevor walked by, pausing beside me to put his fingers under my chin and push up.

  “You’re drooling again.” He chuckled as he walked away.

  “Dude, this is seriously worth drooling over. Holy cow! I’ve never seen a kitchen this beautiful before,” I replied to him, and he glanced over his shoulder with a smirk.

  “You like it?”

  “Like it? Um, no, I freaking love it.”

  He went into the family room and toward the back door. I let him check those out because I was entirely in awe of everything the kitchen had. Two sinks, a six-burner stove, and an industrial fridge, not to mention all the counter space and beautiful bright wood cabinets. I think I just found my dream kitchen.

  Trevor and Margo came back a few minutes later, and Trevor looked around the kitchen more carefully, opening cabinets, the pantry, and a few drawers. There was no emotion on his face, and I was dying to know what he thought of the place.

  They went toward a small hallway, and Trevor and Margo began to speak with the man who had answered the door. I guess that was the back office.

  “There is another suite through that door,” he said, and Trevor turned to look behind him.

  “In here? There are two master suites?”

  “That is more of a small in-law suite. My wife’s parents lived with us for a while.”

  Trevor opened the door and stepped in. I quickly followed as curiosity got the better of me, and I smiled at the man as I passed the office door. One wall that I could see was lined with bookcases, and behind him was a wall of windows. Wow, I’d die for an office like that.

  I stepped through the other door and found myself in a small apartment-like area. There was a sitting area, a tiny kitchenette, and then two doors. One looked to be to a bathroom, the other I could see a bed through the doorway.

  I could hear Trevor and Margo speaking softly, and after peeking into the rooms, I made my way back to the kitchen that I had fallen in love with. Trevor’s voice grew louder, and I heard him talking to the man again. I was shocked when I heard him make an offer. An offer that I could never in my wildest dreams have imagined paying for a house.

  How did he have that kind of money? Why was he living in a one-bedroom apartment if he did have that kind of money? I was flabbergasted as I waited in the kitchen.

  A few moments later, the three of them came into the kitchen talking details, and I stared at them all. Trevor was going to buy the first house he looked at?

  For a few minutes, they conversed, and I found my head spinning as they went through a tirade of details. I was a really intelligent person, but I was overwhelmed by what was happening.

  After they finished, Trevor and the man shook hands, and we left. I stood beside Trevor as he said goodbye to Margo, and then he walked me to the passenger door of his truck.

  “How can you buy the first house you look at, Trevor? Don’t you want to see more?”

  He gave me a lopsided smile, leaning down into my face. I was too surprised by what had happened to say anything as he leaned forward and placed a tender kiss on my lips before he replied softly, “Instinct, Davina, raw, primal, gut instinct.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Trevor

  When we arrived at the house, I grew quieter than normal. It wasn’t that I had nothing to say; it was because I needed to let myself go and see how I felt about it. Before now, I hadn’t known anything about this property. The other houses I’d seen pictures of, and none of them had done the whole knocking on my head with a ‘this is it’ kind of vibe.

  This one wasn’t just knocking; it was banging with a two-by-four. I stepped into the house, and the first thing I could picture was what I would need to do to block off the stairs to protect Devon. Then as I climbed the stairs and looked at the bedrooms, I could instantly picture one of them as a nursey that would one day have the walls covered with posters and whatnots.

  But it was in the master bedroom where things started to fall into place. The large king-sized bed called to me, but not alone. No, it screamed for two. I went into the bathroom, and my gaze zeroed in on the shower. All kinds of incredible fantasies were flashing through my mind, but I sure as hell wasn’t alone in there. No, Davina was in those with me.

  One look at her, and I knew that I wasn’t the only one picturing something happening there. She bolted from the room as quickly as she could, and I followed her out a moment later.

  When we hit the kitchen, I stepped around her, noting the amazed expression on her face, and when she said she loved the place, I already knew what I was going to do. After checking the backyard and the other rooms, and then sticking my head into the office, I was sold on the place.

  The added benefit of the in-law suite was perfect. A live-in nanny could have her own place right here away from my living quarters. Or better yet, I might be able to talk Davina into moving in with me and living here. She could have the office too.

  Martin Brooks was surprised that I wanted to put an offer down, and when I told him I would pay full price for it and give him seventy-five thousand down in cash, he was on his feet and putting his hand out to shake on it. Margo was rather shocked, and I’m sure she thought I was eccentric to make such a decision that quickly, but I knew. I just knew.

  I also noticed the shocked look on Davina’s face, but I’d have time to talk to her about it later.

  As I walked Davina back to the truck, I felt like I was walking on air.

  “How can you buy the first house you look at, Trevor? Don’t you want to see more?”

  I felt so good that I leaned down and kissed her and didn’t give a rat’s ass if she cared. “Instinct, Davina, raw, primal, gut instinct.”

  I pushed her to get into the truck and then climbed in beside her. “If it’s alright, I’m going to drop you off at your place before I go fill out all the paperwork. I know that won’t be very fun for you to sit through.”

  “That’s fine,” she said softly and then turned to me. “I thought you wanted my opinion?”

  I put the truck back into park and shifted so I could see her better. “I did.”

  “But I didn’t give you an opinion.”

  I grinned at her. “Yes, you did.”

  “I did not.”

  I laughed. “Your expressions were enough for me to know what you thought, but do you want to give me a vocal one?”

  “I think you are crazy to go off some gut instinct that says this is the house for you. It’s the first one you looked at.”

  “And it has everything and more that I wanted. It’s the perfect house to raise Devon in.”

  “But you don’t know anything about the neighborhood, the schools.”

  I chuckled. “Actually, I do. I grew up a few streets over in the older
side of the development. Devon will attend the same schools that I did.”

  “You grew up here?”

  “Yes. Anything else?”

  “Why do you want something so large?”

  “Because I can afford it.”

  “How can you afford a place like that? I heard the numbers you were throwing around in there. I know you can’t make that much doing the job that you do.”

  I reached over the console and took her hand. “I appreciate the fact that you are concerned, but I can afford it.”

  “How?” She pulled her hand back and held it up. “Wait, that is none of my business.”

  “Are you asking as a friend?”

  “What? Yes, of course, I’m asking as a friend.”

  I grinned at her. “Remember that I went into the military right out of high school. I lived in barracks most of my time. When I wasn’t in barracks, I was sharing a place with buddies, or I crashed at my parents’. I didn’t have my own apartment until I retired, and when I did, I wasn’t ready for a house and all that went with it. I wanted to live someplace where I didn’t have to worry about being gone or about the lawn care and trash. So for all those years, the majority of my paychecks have gone straight into the bank, and I have invested well.”

  She stared at me, seemingly amazed.

  “Is that so hard to believe?”

  She shook her head slowly.

  “Any other questions?” Her head went back and forth faster. “Okay, then I’ll drop you off at home and then meet with Margo to do the paperwork.” Davina turned to look out the window, slightly in awe.

  “Can I come over and cook in your kitchen once in a while?”

  “You can do it more often than that.”

  I saw her turn to look at me and kept my eyes on the road in front of me as I drove away.

  “What are you saying?”

  “I’m saying, Davina, that you can move into the house with me if you’d like. That in-law suite would be perfect for you. You’d have your privacy, and you could have full use of the house, plus have the office across the hall for yourself. Then you’d be able to see Devon whenever you wanted.”

  “You’re asking me to move in with you? Are you freaking crazy, Trevor?”

  I stopped at a stop sign and turned slowly toward her. “Do I look crazy?” She just stared at me, her whiskey eyes wide. “I wasn’t going to mention it yet, but you brought it up.”

  “I asked if I could use your kitchen a couple of times, not move in with you.”

  “We’d be roommates, Davina. You know, friends that share a space. You are right, it’s a large house, and I don’t need all that space, but if you moved in with us, it would work great.”

  “I figured that is where you’d put your nanny,” she said softly.

  “If you moved in with us, I wouldn’t need one.”

  “Devon, I work.”

  “Yes, I know that. We could get a day sitter, or maybe a part-time nanny, but if you were living there, it would be great for all of us.”

  “How is it great for all of us?”

  “Well, Devon would have us both, and you could save money and enjoy that kitchen.”

  A strangled laugh left her lips. “You have lost your mind. You think I would move in with you, take care of your son, and not pay you anything for room and board?”

  “Davina, I already told you that I don’t need your money, and I’m not asking you to take care of Devon by yourself. I’m just asking for your help. I trust you, and I’m not sure how comfortable I would be with a stranger staying in my house alone with him for a couple of weeks or a month while I traveled.”

  “Trevor, you don’t even know me.”

  “I know enough.”

  “How? How do you know enough?” she snapped.

  “Instinct, Davina.”

  “You and your damn instinct. Jesus, Trevor. Has your instinct ever been wrong before?”

  “Nope.”

  “Well, there is a first time for everything.”

  “Are you telling me that you’re not a good person? Is there something that I don’t know about you, Davina?”

  “No, that’s not what I’m saying. What I’m saying is that you can’t rely on your instincts all the time. That doesn’t make sense.”

  “Do you know how many times I almost died because I didn’t follow my instincts? A lot. Do you know what saved my ass?” I turned to her. “Going back to listening to my instincts. Haven’t you ever thought about doing something, and some inner voice or feeling made you stop, and you later learned that you were glad that you did because something bad happened?”

  She frowned as she glanced out the windshield.

  “That’s what I’m talking about. I have learned to listen to that internal whisper. That moment when something doesn’t seem right, when the hair on the back of my neck twitches.”

  “But we aren’t talking about a life or death situation, Trevor. We are talking about a house and me moving in with you.”

  I sighed. “I’m sorry I said anything. Forget I mentioned it.”

  “Just like that? You want me to forget you asked me to move in with you just like that?”

  “Again, I asked you to be my roommate, not move in with me. But hey, if you want to consider doing that, I’d love nothing more than to have you in my bed or in that shower.”

  “Oh, my god,” she muttered, and I could imagine her rolling her eyes.

  I let it go. I had a feeling that if I pushed it, she would get more flustered than she already was, and I didn’t want to piss her off. A few minutes later, I parked in the lot of her apartment.

  “I appreciate you going with me today.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Are you still up for being my plus one on Saturday?”

  She turned to me, and her brow creased. “Did you not want me to go? If you don’t, just tell me, Trevor.”

  I heaved a sigh and then turned off the truck and climbed out. When I got to the other side, Davina was scrambling out of the truck, and a gust of wind pulled her wild hair from its messy bun, flailing around her like a mini medusa.

  I went right up to her and took her by the face. “Yes, Davina, I do want you to go with me.”

  “You do?”

  My gaze dropped to her mouth and bounced back up. “Yes, I do,” I said softer. “I really do want you to come as my date.”

  “I thought I was just your plus one?”

  I leaned down and touched my mouth to hers, taking a moment to swipe my tongue over her lips before she immediately opened to me. The kiss was sweet and lasted only a few seconds. When I pulled back, I stared down at her. “You will always be more to me than a plus one, Davina.”

  Her whiskey eyes popped wide. “Oh!”

  “You’ll attend with me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Alright, I’ll see you on Saturday, then. I’ll pick you up around one or so; will that be alright?”

  She nodded, still looking a little surprised at what I’d said.

  “Goodbye, Davina.”

  “Bye,” she whispered and began to walk backward, which was a bad idea because the curb was right behind her. I snagged her arm before she could trip over it.

  “Curb.”

  She looked down, her cheeks growing pinkish. “Whoops, yeah, sorry.”

  She quickly turned away and hustled to the building, pausing at the door to glance back at me. I waved, and she waved back before disappearing inside.

  I released the air I’d been holding for a few seconds and climbed back into my truck. It had been too soon to ask her to move in with me. Yeah, the suggestion to be a roommate was a good one, and I’d hoped that maybe if she did, she’d eventually become more, but obviously it had freaked her out. Looked like I was back to interviewing nannies come Monday.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Davina

  How could the man just buy the first house he saw? More importantly, how could he possibly think I would want to move in
with him?

  Wait—he said be his roommate, not move in with him. But wouldn’t it be the same? I mean, yeah, I would have my own bedroom and small living space, but we’d still be under the same roof. That’s living together, right? Or was it?

  I’d never lived with a man before. In fact, Carol was the only other person I’d ever lived with besides my parents and one college roommate for a single semester. Carol and I had been roommates, and it had worked out great, but we were best friends. What if I did move in there, and then Trevor brought home one of his women? Or better yet, I brought home a man.

  I frowned as I stared at the ceiling of my bedroom, trying to quiet my mind to sleep. I couldn’t imagine bringing home a man when I lived with a different one, even if we did have separate bedrooms. What the hell was I even thinking? When was the last time I had ever brought a man home? God, it had to be years now.

  I rolled to my side, adjusting my pillow, and sighed. The man confused me, from his one moment saying he wanted me to be his roommate, to the next kissing me and telling me I was more than just a plus one to him. What did that even mean? Was it because of Devon? Was he saying that I was a little more important to him because of my connection to Carol and Devon?

  I was frustrated as I closed my eyes and tried to fall asleep.

  I woke up the next morning grumpy as all get out. It had taken hours to fall asleep, and then I’d had several dreams that had woken me. One was of my cooking in that kitchen, Devon as a toddler racing around the island with a toy in his hand, giggling and grinning up at me as he played. The other was of being in that master bedroom shower, only in that one, I hadn’t been alone.

  I’d been standing under the spray of the water, and warm hands were caressing my body. Soap bubbles covered my skin, and a warm mouth spread kisses over my neck and shoulder as two fingers pinched one of my nipples. I’d gasped and sat straight up in bed. I hadn’t seen the face of the man, but I had little doubt who it had been. I’d tried to go back to sleep after that, but my body was begging for a sexual release.