Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 94313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 472(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 472(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
“All my stuff is still in the car,” she murmured, gripping my neck with both arms.
“I’ll grab it later,” I huffed, readjusting my grip so I could unlock the back door.
“You could put me down,” she said reasonably as I stepped inside the back door.
“It gets muddy through there,” I replied, setting her gently on her feet. “I’ll get some gravel set down so you’re not dealin’ with puddles.”
“I think I can manage some puddles,” she argued, a smile playing on her lips. She turned toward the table and paused.
Fuck.
I’d been so stoked about the garage door opener that I hadn’t even thought about what I’d gotten her for our wedding. I hadn’t even known that I was supposed to get her a present until my mom informed me the night before. I’d wrapped it up in blue paper and left a vase of flowers next to it—which now seemed fucking stupid because she’d been carrying a bouquet twice that size all fucking day.
“For me?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder at me.
“If I’d known what you were gettin’ for me—” I started apologetically, following her. I seriously debated throwing the gift out the window before she could reach it. Goddamn it, I was such a fucking moron. “I woulda got you somethin’ nicer.”
“I’ll love it,” she assured me, reaching for the package. “I love the flowers.”
It took everything inside me to keep from snatching the gift out of her hands as she unwrapped it and when she was finally holding it in her hands, completely still, my stomach churned with regret.
“So you don’t slip on the stairs when you’re wearin’ those tights you like,” I explained quickly. “And they’ll keep your feet warm, too, obviously.”
She still didn’t look up.
“I’ll get you somethin’ better,” I said finally, reaching for the slippers.
“You got me slippers,” she said thickly, jerking them toward her so I couldn’t reach. “So I wouldn’t slip on the stairs?”
I rubbed the back of my neck in embarrassment. “Well, when I was showin’ you the house, your foot slipped on the top stair and—”
“I love them,” she murmured, her eyes glassy.
Chapter 13
Esther
I loved the slippers.
They weren’t expensive. I could tell from the tag that he’d bought them at a local big box store. They weren’t even that pretty. I ran my fingers over the sheepskin along the edge. They were soft, though, and they’d definitely be warm.
“You don’t have to say that,” Otto murmured with a huff. “I’m sorry. I feel like an asshole. You got me a whole electric garage door opener, and I bought you fuckin’ slippers? Jesus.”
“It was thoughtful,” I argued, kicking off my shoes.
“I’m an asshole,” he replied under his breath.
“Why?” I dropped the slippers to the floor and slid my feet into them. They fit a bit roomy, but I would bite off my own tongue before I said so. “I got you a gift I thought you’d like and you got me a gift you thought I’d like.”
“Those are not equal gifts,” he blurted, crossing his arms over his chest.
I couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled to the surface. “You’re right,” I said, trying to control my smile. “Considering I used your money to buy your gift.”
He waved off my logic. “That doesn’t matter.”
“I love my present,” I replied with absolute honesty.
He’d bought me something that he knew I needed because he wanted me to be warm and safe. As I’d watched the emotions flash across his face—panic, embarrassment, shame—I’d braced myself for some horrendous gift that I’d have to pretend to be thankful for.
But I didn’t have to pretend. No matter what Otto believed, I thought the slippers were uncharacteristically sweet coming from him.
Getting to know Otto as we lounged around on his parents’ couch and visited with his family and went out to eat, I’d come to realize that he was protective. Smart. Kinder than people realized. Impatient and Funny. But I wouldn’t have described him as sweet until I’d opened those slippers.
“Will you cut the tags off?” I asked, wiggling my feet.
He dropped to one knee and snipped the tags quickly with his pocket knife. “I’m gettin’ you somethin’ better,” he grumbled as he stood back up and tossed the tags on the counter.
“They feel really good on my feet,” I countered, grinning.
He stared, disbelief all over his face, but I didn’t stop smiling until he chuckled a little under his breath.
“I tell you that you looked beautiful today?” he said, leaning against the counter.
“You may have said something like that,” I mused.
“Good.”
The house was silent around us.
“We’re married now.”
“We are,” I murmured.
“You know what that means.”
“What?” I asked innocently. The look in his eyes made my skin break out in goosebumps.
“No more keepin’ my hands to myself.”
“Oh that.” I waved my hand nonchalantly.
“Yeah, that.” He laughed, moving forward.
I had time to inhale one deep breath before his hand was in my hair and the other was sliding down my back and curving around my butt. As I tilted my head back to look at him all of the tension in my body melted away.