Page 45 of Searching for Bristol
“My given name is Bristol,” she told him with a smile, being silly.
He returned it. “Right.”
She got serious. “A part of me wants to know what the catch is with you,” she told him honestly. “You’re gorgeous, you save lost hikers, you were a SEAL, you stayed with me at the hospital in Roanoke then let me bunk with you, without seeming to want anything in return. Now you didn’t even blink at learning that I’m rich, and you’re even talking about making another trip here for my crap and finding a place for me to make my stained glass. Oh, and you kiss better than anyone I’ve ever been with. I just…keep waiting for the other shoe to fall. You know, for you to tell me you’re married, or that you want me to be a sister wife, or that you’re a leader of some sadistic cult and you’re simply grooming me to be your latest sacrifice to the devil or something.”
Rocky didn’t even crack a smile. “I could say the same thing about you,” he countered. “You’re tough as nails, you’re talented, gorgeous, don’t need or want me for my money—which is a good thing, because I’m never going to be rich. You seem to love the small town I live in, you make friends wherever you go, and you eat my cooking without making even one face. I keep waiting to see what flaws you might have. Like you smack your lips when you eat—which you don’t—or you leave your hair all over the bathroom—which you also don’t—or that you’re really a sadist and you’re looking for a new masochist to beat on.”
Bristol laughed.
“I’m just a man,” Rocky told her. “I have my faults, but treating women like shit isn’t one of them. I can’t promise to never piss you off, and I’m sure you’ll irritate me at some point, but I’d like to think we can talk about what’s bothering us and work things out. It’s obvious you need your art, and I’d be stupid to not do everything in my power to keep you happy. Especially considering I’m hoping this works out long-term.
“I’m willing to compromise on a lot of things, but Iwouldlike to stay in Fallport. It’s not a deal breaker. I could move to Kingsport, since contractors can find work anywhere. But I love my job with Eagle Point Search and Rescue and it would suck to leave my friends. So going out of my way to try to make you comfortable and happy in Fallport is all a part of me hoping to convince you that one day, you might be able to make a life there with me.”
“Rocky,” she whispered, completely overwhelmed. He was just as blunt as she was. She’d never wonder where he stood on a topic. But no one had ever gone out of their way to see to her needs the way he was doing.
“No pressure,” he said, kissing her forehead. “Who knows what the future will hold. This intense connection might fizzle out…but I hope whatever happens, we can always be friends.”
Bristol nodded. She had no idea if that was possible—the fire between them burning outorthem being just friends—but Rocky being so damn reasonable was a relief. And a turn-on. “I want to do something for you too,” she said. “I’m not comfortable being the one who receives everything and gives nothing.”
At that, Rocky burst out laughing. And while slightly irritated that he seemed to be laughingather, she still couldn’t help but feel tingly at the sound.
“I’m not laughing atyou,” he said, reading her mind. “But at the idea that you think you’re not giving me anything.”
“I’m not. You’ve done everything! Bought food, carried me around, arranged for people to come over and keep me company when you’re working. You fix my meals, wash my clothes, clean the apartment. I’m not doing anything but sitting around.”
“Wrong,” he said, all humor now gone from his tone. “You’ve given me more than I could ever explain. Before I met you, my life was boring, and so lonely. I’d work for way too long, come home, eat, sleep. That’s it. There was some unfortunate excitement recently with both Lilly and Elsie, but generally, when my apartment door closes behind me, my life is gray.
“Then you arrived…and suddenly there’s color in my life again. I’ve laughed more in the last couple weeks than I can remember laughing in the last year. I look forward to coming home at the end of the day, which was never the case. I used to work well into the evening simply because I didn’t want to come back to an empty apartment. I know my cooking isn’t exactly gourmet, but it’s been fun coming up with different meals for us. You’ve brought morelifeto my life than anyone has before…if that makes sense. So you can stop thinking you aren’t bringing anything to this relationship.”
His words made her feel good—and sad at the same time. She hated thinking about him living a gray life.
“Right, so, we’ve had a heavy morning. We had our first kiss—which knocked my socks off, by the way—we agreed we’re now exclusively dating, I found out my girlfriend is loaded, and we have a lot of packing to do. You ready to get to it so we can head back to Fallport before it gets too late? Or do you want to stay the night here? We can do that too. And since you have five bedrooms, I’m hoping I can bunk down in one of them. I know I said I’d find a hotel, but seeing this house? I’m not sure I’m comfortable leaving you alone here.”
Bristol rolled her eyes. “I lived alone before I met you.”
“I know. But now youhavemet me, and that’s not happening.”
Bristol frowned. “You don’t think I can take care of myself?”
“I know you can,” he retorted. “But all I can think of is how many windows and doors there are in this place. And how easy it would be for someone to get in and hurt you. At least in my apartment, there’s really only one way in and out…unless someone is Spider-Man and can climb the wall to the second floor. Even then, I’d hear them before they got through the window.”
Great, now she was going to be hearing prowlers with every creak of her house. “I’m not going to take all day to pack. We can be on the road before it gets dark,” she told him.
“I’m not trying to be an overbearing dick,” Rocky said, palming the side of her face. “I just don’t want to lose you, now that I’ve finally found you.”
“You aren’t going to lose me. But you have to keep in mind that I’ve lived on my own for a long time now. Don’t smother me, Rocky. I’d hate that.”
He didn’t blow off her concern, but nodded instead. “I’ll do my best. Feel free to let me know when I’m getting overprotective.”
“I will,” she said.
“Good. Now, how about you give me a tour of this amazing house and we’ll get to work?”
Bristol smiled at him and leaned forward, kissing his lips briefly before pulling back. She saw desire flare in his eyes, but liked how he was able to control himself. Some men, now that they’d established they wanted each other, would quickly push for more. But not Rocky.
He stood with her in his arms, as if she weighed nothing more than a child, and said, “All right, woman, show me your home.”
* * *
