Happily Ever Laughter: older man, quirky younger woman romance (HEA Book 3) Read online

  I hurry around to her side of the van to help her out, and hold her hand as we go to the front door. Handing her a key, I kiss the top of her head. “Nothing is definite. But just in case, would you please do the honors?”

  Although she looks very confused, she takes the key and lets us in.

  The main floor is even more dramatic than the photos had led me to believe. Tall, coffered ceilings, beautiful finishes, and only a bit of dust from where the construction team is still finishing up. Their tools are still piled in the corner, and cans of varnish for the insides of the giant window frames are piled neatly.

  Taking her hand, we stroll through the huge kitchen, where I picture us having breakfast with our kids someday. From the strange smile on her pretty little face, I can tell she’s thinking exactly the same thing.

  “We’ve never talked about buying a house someday,” I said slowly. “And I know we’ve only been together six months, but everything is going really well, right?”

  Those big blue eyes shine up with me. “Yes. Absolutely.”

  My hand caresses her arm as I unlock the huge French doors that lead out of the kitchen and into the garden. “I’m thinking if we have the play area right in front of the doors in the kitchen window, we can keep an eye on the kids while we’re making dinner.”

  Those beautiful lips fall open. “You’ve thought about us having kids?”

  “Of course. But I don’t want us to be overwhelmed. I’m thinking one, maybe two tops. How do you feel about that?”

  Tanis nods eagerly. “That’s exactly what I’ve always thought. Have one, and if all goes well, have a second two or three years later.”

  We wander through the first floor, then go up to the second floor. There are three small bedrooms that could be for kids, a playroom, a home office. The primary bedroom has a large window with a built-in padded bench where Tanis can curl up and read.

  “I can already picture you here on Sunday mornings, reading your book of the week,” I say softly, stroking my palm down her silky hair.

  “Me too. Are you thinking of buying this place? Is there room for you to have a music studio in the basement?”

  “Yes, but hold that thought.”

  We walk up to the third floor, which is one giant loft-like space. Huge windows at both ends and exposed wooden beams give it an almost industrial feeling.

  “Wow, this is even nicer than the space you have now,” Tanis laughs.

  “That’s the idea. Upgrading all aspects of our lives. I’m thinking that all of my music and studio equipment can go in the basement,” I say, as I study the space. “I can sound proof it so that I don’t disturb you. And someday, the kids.”

  “Or just one kid,” she laughs, holding up a finger.

  “Yes. Of course.” I gesture to the east end of the space. “We can set you up with a video production studio here. If your desk and computers are at this end, and any larger cameras and lighting are at the other end, you’ll still have plenty of space.”

  “And what will I be shooting that I would possibly require this much real estate?” she asks with a smirk, her eyebrow raising up with that saucy tilt.

  Tanis has been building her portfolio for the past several months, doing plenty of jobs for Gretchen, MicroCity TV, and a few other freelance gigs.

  Her lyrical style and simple but elegant animations have been catching everyone’s eye, and last week she signed a contract to do a video for a local indie music band.

  It was the first project that she got on her own without any of my connections. When she told me about it, she had been so excited that she couldn’t even speak, finally having to pull up the email on her phone and shake it in my face.

  I recall hugging her so hard I was worried I’d actually hurt her.

  “Seriously, I really appreciate you thinking of all of this,” Tanis says, as I recognize the look of worry creeping through her eyes as tension tightens her forehead. “But my tiny fledgling career really doesn’t require this much space yet.”

  “You’ve heard of how a turtle grows to the size of its enclosure?” I chuckle. “We’re using that line of thinking. Once we have the space, the bigger jobs will come. Right?”

  Her lips press together in a straight line. “If we’re talking about buying some supplies, or taking a course, I’m with you a hundred percent. But this is a house. How on earth can we afford it?”

  Taking her hand, we walk back downstairs and out into the garden. Since the house is empty, the benches out back are the only place to sit. Once we’re surrounded by the few small trees that have been planted so far, I turn to clasp both of her hands.

  “What if we actually can afford this house?”

  She rolls her eyes. “Unless you haven’t told me that your middle name is Rockefeller or Murdoch or something, I know you have to be kidding.”

  “There are actually three expenses, and four reasons why we can afford everything.”

  We’ve played so many brain teasers and puzzle games together that I can see in her eyes she thinks this is some sort of mental exercise. I sort of love that she isn’t taking me seriously in the slightest.

  “Okay then. Sure. What are the expenses?”

  “I can’t be driving Dan’s van around if I’m going to be taken seriously as a top level music producer. I need something small and sleek. And you’ll need the same to get to work. So the house, plus two small cars.”

  Damn, I love the way her eyes sparkle and the way she grins at that beautiful, magical point where she’s fighting to hold back her laughter and is about to lose the battle. “No problem. Two cars and the house all at once. That’s the goal. How do we get there?”

  “Oh, the cars are easy. We lease them for a while until we’re positive we know what we want, then we buy something.”

  “With what money?”

  “With the money we’re getting paid for our next freelance job together.”

  Pulling my phone from my pocket, I show her the email from MicroCity TV.

  Tanis reads the name of the project as if she honestly thinks it’s a joke. “Tiny Pet Possibilities?”

  “Apparently it’s a joint venture with the station and a pet supply company. Fun little features on apartment and condo friendly pets. Or easy to care for pets, for seniors who live alone.”

  “Oh, that’s so sweet.”

  “I’ll be doing the music and you’ll be doing the video, of course. But you’ll also need to shoot some straight, regular video of the pets. They’ll have handlers to control them, and make them run around however you need them to. All you have to do is shoot a bunch of footage.”

  Her eyes widen, then grow even bigger as I point to the number at the bottom of the email.

  “That will pay for our new cars for at least three years, I think,” I say with a chuckle. “It’s a rush job, so there’s a bonus.”

  “Wow,” she breathes, shaking her head. “That’s crazy. And it sounds like a blast.”

  “Especially since they’re timing it so the entire thing will be shot in two weeks,” I explain. “A fun job that’s the length of a vacation, so I assume we say yes?”

  “Yes. Absolutely.” She squeals and claps her hands together. “Well, that’s the cars sorted. I’m rather impressed.”

  Tanis shifts away slightly so that she can turn to face me, crossing her legs. “But I don’t think you could possibly have a trick like that for paying for such a huge house.”

  “I actually do.”

  Studying her beautiful face, I still can’t believe this incredible woman is all mine. My heart is so full it’s actually hard to concentrate on the important points I need to get across before I become too emotional.

  “Because I’ve been living with the guys for so long, my expenses have been pretty minimal. I’ve been saving for years, so I can easily drop a fifty percent down payment on this house. It’s listed a bit low because the original owners suddenly had to move across the country before it was done.”

  He
r mouth falls open as she freezes, not making a sound.

  “Now, I thought this house was perfect because of the loft space,” I say quickly, “but we can look around at other houses as much as you like. It doesn’t have to be this one.”

  “I love this one. It’s perfect. I just…really? We can buy it right now?”

  “Yes, but it’s totally up to you.”

  “Yes!” She cries enthusiastically. “But wait. How are we going to make mortgage payments and buy furniture if we’re living gig to gig? I’m fine keeping my day job and working nights and weekends on video projects, but I don’t know if that will be enough.”

  My thumbs are trembling as I scroll to another email, holding out my phone. Her face blanches, then melts into a manic grin. “Music Director at MicroCity TV? Starting in a month? That’s…” She doesn’t finish, bowling me over in a hug so huge I have to grip the bench with one hand to hold on.

  “Hold up there firecracker,” I laugh, taking my phone back to check the time. It’s just past noon. “Check your email, too.”

  Tanis looks at me suspiciously as she digs in her purse, pulling out her phone and scrolling through emails. I can see the instant her eyes land on the right message.

  She opens it, then her left hand claps over her mouth as she begins to shake. “Vi-visual Director? Me? Visual Director at MicroCity TV?”

  “Yes. They love the way we work together, and they think it is great for their image if the creative department is run by a husband and wife team.”

  Slipping off the bench, I drop to one knee as I dig in my pocket. Holding up a tiny black box, I see that her hands are shaking badly. Grabbing her phone from her, I drop it into her purse so that she doesn’t smash it.

  “I know it’s too soon, but we’re on our own timeline, baby. We fell in love in a week. We knew we were absolutely forever just eleven days after we met. I knew from the second we first kissed you’re the only woman I’ll ever have this connection with. I want to spend my entire life making you happy. Making art with you. Making dinner and having adventures and creating our own special world together.”

  Opening the box, her eyes land on the simple but elegant diamond solitaire.

  “Tanis, will you marry me?”

  She stares at me in shock. Her eyes fall to the ring, then snap back to mine. For a few seconds, I’m not even sure if she’s breathing. I give her hand a tiny shake. “Tanis? Earth to Tanis?”

  Her hair gleams in the sun as her head falls back, and she roars with laughter.

  It’s not the reaction I was expecting. I was prepared for tears, disbelief, and probably a huge wave of nervousness.

  Not my gorgeous girlfriend laughing her head off right in my face.

  “I’m sorry,” she sputters, gripping my hand tightly. “I just…it’s only been six months. But you’re right, it’s just…perfect. Too perfect. Almost ridiculous.”

  “Okay,” I chuckle, getting caught up in her hysteria. “But I still need an answer, baby.”

  “Oh my God, yes!” Her peals of laughter ring through the entire backyard. “Yes to everything. To the new jobs, to the house, and yes – I would love to be your wife.”

  Time slows down as I take the ring from the box and slip it onto her finger. Her hand in mine. A circle of metal and ancient stone. The feeling of possession as I realize that she is truly mine now.

  “It’s beautiful,” she whispers softly, brushing a tear from her eye. Whether she’s over emotional, or crying from laughing too hard, I don’t even care.

  Tanis leans in to kiss me softly, then pulls me back onto the bench so we can snuggle together. “I can’t wait to be your wife,” she grins, as we both stare down at the bright white stone on her hand.

  “I can’t wait to be your husband.”

  “A husband and wife team. Both at work and here at our new home.” She turns behind us to stare at the house. “This is wild. Seriously, I can barely take it all in.”

  “Just one step at a time. We’ll come back here on Monday with the real estate agent and go through everything together to make sure it’s really what we want.”

  “The space is great, but how are we going to fill it with furniture right away?”

  It makes me sad that her default state always drops to worry and nervousness. Although I’ve noticed that it’s much gentler, and less frequent, with every passing month.

  “Well, that’s up to you,” I say slowly, turning to face her again as I place my hands on her knees. “My father always said that he’d rather help pay for a house or something tangible rather than pitch in for an elaborate wedding that only lasts one day. So if you’re all right with a small ceremony and reception, he’ll probably buy every stick of furniture we need as a wedding gift.”

  As her mouth falls slightly open, I lean in quickly to kiss her. Her hunger has its own special flavor, as lust floods both of us at once.

  Tanis has been steadily becoming bolder in the bedroom. She used to hint at what she wanted, then ask. Then demand. Sometimes when she’s really keyed up, she’ll simply grab me until I figure it out in two seconds.

  I love this side of her, and can feel the lust coursing through both of us. But this time I want to wait until she says something.

  Slipping my hand up the back of her shirt, I caress her lower back, feeling the shift in her energy as a soft moan escapes her lips. “Felix?”

  “Yes, fiancée?”

  Her giggle is truly adorable. “Is there such a thing as consummating an engagement?”

  Grabbing her hand, I lead her back into the kitchen. She giggles again as I lift her skirt and yank down her panties, then squeals as I lift her onto the marble island.

  Standing between her legs, I kiss her softly at first, knowing that it will be less than a minute before she’s totally wet and ready for me.

  But as her sweet little tongue moves against mine, I can’t even wait that long. Besides, I can never get enough of her smoky sweet flavor.

  Lying her back against the marble, I grip her thighs to hold her steady, teasing her clit with the tip of my tongue.

  Placing my hand on her abdomen, I pin her against the counter. “Don’t squirm, baby. If you fall off and break your neck, this big house would be super lonely without you.”

  Her laugh rings out around the kitchen, as I bathe her swollen clit with my tongue, licking and sucking until I feel her fingers practically tearing my hair out.

  Just as her soft little whine reaches my ears, I plunge two fingers inside her, feeling her snug tunnel pulsing hard as she climaxes fast and hard.

  And although I’ve spent many evenings pleasuring her for hours before I even take my pants off, today I can’t wait. The way she squirms and moans causes every spare drop of my blood to race south.

  Tanis sits up, tossing her hair that today smells like apples and honey, and has fresh blonde highlights in the front. She wiggles her hips to the very edge of the countertop while reaching out to unfasten my belt.

  “Bold little thing, aren’t you?”

  “For you? Yes.”

  As she firmly strokes my length, we both look down to see the glittering diamond on her finger.

  We’re both already breathing hard, as our mouths seek each other as if we’ve been apart for days instead of a few hours this morning.

  Our hands roam everywhere, as I skim her nipples through her dress. Tanis clutches my back, pulling me against her as she pumps my dick with light strokes of her palm.

  Every ounce of my love for her rises up, making my head swim. Kissing her desperately, she uses her thighs to yank me closer, dragging the head of my shaft through her crease until I’m soaked with her juices.

  My hunger for her is so intense I can barely remember to start slow. Pressing inside her soft, wet heaven, her broken cry of ecstasy is music I wish I’d written myself.

  My cock is so stiff it’s almost painful. Her little hands grab at me, pulling me closer as her heels dig into my back. Her hips writhe as I plunge deepe
r, opening her carefully before moving faster.

  “Yes,” she moans into our kiss. “Harder. Please.”

  My sweet girl is becoming bolder, and I love every minute of it. She takes my hand from her breast, pushing it down between us as I try to stifle a chuckle.

  Grinding into her tight pussy, I pick up speed gradually as my thumb hones in on her clit, rubbing in tight circles just the way she likes. Her tiny muscles are milking me, squeezing me. I won’t be able to last very long this time.