Page 59 of Clint & Ivy
Clint sent me to sleepwith the feel of his lips on mine. I dreamed of his hands on my body and awoke in the middle of the night to find him resting soundly. Hanzee slept quietly in the corner. I looked around to find the hint of sparkling lights past the dark shades. Every inch of the condo reminded me of Clint, making returning to sleep easier.
I woke up to Clint’s lips on my throat. His breath was minty fresh when he kissed me awake. I wrapped my arms around his broad shoulders and tried to wiggle my legs free of the blankets. I wanted to trap him against me. Unfortunately, his blanket was heavy, and I only tangled myself up.
“I didn’t want to wake you, but I need to take Hanzee to the courtyard.”
“Should I come with you?”
Clint studied me with sleepy eyes. His beard was damp from washing his face.
“Elle will be over around ten to pick you up and take you to my parents’ place. Before she gets here, I want you and me to hit up the buffet for breakfast and grab a few things from the grocery store.”
My fingers stroked his face, wanting to remain in bed longer. I wasn’t used to being so active, but I didn’t complain to Clint. After he offered me another lusty kiss, I climbed out of bed and headed downstairs.
I was bundled up for the chilly morning by the time Clint returned with a shivering Hanzee. The dog immediately went to cuddle in his downstairs cage. I watched him disappear under a blanket before peeking out at me.
“It’s cold out there,” Clint said while digging around in his front coat closet. “I don’t know if I have any gloves or hats that’ll fit you.”
“I’ll be fine.”
I proved myself wrong by shivering wildly for the entire walk to the buffet. Clint apologized four times on the way, saying he wished he had brought the truck.
“I like how you protect me,” I said, and my words held more meaning than he could understand.
Clint gave me a little grin, but I knew he couldn’t understand. He thought my old life was weird. Maybe if he knew the truth about my health issues, Geradine’s behavior would have made more sense.
But I wanted Clint to take my side, not hers. Though she might have had a good reason to be overly protective when I was young, she left me overly sheltered. That’s why I was willing to walk into the ocean with Uncle Dwight rather than stand on my own.
At the buffet, Clint and I found a table in the back. Every time someone said hello, he introduced me as his girlfriend. I felt him wrapping me in his protection.
“I could cook fried eggs and bacon for breakfast tomorrow,” I suggested.
“Do you want to cook or do you think you need to earn your keep?”
“I’d like to lounge around and cook for you, but I don’t want to change up your schedule.”
Clint scooted his chair closer and caressed the back of my neck. “Of course, my schedule will change. I’m not living my life alone. That’s how relationships work. We both need to sacrifice and change.”
I thought about his words as we finished breakfast and walked to a grocery store a few blocks over from the condo. I wasn’t used to walking so much. Back in Reno, I had exercised every day after Geraldine died. I was certain I was truly healthy, and my mom had been hiding the truth.
But I misjudged my endurance. I was exhausted by the time we returned to the condo with two bags of groceries.
“Because of the downtown vibe, I tend to walk to do everything around here,” Clint said while putting away groceries. “But I’ll need to change that.”
“I’m sorry,” I said as I rested on the couch. “I should have walked more at the mansion. Or walked faster.”
Clint stopped and frowned at me. “You’re short.”
“I know.”
“Yeah, but I was walking normally. I rarely take Hanzee for walks because his little legs need to work so hard to keep up with me, or I’m forced to shuffle to slow down for him. That’s why we only play in the courtyard.”
“My legs are longer than the dog’s.”
Clint’s face broke into a grin. “Well, yeah, they are. And they’re strong, too. I remember them wrapped around my hips yesterday.”
A blush burned my cheeks when I thought of how I grabbed him and refused to let go.
“But I was walking too fast today. I need to slow down,” he said and returned to putting food away. “And you should speak up when my ego blinds me to your needs.”
