Page 184 of Fierce Storm
“You’re what?” I huff out an incredulous laugh.
“You heard me.”
I what?My jaw drops before I shake my head. “You’re moving me in?”
“Yep. And you’re not going to argue. You’re going to smile, say thank you, and make this as painless as possible.”
“I am?”
“Definitely. Come on, I’ll show you around.”
He jumps out of the car and jogs around the front to open my door while I stare at him in awe, my heart pounding. I could get used to this version of Sal. Protective yet demanding.
I think I just fell for him a little bit more.
Chapter Fifty-One
SALVATORE
Keeley crutches her way through the door, only pausing when we pass over the threshold, her eyes wide, lips parted in awe.
To our left there’s a sweeping staircase, leading up to the bright landing of the second floor. To our right, there’s a sunken living room with plush lounges and a huge TV. But neither of those things grab her attention. Her eyes are focused directly in front of us. To the open kitchen and dining area and the wall of glass doors leading out onto a deck overlooking the ocean.
“You’re asking me to move in?” she whispers, her voice hesitant as she slowly moves forward.
“Did I ask?” I wait for her gaze to snap to mine, and it does, right on cue.
“No. You didn’t. You all but demanded I do.And as sexy as that is, don’t you think it’s a little too soon?”
“Do you want to spend the next week stuck in your apartment? Or would you prefer to be here, with ocean views and a pizza oven?”
“A pizza oven?”
“Yep.” I nod, thankful I was able to get one added so quickly.
Keeley laughs, and the relaxed sound makes my heart race. “Obviously the latter but…” She trails off and I’m quick to reassure her. The demanding Sal is gone.
“You can move out again when your ankle gets better. For now, I’m going to be staying here, and I want you here with me. I want to continue looking after you. In this house.”
Keeley eyes me suspiciously, and I can’t for the life of me figure out why until she laughs. “You spoke to my mom, didn’t you?”
“About what?” I’m genuinely confused while Keeley appears to have figured out the answer to the meaning of life.
“Don’t mess with me. There are only two things in the world that ever work to still my mind. Well, three…” she muses, shaking her head with a laugh. “The point is that you know yoga is one of my escapes, and the second is the ocean. But I don’t just mean the sounds from the water crashing against the shore or the smell of salt in the air. It has to be all of it, hitting my senses in one go. Like a wave washing over me, blinding me from whatever’s going on in the world, taking me out of reality.”
I watch her as she speaks, her eyes alight with happiness, the calm she’s talking about washing over her from the thought alone.
She raises an eyebrow in question when she’s done, her expression confident.
“I haven’t spoken to your mom. At least not about that.”
Keeley’s excited appearance morphs into one of confusion, and for the first time since I’ve known her, she blushes.
“Silly me.”
“Wait. It’s not silly at all. I may not have known any of that, but I had the house prepared so I could bring you here, hoping for the same result. Hoping to take your mind off things. To calm you.”
“You had the house prepared?”
