Ready For Love?

Chapter 37

Annie POV

It was an interesting day, but a good one since Reid was able to find a house he liked and got some horses to boot. The horses were beautiful, and I know the kids will be excited about coming for a ride tomorrow.

I still don’t know why he didn’t get the glass house. It was perfect for him. Maybe I did scare him about cleaning ALL those windows.

My windows are horrible. I really do need to clean them when I get home. I swear it looks like the house is almost abandoned. They are that bad.

It really is going to be hard to go back to normal after this trip. It has ended up being so much more than I thought. I have met so many amazing people, got a social life and actually done things for me. Wait! Say that again, I have had a social life! Yes, me!

Reid has been a sweetheart and I know I’m going to miss him. Everything has been so quick, intense, yet easy with him. I don’t want to admit it, but I’m going to miss him.

I have to remind myself this is a holiday fling, just a fling and he is only 35! 35! He still has time to meet someone and have his own kids, not take on someone else's. He deserves to have that full experience and, honestly, I don’t think I want or can handle more… especially a baby.

Babies are hard work. I’m not stupid in forgetting that, especially when I had a baby and a bossy little toddler telling me how she thought it should be.

Damn! Imagine what Addie would be like with a baby around.

A teenager and a baby… NO THANK YOU! Or maybe she will soften up... nope, doubt it!

“So what time do we pick up the kids tomorrow?” He casually asks, but his eyes are focused on me, waiting for me to argue.

I sighed and sat back. “You know that’s… that I… look, when I thought I was going to start dating again, I thought it wouldn’t be after six months at least that the kids would meet him. They have never seen me with another man and I wanted to slowly get them used to the idea, even if Addie has said she is going to help Fi find me a husband. It’s all talk, I don’t know how she is really going to react. I…”

“Who says I have to be introduced as a boyfriend? I can be just someone that came to help pick them up?”

“Addie isn’t that stupid and neither is Fi, and she definitely won’t keep her mouth shut. You will be fired with a billion questions within seconds, giving the play away.” Because it’s Fi and there’s no way she will hold it in.

“Why don’t you word them up tonight? Give them another call and say that a friend is now coming and see if you can have a private chat to your sister so she can get it all out.”

It wasn’t a bad idea. Fi probably still wouldn’t be able to hold in her excitement, but it would be better than the alternative. But I honestly still didn’t understand… or didn’t want to.

“But why do you want to come? Do you really want to meet my kids? Surely not!”

He gave me a gentle smile. “I told you I wanted more, and I would love to meet your kids. They don’t scare me in the slightest. I know this may seem fast, but hasn’t it felt easy?”

I couldn’t argue with that, it has. It has felt very easy.

Sure, I didn’t like that I had to have someone with me all the time when I left the compound, but I haven’t felt caged or trapped. Even our extra security, since they want everyone to pair up, have kept their distance so much that I forget they are there. Right now there are three of them at a table near the door, so far enough away that they can't hear us, so it feels private still.

And I certainly wasn’t going to complain about how Reid had ‘looked after me’ at night. I was definitely going to miss that as well. Damn that’s shallow, but hey it’s true. My poor Bob and Bob 2 are going to be told they have to lift their game. This woman had finally had the real stuff and damn good real stuff.

Maybe he can come to Australia for a holiday soon?

“You’re just trying to stroke your ego.” I finally replied because I wasn’t sure if I could say yes out loud.

He regarded me for a moment with that stupid knowing smile before he motioned to my phone on the table. “Give them a call while I use the mens.”

I signed and nodded as I knew he wasn’t going to let it go. He was coming to the airport whether or not I wanted him to.

I really was still conflicted about him meeting the kids so soon… but I suppose as just a friend is alight, right?

Fi picked up after two rings. “Hey!” She laughed. “You are going to see your kids tomorrow, don’t be over dramatic.”

“I know that smart ass. Just wanted to give you and the kids a heads up that a friend will be coming to help collect you tomorrow. He’s better with the roads around here and wanted to help.” Did that sound plausible?

She let out a small squeal of excitement and I could hear movement. “Hang on, I’m just going into the other room so I don’t disrupt the movie.” She giggled as she laughed… here we go.

“OK! I closed the door. You better fess up because I’ve been in the car as you're going eighty down a dirt road doing fishtails. You are more than capable of dealing with Washington traffic. Who is he? When did you meet? Have you confirmed your virgina still works?”

See told you!

“There really is nothing I can try to say to get you to believe he’s just a friend?” I tried and got a sharp scoff and ‘yeah right’ on the other end. “Fine…” So, I told her everything from finding Fire, to the MC and then Reid and how we were out to dinner right now… and how I had been staying at the compound.

I whispered all the bits I didn’t think everyone around me needed to hear.

“Oh my god, I’m so happy for you! Yes! And you dirty girl, going for a biker! Finally, a bit of real rebel coming out of you. Now, it’s too late to organize a double wedding… or is it?” I rolled my eyes. “OK… seriously, are you in danger though?”

“I honestly don’t think so. It’s been a couple of days of nothing.” And no one had shown one bit of concern every time we went out.

Andddddd, of course, Reid sat down as I said that with a raised eyebrow, but I ignored him.

“That you know of. Well, it’s easy. Since you're out in the pool house, he can just stay with you there. I fully approve and can’t wait to meet him.”

“Just like that?”

“You're not an i***t. There is no way you would end up in his bed, let alone let him meet the kids if he was dangerous, or you didn’t feel comfortable with him." Or he was really giving me no choice. "It’s a good call doing the friend thing to start, and then you just get married and move here. Done.”

I wanted to say I think he HAD made me an i***t and give all the examples, but didn’t.

“Ha ha. Don’t you think that’s a little too fast?”

And then she rattled off all the reasons why it wasn't, but I wasn't really paying attention as I glared at Reid's satisfied smirk on his face until Beast appeared with a chair and sat at our table.