33
BPOV
"precautions"
I don't feel comfortable having a stranger in my house, even if they work for security, so I ask Edward to come over while my new system is installed.
While the men drill and run wires to set up the cameras, I'm busy unloading the groceries I had delivered this morning.
"That's a lot of food. Are you planning on having a party?" Edward asks, peering into one of the bags.
"No." I laugh and offer him a soda. "I couldn't sleep last night, so I did some research on homemade dog treats and fell into a wormhole of information. It turns out you can make everything, including dog food, so I'm going to try my hand at it, considering how picky Wanda is with her food."
Edward hums. "Sounds like you've got a busy day planned."
I check my phone. "I will as soon as the supplies I ordered arrive. I'm excited. I've never had a KitchenAid before, and I needed kitchen essentials, so I splurged last night. Everything should be here soon."
Edward is standing in front of the fridge, blocking my way, and my hands are full of vegetables. When I ask him to move, he just smirks and starts taking things out of my grasp, setting them on the island, until we're both empty-handed.
"What was that for? "I ask with a knowing smile.
"You're pretty," he whispers. "And I need to kiss you. Right now."
"Right now? Right this instant?"
Edward nods.
"And what happens if you don't get what you need?"
He frowns. "I'll throw myself in your pool and sink to the bottom until you give in. "
"Really?" I snort and wrap my arms around his neck. "Well, you're in luck. You'll stay dry tonight."
"I didn't feel like swimming anyway."
I kiss his smile and get lost in the warmth of his embrace, completely forgetting that we aren't alone. A throat clearing stops me from deepening the kiss, and we break apart with flaming cheeks and tingling lips.
"Uh, sorry to interrupt," one of the security techs says from the doorway, clearly uncomfortable. "We need to verify with the owner"—his eyes dart between Edward and me—"before we get started with the drilling."
Edward squeezes my hips and follows the man out of the room but tosses a wink over his shoulder that makes my heart flutter. He might not own this house, but he's for sure gaining ownership of my heart.
While Edward is overseeing the construction, my packages arrive, and I'm like a little kid on Christmas, sitting cross-legged on the kitchen floor, tearing into boxes with a new peeling knife I ordered.
My kitchen is going to be filled with professional-grade appliances, and I can't wait to break them in. Ignoring the sounds coming from the other room, I find a place for everything that I don't need for my project for the day.
Wanda scratches at the backdoor, so I let her in and refresh her water. She makes a giant mess and slinks off to find Edward, abandoning me.
Soon, there's ground turkey browning on the stove, and I'm chopping fresh veggies, waiting for the rice cooker to beep, and watching a tutorial.
Eventually, the scent draws a curious Wanda back to the kitchen, and she's an excellent taste-tester, eager for any morsel I offer.
When everything is finished and cooling, I set off to find Edward and the techs, who are upstairs in my bedroom, installing the window sensors because, God forbid, someone could scale the side of my house and climb through.
When I voice my thoughts, Edward kisses my nose and tells me we can't be too careful hence, at his insistence, I get the full package. Cameras, sensors, and motion lights. My house is turning into a fortress.
When the guys leave to take their lunch, Edward and I make an easy picnic of tuna sandwiches, fresh fruit, and potato chips. He carries everything out back to Wanda's favorite shady spot, and I lay out a blanket.
"Is Alice planning on coming back soon?"
Edward swallows and wipes his mouth. "Hopefully, she and Jasper are busy with work at the moment, but she's excited to help us decorate."
I nod. "She's been sending me Pinterest links and emails since they left."
"It's weird, missing her, you know?" He sighs. "I never thought I'd get to have this kind of relationship with her."
"You're thinking about your parents, aren't you?"
"Yeah, but only because of how they're treating my sister. I hate that she's taking the brunt of it, and I'm worried she's doing it out of guilt over the past. Does that make sense?"
"It does. I don't know Alice as well as you do, but I can tell she's a strong woman. She'll reach her boiling point and make her decision, and you'll be there to support her."
"I will."
