Nora's POV
"You ready for this?" Shawn looks up at me as I exit my building. It's still warm outside, and August can be unbearably hot. This is when I wish for winter, but when winter comes I just can't stand more than a week of it.
"Yes sir. Where are we off to?" I ask, thinking of all the things I'll be seeing and needing to ask about for Shawn as we look at things.
"I've got a few places lined up with an agent, we're meeting him at the first place in like half an hour. Hence why I brought you this giant chai latte." He passes it to me and I find warmth in the cup even though it's not cold outside.
"Thank you." I take a small sip, testing how hot it actually is.
"So all the places we're looking at are in Manhattan. I thought that would be a good place to live. Everything usually happens around that area, plus I like the park too." He holds the door for me as we get in the cab. Goodness he's so cute.
He's surprised me once again this past week, coming into the shop everyday, bringing me lunch or ice cream or almost anything I want. He's been so sweet to me. Slightly teasing for my drunken Saturday night. We're for sure more than friends, but still in that limbo stage. We haven't kissed, minus a few pecks on cheeks, and I so long for his lips on mine but it just hasn't been the right time. I know it will be eventually. I really really like him.
He sends me good morning texts, good night texts, and things in between if I don't see him, like yesterday. I had some weddings to help deliver and I was just too tired. I ended up going to bed early, even if he had a few too many. I can see that he's struggling a bit this morning. Andrew left back for London on Wednesday. I'm sure it was difficult for Shawn to see him go. He's said that he was at one point closest with Andrew. But not much after that. I don't want to push it, but sometime I will.
I scoot as close to Shawn as possible in the backseat. This is becoming a habit. I always just want to be close to him. He doesn't seem to mind, never pushing me away, in fact, usually just draping his arm on my shoulder and keeping me close. I love the way he smells. Shelby is constantly grilling me on my relationship status, apparently wanting to get the inside scoop, and I know she'd never do anything about it like putting it on blast but there is nothing to tell.
The city is alive this Sunday. Like every Sunday. People are just getting out of church, I used to go more than I do know. I need to get back into it but every Sunday is the only day I have to myself so I usually try and sleep in. Not an excuse but for right now. The driver stops in front of a rather tall building and Shawn reaches around for his wallet. I've all but stopped offering to ask to pay for things, because he's always insisted on doing it for me. I still have my moments though, and he doesn't always get away with things.
"Right, so this is it." He scoots out to the left and keeps the door open for me, holding his hand out to help me up.
I've seen this building multiple times. I already know it's expensive but I wouldn't expect anything less to be honest. If he can afford it, might as well.
"Mr. Mendes." We both turn to a tall man, slightly gray hair, dressed in a suit walking towards us, hand stretched. "I'm Vance Brightly, your real estate agent. And you must be Mrs. Mendes." He turns to me and before I can correct him, Shawn speaks.
"Yes, this is my wife Nora." I try to hide my surprised face. I didn't realize I'd be posing as his wife today, not quite prepared for it. But Shawn just squeezes my hand as if to calm me down, probably noticing my sudden sweaty palms.
"Well, come this way. Lots of things to look at." He smiles and turns as the doorman opens the door for us.
"Sorry, I had to tell him I was married, because some of these places are high end and they only accept families." He whispers in my ear, letting me realize my place here. I don't mind pretending I'm Mrs. Mendes for a day.
"It's fine." I smile smugly and join Mr. Brightly in the elevator. Today is stetting up for an interesting day already.
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I'm exhausted. We've looked at four places, with one last one to go. Shawn hasn't seemed interested in anything so far. A few places that are nice, but something is usually not in his taste or style. The kitchen back splash color is wrong, the sinks in the bathroom are ugly. I keep reminding him he can change the styles but he doesn't seem to want to deal with that. He wants something he can move into right now. If he could only see what my apartment looks like. The dated furniture, fixtures. The other places look great, and Nonno always put more of an effort into places where other people would live, but when it came to ours, its a bit stuck in the 50's. Still home though.
It's been weird to be called Nora Mendes. It seems like it works. I can't help but smile largely when he says it. Doesn't help that Shawn always squeezes my hand whenever he does. Almost as if he's encouraging it.
"Okay, so you'll notice the hardwood floors, they can be stained and refinished if you prefer darker, however the since this place is on the top floor it get's a lot of natural sunlight so it might discolor them after a while. It has three bedrooms on the main floor, a loft at the top, and it's open so it can be used as an office of some sort. It has three bathrooms. All the appliances stay, state of the art gas cooktop and range, ice maker, and an incredible view of Central Park." I look around, amazed by this place, he's still talking but I'm tuning him out. It's open right away, the kitchen to the dinning room and living room is all one large area. A wall just for shelving, books. My weakness. Everything has crown molding, exposed brick, large windows, even a circle window in the loft. If I could afford this place I'd steal it from him in a heart beat.
"The owner is already out, moved to Arizona I believe, so you can take possession immediately. And a secret is here." I turn to see him pushing on the last section of shelves by the wall, almost as it slides out, a secret door. I instantly get excited. "This is the master bedroom. It has two doors, but this one is something the previous owner had put in, thought it would be a nice feature." His phone starts chirping and he pulls it out of his pocket. "Excuse me, I have to take this, I'll just be out in the hallway." He leaves as I turn to Shawn, looking around like a kid in a candy store. He likes it, I can tell.
"So?" I ask.
"It's amazing." He pushes the bookshelf door away and walks into the master bedroom, me following him. It's big. It has a total of four doors, the secret door, a closet, bathroom, and then "real door" to the large hallway.
"You have a bay window!" I get excited, it's large, perfect place for reading books and enjoying the sunlight, people watch from so many floors up.
"I think I'm going to get this place." I take a seat on the bay window as Shawn comes over and stands behind me to look outside.
"I think it's a good choice. Two other bedrooms for when your family comes over, and that loft is really neat. It's big." I'm quite jealous.
"Will you come visit me here?" He smiles smugly.
"Eh, I don't know." I tease as I laugh. He pulls me up from my seated spot.
"You don't know?" He twirls me around as if we're dancing. He's so sexy. "If I say please?" He pouts and I just can't help but laugh, what I could do with those lips.
"Maybe if you say please." He stops spinning me and my dress settles. I love twirling, it makes me feel feminine, but I'm always wearing jeans, so twirling makes me feel little again.
"Can I kiss you?" His hands are at my waist and the mood of the room suddenly changes. Not a bad mood, but it totally makes me tingle. Literally tingle. I don't even answer the question as I find myself running my fingers through his hair and pulling the base of his skull towards me, my other hand finding his chin as our lips finally touch. I can instantly relax, because it's exactly what I've ever wanted. Exactly what I've expected as we move in sync. I think if there was a bed here, I wouldn't even hesitate. This is just a perfect moment, the feel of his skin touching mine, his lips on my lips, The way I needed this.
He pulls away slightly as our foreheads touch.
"Why did we wait so long to do that?" I laugh as I rest my head on his chest, wrapping my arms around his waist. I swear he's smelling my hair.
"So what do we think of this place?" Mr. Brightly startles us from the bookshelf doorway.
"We'll take it." Shawn speaks for us, even though there isn't technically an us, but I don't even care.
