Bound by Love

Every weekend since Will and I had declared our love for each other, we spent looking at houses. Some were too small. Others we couldn’t afford. None had that something extra that said we could spend the rest of our lives in there. I soon grew to hate the weekends — the joy and novelty having long worn off — but Will was certain that the perfect house was out there just waiting for us to find it.

I sure hoped he was right and that we would find it soon.

This particular house showed some promise, but I refused to get my hopes up. We walked into the living room. Several large windows allowed light to fill the room, giving it a cheery appearance. Before I could admire the view, the realtor gushed, “Come with me into the kitchen. It’s just beautiful. It even has a garbage disposal!”

Will and I followed her. Her blond curls bounced as she bounded into the room. Her dark suit was a handsome outfit, one that I wouldn’t mind owning. I turned my thoughts from clothes and admired the kitchen. For once, the realtor wasn’t exaggerating. The ranch-styled kitchen had a gorgeous hardwood floor against which my heels clacked. Spacious and elegant, this was by far the nicest kitchen we had seen yet.

The realtor opened a few of the dark wooden cabinets and was prattling on about more features when Will leaned over and whispered, “What do you think of this house?”

I smiled at him. “It’s really nice, but do we really need three bedrooms and two baths?”

He pouted. “So you don’t want it?”

I poked his side. “I didn’t say that. I love the brick fireplace and the two covered porches.”

“I like the attached garage.”

“To protect your old jalopy?” I teased with a wink. Will wrinkled his nose as I added, “And I’ve always thought brick houses were nice.”

The realtor finally noticed we weren’t paying attention to her. “Any questions?” she asked brightly.

Will walked over to her. “Can we have some time to talk? A little privacy?”

“Sure. I’ll just wait outside. The backyard is wonderful, a great place for little ones to run around in—”

Will grabbed her arm and hurried her through the back door. He closed it and then made a grand show of locking it. “My God, that woman is overbearing.”

I giggled. “You can say that again.” I wandered from the kitchen and into the living room. All of the rooms in the house were gigantic but seemed even larger due to the lack of furniture. The selling family had already moved into their new home and had even dropped the price of this house in order to move it more quickly.

I headed for the largest bedroom, and Will trailed behind me. I could imagine my bed under the north window along with my bureau and Will’s next to it. Picturing my furniture, and Will’s, was something I hadn’t done in any of the previous five or six houses we had seen. And that’s when I realized this house was the one for us.

Us. The thought of us, the thrill, the novelty, hadn’t worn off despite our dating for over two months now. I shivered with delight and stole a glance at Will. He was looking out one window, his large hands on the window sill, his back slightly hunched over, allowing his muscles to be visible beneath the buttoned-down shirt he wore. I walked over and wrapped my arms around him. “Well?” I asked. The word nearly caught in my throat.

Will covered my hands with his. Then he straightened, turned around within my arms, and leaned down to kiss my forehead. “I want it.”

The look in his eye as well as the sudden bulge in his tight pants told me that he desired something else entirely. I kissed my fingertip and pressed it on his lips. “Not now, dear,” I whispered seductively, wrapping my body closer toward his.

Will groaned and covered my mouth with his. Our tongues fought as we gave into the passion of our love. My thighs quickly became damp, and I moaned. When he started to fumble with my shirt, I pulled away. “I want it too,” I grinned.

He fixed himself and sighed. “Well, at least that’s settled,” he muttered.

I stepped around him to admire the view. Across the street was a park. Several young children ran around, chasing each other. One fell down and started to cry until his mother came over and kissed his skinned knee. Then the child jumped up and resumed playing, his pain seemingly forgotten.

With a start, I realized Will was no longer standing beside me. I whirled around and opened my mouth to call him when my heart practically stopped. In the middle of the room, Will balanced on one knee, a small jewelry box in his outstretched hand.

My knees grew weak, but I somehow managed to walk a few steps closer toward him. Both of my hands covered my mouth.

“Betty Lewis, I love you. I respect you, and I want to honor you. Always. So I only think it’s proper that we marry before we move into together.”

“We practically live together now,” I said, hiding behind my teasing. I loved Will and knew that he loved me. But throughout our house hunting, I hadn’t thought much about the future, our future together. Maybe because none of the houses had been right for us. The permanence of marriage didn’t frighten me. Instead I trembled with delighted happiness. “And if you only want to marry me because it’s proper—”

Will’s smile lit up his entire face and his normally dark eyes lightened to a soft brown shade. “There’s nothing proper about me, and you already know that. It’s one of the things you love most about me.”

“True.” I took a few more steps until I was directly in front of him.

“Betty, I want to marry you because you mean so much to me. You make me a better person, a stronger man. I like who I am when I’m around you. I need you. And I love you.”

I knelt before him. “I do love you, Will Walker.” I gently caressed his cheeks and drew his head forward for a sweet kiss.

“Then Betty Lewis, will you marry me?” He opened the ring box to reveal a modest diamond ring.