“Baby, maybe if we go see some of them, maybe you would like them in person,” Shea suggested, but Elli shook her head.

“I have a list of requirements I want. I don’t understand why I can’t have the house I want?” she complained. Shea rolled his eyes as she went into the list of things she wanted, not that he hadn’t heard them 900 times already.

Five bedrooms, white hardwood floors, a big yard, and big porch.

“Ms. Fisher, the problem is the white hardwood floors, plus the porch. The houses made today have standard stuff in them, and country porches aren’t really done anymore,” Jill said desperately. Shea felt so bad for her.

“We can put white hardwood floors in, baby. Let’s just find something. I want a house.”

Elli glanced over at Shea before shaking her head.

“I want my floors, there has to be a house in Nashville with them. After we exhausted all the options, then we’ll go with what you said, Shea. Thanks for meeting with us, Jill. See you next week. Call us if you find anything.”

Elli stood up and gathered her things. Shea let out a frustrated breath, shaking hands with Jill before following Elli out.

When they got in the truck, Shea didn’t start it, he looked over at Elli. She was on her phone doing something, looking more beautiful than ever, but that didn’t stop him from being mad.

“Elli, you’re really starting to piss me off.”

She looked up surprised, “Why?”

“Because we have spent almost four weeks looking at different houses, and you’ve only liked one.”

“And you didn’t like it, what was I supposed to do?”

“Um, pick another one! Are you doing this on purpose?”

She narrowed her eyes, turning so she was facing him, “What do you mean by that?”

“Are you not choosing a house because you don’t really want to move in with me?”

Elli glared, “Really, Shea? I’ve brought all my clothes and all my shoes to your condo. I want a house just as bad as you do! Do you think I like lining my damn shoes along the dining room wall!? Hanging my clothes anywhere I can find a space for them!? Be real.”

“I am being real. I think you’re unconsciously doing this to us. You don’t want to move in with me.”

“Again, are you crazy? I already have!”

“No, you haven’t. Saying you don’t want this house or that one keeps you from fully committing to me.”

Elli just sat there, staring at him as if he were dumbest idiot on earth. “Take me to the office, Shea.”

“Fine,” Shea spat out as he turned the truck on and drove off, towards the studio. The whole way over, she didn’t say anything; she just played on her phone. When they arrived at the studio, she gathered her things and got out. Before shutting the door, she looked over at him.

“If you have to question my commitment to you, then why are you with me?” Before he could answer her, she slammed the door, sending him a glare as she marched her beautifully round ass inside. Her outfit was completely unpractical, it was 20 degrees out. But damn she was hot in those little grey wool shorts with those naughty thigh high suede boots. He should have been mad, not getting hot with each sway of her hips.

The damn woman drove him insane!

When Elli got home that night, Shea was sitting on the couch watching TV. Even though they had fought earlier that day, and hadn’t talked since then, Shea was bursting with the news he’d received that afternoon. But when Elli didn’t so much as look at him as she passed by, he knew he was in the dog house. He was just so frustrated. He wanted a house with her. He was tired of his little condo. Not only did it hold all the memories of all the females that he brought through there, but it wasn’t a home. He wanted a home with Elli. He wanted to start a new life with her, just them. And Adler, of course.

He watched as she passed by, her heels clicking on the hardwood as she walked towards the kitchen, cooing at Adler.

“Hello, baby boy, how are you today? Are you hungry?”

“I just fed him,” Shea said, but she ignored him, leaning against the island, unzipping her boots. His mouth watered at the sight of her inner thigh. He wanted so badly to be the one to unzip her boots, just to feel her skin under his fingers. God, he was hard just watching her, but it wasn’t as if he could go over there and have his way with her. She was pissed off, and he didn’t think he was wrong, so he would not be apologizing.

Shea tried to watch TV, but his eyes kept drifting to Elli, moving around the kitchen, getting stuff out to cook. He usually helped cook, but since she was ignoring him, he wasn’t moving. When she bent down to get a pot out of the cabinet under the island, Shea’s head fell to the side as his mouth parted and his breathing picking up. His heart was hammering against his chest as he imagined all the different ways he could get those grey thigh-high socks off with his mouth.

Shea then found himself getting up and going over to her, wrapping his arms around her middle, pressing his hard length against her butt. She tensed up, smacking at his hands.

“Excuse me,” she sneered as she tried to move away, but he wasn’t letting her go.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered against her neck as he nuzzled his nose into the mass of curls that hung along her shoulders, “You’re right, I’m an idiot for questioning your commitment to me. I’m just ready to be in a house, for us to start a new chapter in our life.”