Meddling in Manhattan by Kirsten Osbourne

before we came home would have been ideal.  I shouldn't have waited."
    She nodded.  "Thank you for saying that.  I've felt like you didn't think you could trust me, even after the honeymoon, when I feel like I told you everything."
    He sighed, pulling her closer and kissing her forehead.  "Not at all.  I'm sorry I made you feel that way."
    "I forgive you."  For the first time since she'd discovered who he really was, she felt like she could move on past it.  He was saying all the right things.  She believed he really meant them.
    "I also wanted to talk about this apartment.  Did you sign a long lease?"
    "No, I just subleased for two months from a friend.  I didn't know where we'd end up, and I didn't feel like I had the right to make the decision for us, but Dr. Lachele had given me the impression we'd be living here in Manhattan.  So I figured I needed to find us a spot.  We couldn't keep living with my three roommates, especially since I shared a room with Danielle!"
    "Well, this place is pretty small.  Would you be willing to look at larger places on my next week off?  I'd love to have an office to write in.  Then I wouldn't feel like I'm taking up the whole living room.  You'd feel like you could make a little more noise, I'm sure."  He watched her carefully for a response.
    She nodded.  "I think that's a really good idea.  We could get a two or even three bedroom place.  Do you want to keep living in an apartment or try to find a house?"
    "An apartment for now, I think.  Neither of us has time to think about maintaining a lawn or anything."  He turned to her more fully on the couch.  "I hope you didn't mind leaving your parents so quickly.  I had this idea for a way I could fix the last scene of my book."
    "You finished?  Really?"
    He nodded.  "Well, I still have to edit it, and I'll add several thousand more words in edits, but I finished the first draft, which for me is the hardest part."
    "You edit your own book?  Don't you have an editor?"  It didn't make sense to her that he would have to go through the slow process of editing his own work when she knew he must have someone who was paid to do it.
    "I do have an editor, but I still edit my own book first.  I tend to skimp on details in the first draft, and then I go back and add them."  He shrugged.  "I'll spend the next week or so in edits, and then I'll be done with this one."
    "Will you take some time off when you're done?"
    He nodded.  "Yeah, I take at least a week off between books.  I need to go back to Montana and get the rest of my stuff from my house there.  I'll leave the furniture, but I need my books and stuff.  Which is another reason why we need a bigger place.  I need room for my books!"
    She laughed.  "Sounds to me like you might need a Kindle!"
    "Don't we all?" He cupped her face in his hands, leaning over to kiss her softly.  "I'm so happy to hear you laugh again.  I thought I'd blown it for us."
    "I wasn't sure."  She looked straight into his eyes.  "I was really hurt, but I don't want our relationship to be over.  Do you want me to take a couple of days off work and go to Montana with you?  We could always shop for apartments when we were done."
    "Would you mind?  I'd love for you to get to know Scott and Savannah better.  And Kaeden too, I guess, but right now?  He just poops a lot." 
    She giggled.  "Most babies do.  I would love to go with you."
    He leaned over and kissed her again, this time more passionately.  His arms wrapped around her and he pulled her close.  "Wanna know what I'd love to do?"
    "What?"
    He stood and helped her to her feet, keeping her hand in his as he headed to the bedroom.  He pulled off his shirt and sat on the bed, facing her.   She stood in front of him. "I'll give you three guesses."  His hands went to her shirt, and he started unbuttoning it before pushing it off her shoulders.
    "You're tired and want to take a nap?" she said, with a twinkle in her eye.
    "No.  Two