Forgiven Read Online Free Page A

of me, pulling me through to the kitchen.
    “I don’t think you understand that it won’t matter where I am or what kind of house it is, just as long as we’re both in it.”
    He turns and looks at me with hooded eyes. “Oh, I do understand that because I feel the same way. But I don’t think you understand how badly I want to give you the world, Gabby Girl.”
    What is there to say to that? I just smile and look down at the beautiful hardwood floors beneath my feet. I am the absolute luckiest girl in the world. Someone pinch me now .
    The rest of the house is incredible. Maggie, who we probably grossed out a few minutes ago with our cheesy romantic talk, has been talking about all the features the home has like a typical sales person. She points out that there is a study on the main floor that Bradley could use as a home office. The kitchen is a dream kitchen, and it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before. All of my friends had these beautiful gourmet kitchens with stainless steel near commercial quality appliances and granite countertops. They all had beautiful custom cabinetry. I don’t care about all the specifics. If I can cook in the small kitchen in the apartment or the cottage in Charleston, then I can cook anywhere.
    The difference between this kitchen and those of my friends isn’t all the upgrades. It’s the thought of knowing it could be my kitchen. My mind flutters to thoughts of Bradley doing highly sexy things to me on those very countertops. It makes me blush to just think about it. I glance over at him, and I know that look on his face. I’m pretty sure he’s having those same exact thoughts at this moment. His thumb brushes up against the skin on my hand he’s holding. The slightest touch from him is like an electrifying shock through my body.
    We make our way upstairs. The master bedroom exceeds my wildest expectations. Not only is it ginormous, but it has a formal sitting area with a stacked stone fireplace. I close my eyes and immediately see us cuddled up on a couch, Bradley spooning me while I read. I don’t need to see another thing in this house. I can already tell it feels like home.
    “I want it,” I whisper as I tug his arm, causing him to glance back at me.
    “Oh, what’s that? I can’t ever hear you when you mumble like that.”
    I shyly whisper again, “I want it.” I love the house. It just feels weird to say this out-loud. It makes me feel like I must be some kind of greedy girl to want all this house, to want all this luxury. I’ve always prided myself on not needing or necessarily even wanting all of this. Who was I kidding? Who wouldn’t want this?
    Bradley’s eyes light up, and it takes me back to that day on the beach when I told him I’d go to dinner with him. It takes me back to the night at Steak and Shake when he nearly choked on his milkshake. All of our firsts flash before my eyes, and I realize this is one of them. We are about to make a home, a family, a life with each other. I can’t wait for all of the firsts that will be housed in this home.
    “Then, it’s yours, Baby. But you have to see the bathroom, just because it’s awesome.”
    How does he know what the bathroom looks like? “Have you been here before?” I ponder out loud as I cock my head to the side.
    “No, but I’ve seen pictures.” He leads me into the spacious master bath.
    “Take off your shoes,” he commands.
    “Um, okay?”
    He flips a switch and gives me a nudge onto the ceramic tile. The floor feels delightful against my bare feet. It’s warm. The floor is warm . Unbelievable. This is how rich people live. I turn to him. “Heated floors?”
    He nods.
    “Well I was already sold, but this coupled with that shower and bathtub is just the icing on the cake.” I giggle. The shower, like everything else, is expansive. Tiles cover two of the walls and the other two walls are made of glass. The bathtub is more like a small Jacuzzi, outfitted with jets and large enough to easily