novelxo Chapter Gud Wife 460
Chapter 0460
Chapter 0460
The drive wasn't particularly long or short. They arrived at Celeste's building, and once again, Peter accompanied her to her apartment door. She turned to him, hesitating for a moment before asking: "Would you like to come in?"
Peter looked at her, a soft smile forming on his lips. "Would you mind making me some coffee?" She raised an eyebrow, curious at his request. "Did you like it?"
"I did. I've discovered that's how I like my coffee."
"Come in, then. Take a seat while I make it," Celeste said with a smile.
Inside, old Spike was waiting in the living room. The cat immediately approached Peter and rubbed against his legs. Celeste noticed and joked, "Looks like Spike's claimed you... You're not mine anymore!" The words slipped out before she could stop them. Realizing what she'd said, she turned to find Peter watching her with amused curiosity.
"Uh... I mean, that's not what I meant! I meant it differently."
Peter chuckled at her nervousness, but said nothing, Shortly after, she returned with two steaming cups of coffee. The rich aroma filled the apartment, and Peter was momentarily lost in a memory-a house near the beach, warth coffee, and a simpler time. Celeste, her apartment, and even her cat reminded him of something he couldn't quite place. Memories had been elusive for years, but now they trickled in, small fragments from a life he had almost forgotten.
"Peter? Are you okay?" Celeste asked, her voice tinged with concem.
"Yeah," he replied, snapping out of it. "I was just distracted by a few things. It's nothing important." "Peter," she began hesitantly, "before we go any further, there's something you should know about me. You don't know me, not really, so I want to be honest..."
Of course, Celeste had no idea that Peter had already looked into her past. Whatever she revealed, he likely already
knew.
"I'm a widow. My husband died in a car accident ten years ago. When he died, I thought my life was over. I was pregnant, but the shock caused me to go into premature labor, and I lost the baby. My husband didn't die immediately. I clung to the hope that he would survive, but without the resources to keep him alive, I had to disconnect him a month after the accident.
"That's why I'm in debt. I borrowed money to try to save him, and I've been paying it back for years. I lost my house, I lost everything. The only thing I have left is my cat-well, my husband's cat, really. Spike was his. Now it's just me and him, eternal roommates.
"Peter Palmer, I have nothing to offer you. I'm not a woman of means, as you can see. I don't belong to your world. Everything here is mine, but it's not much. I don't have anyone who cares about me, no family except my
cat
"After losing my husband and child, life hasn't been easy. But I enjoy what I have now. I had years of depression, but when I moved to Seaforth, I decided to start over. Life hasn't been cruel to me. I like my life, I like what I do. Painting has been my salvation-where I've poured out my pain, where I've begun to heal.
"I don't know if you'd want to be with a woman like me. Until yesterday, I never even considered letting someone into my life. But last night, you walked in without warning I'll admit, I liked that kiss. I haven't felt something
12
Chapter 0460
like that in ten years. You've made me want more. But I don't belong to your world, and I don't think I'm what you're looking for-or what people in your circle expect."
Peter, sitting quietly on the couch, stood and took the coffee cups from her hands, placing them on the table. Then, he stepped forward, wrapped his arms around her waist, and pulled her close. He kissed her deeply, his hand gently tracing her cheek before moving to her neck and collarbone. He took her hand, kissed it, and said:
"Celeste Johnson, I like you. Damn it, I like you too much. Since I've been conscious of my life, you're the first woman who's made me feel this way. Feel my hand-it's sweating. You make me nervous. I'm not a young man anymore, but you make me feel like one
"Forget this nonsense about us being different. Right now, I see only a man, a woman... and a cat. That's all that matters. My so-called 'world' isn't important here. My world is this, right here.
"I want to try something with you. I already told you-I want to think about you, to know I can call you, to do the things a couple does. I want to have coffee with you, go to the movies, walk together, hear about your day. I want to know that after work, I can see you. I want to plan trips with you on weekends.
"I know you have a past. So do I. It's not a pretty one, and one day I'll tell you about it. But for now, what I want you to know is that I like you, and I'm interested in having relationship with you. I'm not talking to a girl -I'm talking to the woman standing in front of me."
With that, Peter gently lifted her chin and kissed her again. Celeste melted into the kiss, letting herself get lost in the moment. When she pulled away, she gave him a look of complicity, then took his hand and led him to her bedroom. She closed the door behind them and pulled him by the collar, returning his kiss with equal passion.