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“I missed you, too.” Hannah took the flowers, her chest warming as she inhaled their sweet scent. “Thank you, but you didn’t have to. It’s been a busy week for both of us.”

“Yes, but I couldn’t stop thinking about you.” He cupped the side of her face and covered her mouth with his, giving her a deep, bone-melting kiss.

“I thought about you a lot, too.”

“Good. So, put those in water and come on. I want to get there before it’s too late.”

Hannah put the roses in a vase of water and grabbed her coat before following him out the door. After he helped her into the car, they drove up the freeway and got off on Madison Avenue, heading past Sunrise Boulevard and into Orangevale.

“Where are you taking me?” Then it clicked. “Are you taking me to see the house you’re buying?”

“Just hang on, we’re almost there.”

Hannah settled back in the seat, laughing. “I hate surprises.”

“I’d never guess.”

“Secrets, too. They always make me feel skeezy.”

He made a left and then a right into a quiet neighborhood, pulling up in front of a house with the sign FOR SALE BY OWNER.

Blake held up a set of keys. “Wanna see the inside?”

“Yes, but . . . How did you get it so fast?”

He climbed out of the car before answering, and she jumped out, coming around the front to stand next to him. Even at night, the street was well lit, and the only sounds were that of a dog barking in the distance. The house itself appeared to be light gray or maybe blue with white trim. It was hard to tell for sure in the yellow streetlight. The yard was well kept, and the driveway didn’t have any cracks.

“This is the one I talked about.”

“But . . . this is a pretty nice neighborhood. How can you afford this?” Hannah realized too late it was really none of her business, but Blake didn’t seem to mind.

“When my parents died, I put my inheritance into an interest-bearing account and never touched it. It grew from there, and when I saw this place, I just knew.”

Blake unlocked the door, and Hannah stepped in. He flipped on the light, and Hannah looked around at the open living room. “This is so great, Blake! I am so happy for you.” She turned around and hugged him hard, elated that he’d wanted to share such a momentous occasion with her.

He squeezed her back, kicking the door shut behind him. “Come on, there’s more to see.”

As he excitedly took her through every room, pointing out all the things he wanted to update and fix, Hannah couldn’t help thinking of his wife. Wondering if they’d had a house together before she died. Was this bittersweet for him?

She hadn’t mentioned her at all since Sunday, figuring when he was ready to share more with her, he would.

“And this is the master bedroom.”

Wow, the room was huge, and the attached bathroom had a deep Jacuzzi tub. Hannah almost started drooling just staring at that jetted paradise.

“Oh, I am so jealous! I would kill for a tub like this.”

Blake’s arms snaked around her from behind, and his mouth pressed against the side of her neck. “You’ll have to come over and try it out with me.”

Hannah shivered at the images his words elicited, and she reached up to rub the back of his neck. “Nice of you to offer to share.”

“Sharing is caring.”

“Oh, is it?”

“Hmm.”

Hannah closed her eyes as Blake’s hands smoothed over her abdomen. “What are you doing?”