Page 74 of Let You Love Me

Joy unfurls in my chest at the invitation. Though it won’t be my first time hanging out with Lane alone, it’s the first time she’s invited me.

The prospect of it has my heart pounding like a fucking teenager.

I place a heart over my chest, willing it to calm the fuck down as I say, “Lane Turner, are you asking me if I want to spend time with you alone?”

Her blush is instantaneous and so fucking adorable, I want to lean down and kiss the cherry-red tinge skating across her cheekbones.

“You’re right.” She waves a hand in dismissal. “Forget I said—”

“Lane,” I place my fingers under her chin and tip her face to mine, “you’re insane if for one second you think I don’t want to get you alone.”

She tugs her lower lip into her mouth with her teeth, and the resounding spike of yearning I feel is like a mule-kick to the chest.

I step even closer, until I can feel the warmth of her breath feathering over my neck. “And for the record, you don’t even have to ask. Just say the word and I’m there.” The red in her cheeks deepens. “In fact, it’ll be the highlight of my week.”

A moment of tense silence follows before she exhales and rolls her eyes, pushing me away. “Oh, yeah. I’m sure it’ll be thrilling, hanging out with the single mom and her daughter.”

“Everythingabout you is thrilling,” I admonish.

She swallows before she groans, and I decide I like seeing her flustered. “Stop. I’m sure you say that to all your female friends.”

“Nope.” I wink before I lean forward and whisper into the shell of her ear. “I’m not in the habit of having friends that are girls. Only you.”

Chapter 18

LANE

Ihold my breathas we pull into the gravel driveway of the lake house.My lake house.

Sometimes I can hardly believe it’s mine, but as I take it in with fresh eyes, I can’t help but wonder what Teagan will think of it when he arrives.

The pale-yellow siding is in need of a good power wash. The roof is covered in moss and water stains, seemingly patched together in spots with tar. Overgrown and weeded landscaping surround the little bungalow, growing wildly by the front door where the small porch has long since been torn off, too weathered and worn to be safe.

Inside, I know firsthand how much more work has to be done. Old kitchen cupboards, stained carpets, and water-stained ceilings. But behind the house, the lake unfurls like a ribbon of spilled ink. A craggy old dock in need of repair connects the large backyard to the strip of blue, which sparkles in the fading sun like a bed of diamonds.

The mere sight of it calms me, fills me with an indescribable amount of peace. This one, unmarred, beautiful thing allows me to see past the house’s flaws and imperfections to the beauty within.

It’s been months since I closed on what is to be my new home, yet every time I come here, it still feels like a dream. It’s surreal that it’s mine.

I step out of my old Honda and retrieve Sophie from the back seat, unbuckling her harness so she can climb out. The second her feet touch the gravel driveway, she runs to the corner of the yard beneath the shelter of the weeping willow.

I’ve only brought her here a handful of times and already, I can see it’s becoming her favorite place to play. I don’t blame her; it’s an amazing spot. I, myself, have imagined summer days out here, dappled in the shade of its branches, curled up with a good book and a glass of lemonade.

I pass the time, waiting for Teagan and the contractor while I walk the property, pulling up a few weeds and dreaming, envisioning the house with a new front porch. Maybe one that wraps around the house for a panoramic view. Or an outdoor fireplace. A gazebo by the water. The possibilities are endless.

The crunch of gravel draws my attention, and I turn in time to see Teagan’s car coming up the drive. I holler at Sophie to stay put and meet him halfway, straining to see his reaction through the reflection of the fading sun glinting off his windshield.

A flash of a smile has the fist of nerves releasing in my stomach before he cuts the engine. His door flings open and he steps out. “This is amazing.” He waves toward the house. “Just look at that view. Damn, Lane, you did good.”

I bite my lip, turning to sweep my eyes over what he sees, then back. “It’s pretty great, isn’t it?”

His blue eyes glitter like the sea, allowing no room for doubt. “I don’t know what you got this place for,” he says, “but even withall you’ll have to put into it, it’s worth it. Just for this yard and the lake and that view.” He shakes his head, awestruck in a way that sends a rush of warmth unspooling inside me like a skein of yarn.

“I know. If only I had more time and money,” I say, my tone wistful. “Then we could get it to where we need it, so we can move in.”

If it were just me, I’d stay here now. But with the leaky ceiling and musty carpets, I’d rather wait for Sophie’s sake.

All in good time.