Page 79 of Her Christmas Wish

“I did.” He didn’t even attempt to prevaricate a little bit. Which tightened the knot in her stomach. The man meant business.

In a manner that had to be out of earshot of children.

“Did you ever have a dog growing up?” she blurted out. Hating that she kept losing her tongue around him like some frilly thing that didn’t know better. Leigh wore frills. Sage hadn’t since her mother died.

She was avoiding the coming confrontation. He’d know it.

How humiliating.

“No.”

“Did you want one?” Leigh wanted one. But seemed happy to settle for having nearly a dozen of them wandering in and out of her days.

“Yes. And before you ask, we couldn’t afford it.” His words were somewhat short, but not with a mean bend. More like impatient to move on to his meeting agenda.

She didn’t invite him to the porch. Or offer the tea she’d been prepared to serve.

“I won’t keep you,” he said, and she nodded, grateful that it would be quick. The beheading of whatever dreams she might have been secretly harboring.

“I wanted you to be the first to know I’ve found a place. I intend to make an offer later today.”

What? Sage’s mouth dropped open. That was it? He’d been looking at homes since before his had closed. Had planned to purchase, and then move after the GB Animal Clinics case went to court...

“Um, good!” she said, catching up to him. “Great! Where is it?”

Please, God, overlooking the ocean. Gray’s one stipulation, whenever they’d talked about where they might live, had been that he have an ocean view.

“It’s right here, Sage. On Ocean Breeze.”

Right there?

He thought he was going to move in with her?

Had he lost his mind?

She wasn’t saying no. Or even trying to shake her head. Mouth hanging open again, she just stared at him.

Then, closing it, studied him. And eventually asked, “You’re serious?”

He nodded. That short series of bobs. Looking her right in the eye. As though he could climb inside her and make certain she understood him.

But...he couldn’t just move in with her. They weren’t together.

She didn’t even know yet...

And something else hit her. Iris telling her and Scott that she’d heard that someone had expressed interest in the dilapidated place at the end of the road. No formal offer had been made, but she knew.

“It’s you,” she said aloud, wide-eyed.

“It’s been me since I walked up. You just figuring that out?”

“No, it’s you who expressed interest in the cottage at the end of the road. You’re going to buy it?” She couldn’t keep the excitement out of her voice. Couldn’t stop happiness from flowing through and out of her.

His grin came slowly. “I take it you don’t have a problem with it, then? With us being permanent neighbors?”

Permanent neighbors. Not lovers.

Or parents.