Page 22 of More Than A Fixer-Upper (Hope Runs Deep #13)

Chase

Rosalie and I head upstairs together, and the girls start giggling, singing that old rhyme about us sitting in a tree. I stick my tongue out at them. I’ve known most of them since they were in kindergarten except Hailey.

“Remember, Hails,” I tease, “I’ve got pictures from your first date.”

“Don’t forget I’ve got stories for Rosalie,” she fires back.

“You do?” Rosalie perks up, eyes wide with curiosity.

“Away with you, woman,” I say dramatically. “There will be no story time tonight.”

The girls burst into laughter, and Rosalie and I can’t help but join in.

“You seem lighter tonight,” she says as she heads into the bathroom to change and brush her teeth.

I follow her in, grabbing my toothbrush.

“Tonight was a good night,” I admit. “I worried all day about how it would go.”

I glance at her through the mirror, swallowing hard. “I worked so much growing up, I never got to know my siblings the way you know your kids. Now they only message me when I stop their allowance or make them deal with Dad.”

I tell her about forgetting the auto transfers how my millionaire brother and high-powered attorney sister never paid me back. She’s stunned. I’ve calculated I sent them around $250,000 after they graduated college. That doesn’t even count what I gave up when I dropped out of high school.

Later, I make love to Rosalie slow, careful, reverent. I kiss away every moan, every cry of pleasure. I keep her in my arms all night.

My alarm goes off too early. Rosalie groans, pulling the blanket over her head. I kiss her temple before heading to the shower, mixing her body wash with mine so I can carry her scent with me all day.

“I’m all in,” I whisper into her hair before leaving her room.

Seth pulls up to the bed and breakfast and grins. “Good night?” he calls out as I walk toward him.

I flip him off, laughing. “It was a good night. The kids didn’t make me want to run. I spent time with Rosalie. Woke up with her in my arms. It makes me want this every day. I want to come home to this.”

“Does she feel the same?”

“I don’t know. We need to talk.”

The crew starts showing up around eight thirty. We divide up projects some guys head to the roof, others check the porch. I assign foremen based on strengths. I want them to know I see their work and value it.

The hardware company delivers most of the shingles. Around ten, Drew stumbles out of the house, yawning and tugging on a T-shirt.

“Sorry I’m late. Forgot to set my alarm.”

“I wasn’t expecting you today,” I say. “You were up late. If you want to skip, it’s fine.”

Drew shakes his head. “School starts next week. I’ve only got a few days left to work. What can I do?”

“Grab those gloves. See all those shingles and nails?” I point to the pile. “They need to go to the dumpster. It’s clean up for now, but we’ll get you building soon. Not glamorous.”

“It’s work, and I’m happy to be working.” He smiles. “Hailey was snoring, so I didn’t want to wake her.”

“Yeah, she’s not a morning person unless she decides to be.”

We work until lunch. Rosalie steps outside in a T-shirt and jean shorts.

“I made lunch. Drew, come help me bring it out?”

He nods and looks at me. I wave him on.

She made chicken pasta and salad. It’s damn good. I kiss her in front of the crew, who hoot and holler. I help her clean up.

“You told me you’re all in this morning,” she says.

“You heard me?”

She nods.

“I want to come home to you and the kids. Last night made me feel alive like I’m part of a family I’ve never had before.”

“I want that too,” she says. “We’ll talk more with the kids. But Mr. Keaton, I want dates.”

I laugh and kiss her again.

Seth and I stay late. I show him the cabin plans, and he loves the idea. He adds some input, and we sketch out possibilities.

I let Rosalie know I won’t be there tonight guys’ night with Adam, Seth, and Gerald at the local bar. We do it once a week. She kisses me goodbye and says she’ll see me tomorrow.

The girls are leaving after dinner. Luke and Micah left after lunch. Rosalie and the kids are hanging out tonight, making school supply lists and prepping for shopping.

The smile doesn’t leave my face. Not even when I walk into the bar and see my father with Lacy. He’s collecting her money while she sneers at me. He orders drinks like nothing’s changed.

She doesn’t care. I don’t either.

He’s not my problem anymore.

The weight of the world is off my shoulders.

I’m finally free to be me.