Page 13 of Pick Yourself Up (Heroes to the Core #3)

He grinned. “I take it you know all that from working in hotels. Do you want to take over the cooking job once this place is running?”

Her laugh was self-deprecating. “Not a chance. I don’t mind cooking, but I don’t love it. And I’m nowhere near talented enough to cook for a B&B or an inn.”

The fact that she was planning the future in her head excited him. Renovating this building was going to take months. Or longer. There was a lot of space to fix up.

Renovating the farmhouse would keep her here. Running it would keep her here longer.

His gardens would do the same for him. With it being fall, he would be figuring out the disaster and prepping it for the spring. He’d get the basics in shape and plan a general layout. Then he’d work on the details over the winter.

That would give him time to help Amber prepare this space.

And plenty of time to spend with her.

For the first time in a while, the future excited him.

He wanted this. Wanted to live on an apple farm and spend time in the gardens.

Work to increase biodiversity and heal the earth.

He wanted to grow flowers, create specialty gardens, and grow food to feed their group. And maybe even Amber’s future guests.

He’d have to expand the size of the future vegetable gardens with that in mind. There had to be a suitable space for berry bushes. They’d take a few years to grow before they produced, but fresh fruit aside from the apples would be a plus.

He had friends who would love this place. Friends who could contribute to the overall plan with their areas of interest.

Amber’s soft hand touched his arm. “Did we lose you?”

He patted her hand, loving the freedom to do that.

“No, but you’ve got my head spinning, Amber.

I’m seeing months and years down into the future here.

I’ve got friends who might love to be here.

Babs is a fabulous cook. Maybe chef. I’m not sure, but I’m sure he’d love this kitchen.

And I’m wondering if the apples could be turned into juice and cider and vinegar.

Alice is a brewmaster, and he’d probably have great ideas in that department. ”

Amber laughed. “The callsigns you all use are hilarious. Babs and Alice?”

He grinned. “They kind of match with your brother Annie. Callsigns are weird, but we stop noticing that and they sound normal after a bit. Babs is Seth Walters. Alice is Nash Cooper.”

There was a beat of silence. “I can’t make the connections to their callsigns. Yours makes sense because Santoro is close to Santa. But the others?”

“Seth shares his surname with Barbara Walters, who was a newscaster. Barbara was too long, so it got shortened to Babs. Alice is named after Alice Cooper, the rock singer.”

Her laugh filled him up. “I get it now. It’s got to be strange to have a big, strong military man with a woman’s name. Knox never minded being Annie, so I’m guessing the others are the same?”

“They are. It’s not as if anyone is dumb enough to make fun of the callsigns. Well, not someone who doesn’t know them personally or isn’t part of the military. For us, making fun of callsigns is fair game.”

He could hear her smile in the darkness. “You’re all silly little boys at heart, aren’t you?”

A laugh burst out of him. “You got it. We like giving each other shit, but if anyone else tries to pull that off, we’ve got each other’s backs.”

She sighed softly. It was a happy sound. “Like a family.”

“Exactly like that.”

“I was worried about my brothers being overseas when they were on missions, but it was nice knowing they were in teams that acted like families. It made it easier waiting for the next contact.”

He pulled her in for a gentle hug. “My mamma always said the same thing. She said my teammates were honorary Italians because we always protected each other.”

“I think I would have liked your mom.”

“And she would have loved you. You’d have definitely made the honorary Italian list. Her highest compliment.”

Her small arms squeezed him. “Thanks.”

He didn’t want to rush their brand-new relationship, so he kissed her hair and released her. “Let’s see what else is on this floor. There are three doors leading off this kitchen.”

The exterior door led to another covered porch, but they didn’t go out that way.

One door led to a pantry, the other to a small hallway with three more doors and another stairway leading up.

The first was a small powder room that desperately needed an upgrade.

Then a huge laundry room, empty of appliances, but with counters, cupboards, sink, and room for two sets of washers and dryers.

The final door led to a pleasant surprise. A complete little suite that might have been for a cook or servants at one time. A living space, a bedroom with enough room for a king bed, and a bathroom, that was the most recently renovated space they’d seen.

The tall windows in the bedroom and living space looked onto the forest edging the property and the space that would be gardens when he was done with it.

He watched Amber’s smile widen and soften as she looked around the suite. He imagined she was picturing it with fresh paint and trim on the windows. Maybe even imagining herself there.

“This is perfect.” Her whisper, not meant for his ears, confirmed his suspicion.

When she moved to check out the bathroom, she reached for the faucet, but hesitated. “I’m not sure I’m ready to test the water yet. I’d rather have the whole overview done before causing any problems.”

Gray nodded. “Good idea. We should have Ford on hand when we try the plumbing for the first time.”

And that would give them more time alone for now. “Do you want to head up the stairs and check out the rest, or leave it for another day?”

“I’m going to head up, but feel free to go work on your gardens.”

He grabbed her hand. “No way. I’m dying to see what’s up there.”

And hoping to spend more time alone with her.

She squeezed his hand, and they returned to the front lobby to use the grand staircase.

Boomer led, sniffing his way up the stairs and to the right, down the hallway. Their lights showed lots of doors along both hallways leading off the staircase.

Like the main floor, no debris littered the floor. Some rooms were empty, while others had sheet-covered furniture.

He could feel Amber’s excitement vibrating in the air. “The rooms all have their own bathrooms. They need upgrading, but that means we don’t have to move walls, and that’s a huge bonus. Moving walls costs a fortune and takes so much time.”

“Sounds like you’re committed to renovating the house and turning it into a mini hotel.”

Her smile flashed. “I am. I was waffling before this. Now, I can’t stop picturing how they’ll look once they’re done. The building is amazing. It’s got so much heart and charm. The rooms will each have their own unique style and themes. It’s going to sparkle, Gray.”

“Just like you.”

And then they were kissing again.