Page 24 of Take My Name

“Well, after a developer came out and got the land ready. My dad helped with the framing and floors, then I hired contractors for the electrical and plumbin’. Then I did the rest.”

The corner of her lips tilts up sweetly. “Can I see the inside?”

Inhaling deeply, I nod.

We climb off our horses, and I tie them to a tree before walking up the staircase that leads to the front door. I lift one of my plants and reveal the hideaway key.

“Seriously?” she deadpans.

I grin, laughing. “Don’t get any ideas. I’ll hide it under a different plant now.”

She snorts.

Once I get the door open, I hold it for her and motion for her to go inside.

I follow as she walks into the living room and takes it all in.

“I can’t believe how beautiful this is. It’s so much better than I imagined it’d be.”

Even though it has the cozy vibes and fireplace she wanted, it’s still cold without her warmth added to it. She loved decorating, candles and picture frames, but the only photos I have are the ones of us.

I lead her to the kitchen and get a similar reaction.

“Do you cook here a lot?”

“Yeah, I taught myself after Aunt JoJo kept bringing frozen lasagnas and casseroles because she was worried I wasn’t eatin’ real food. Finally decided it was time to learn, so I took an online class and bought some cookbooks.”

Aunt Josephine’s a chef and manages the Summit Views Restaurant on the resort side. It’s a classy place for couples to have a romantic evening, and since each reservation includes one free dinner, it’s always busy.

“That’s awesome. I bet you’re a good cook too. I can only make food that comes out of a box or can.”

She was the one who wanted a kitchen big enough for us to cook together, so it surprises me that she never learned. It’s not her fault she never did growing up since she was raised with housekeepers and chefs in her parents’ house.

I walk up behind her and murmur close to her ear, “Want me to cook somethin’ for you? A Southern home-cooked meal. You remember those, dontcha?”

She shivers before looking over her shoulder and meeting myhard gaze. Hers drops to my lips and she swallows hard before her eyes find mine again. “I don’t wanna inconvenience you.”

My head’s screaming,inconvenience me! Do it! Stay here and never leave.

“I’m the one who offered,” I reply instead. “C’mon, I’ll show you the rest of the house and I’ll make us lunch.”

“Okay,” she says softly.

Deciding against my better judgment, I grab her hand and lead her down the hall to the rooms. When she doesn’t yank it away, I squeeze tighter and a shiver rolls down my spine at touching her again.

“This is the spare room that we said we’d use as a nursery, but since you wanted to work in publishing, I made it into an office instead.”

There’s a desk and chair facing the large window, with bookcases on either side of the plain walls.

“Why’s it empty? You don’t use it?”

“Because it was meant to be yours. I use the one at the stables and leave work at work, so I don’t need one here.”

She blows out a breath. “Wish I knew that feelin’.”

That makes me wonder if she ever does anything for herself or if her life revolves around her job.

“You should put some books in there. Or paintings on the walls,” she suggests.