“It’s OK. I promise you he doesn’t mind it. This was Millie’s, yes, but for the rest of the summer, it’syours.”
I bite my lip, looking up at him. “Not the whole summer, just six weeks, right?”
He smirks, pulling his hands off me and sliding them into his pockets. “If you start making it into work on time, I might consider letting you stay the rest of it.”
I purse my lips. “You sure you can handle the bruises from my clumsiness?” My eyes drop to his chest.
“You’ll have to hit harder if you’re tryin’ to leave a mark,” he rasps out, his breath just above me.
I look up like I might have misheard, but the flirtation in his gaze is unmistakable. “All right,” I breathe out. “I’ll stay.”
“Wise choice. Come on. All your stuff is already inside.”
I follow behind, ignoring the daunting name above the mailbox as I walk through the ocean-blue door.
He flicks the light on, and I blink at the brightness as I follow him inside. It’s an open floor plan, with a white kitchen and marble countertop, dark hardwood floors with blue and grey oriental rugs.
The décor is right out of a farmhouse magazine. Ivory couchand loveseat, oakwood furniture, plants .?.?.everywhere. It’s as beautiful inside as it is on the outside.
“Wilder, this place is so adorable.” I step into the kitchen, looking up at the high ceiling. “Is that a skylight? I love those.”
He laughs softly as he leans against the counter. “Yeah. We rebuilt it a few years back. There was a small fire in the kitchen. It was no big deal. Millie had a .?.?. mishap.”
“Oh no, was she all right?” It feels awkward to ask that now.
He smiles at the memory. “She was fine. Dallas teased her for weeks, claiming she just wanted a new kitchen.” He swipes a finger against the marble. “Didn’t stop him from comin’ in here every day to build it for her.”
I avoid asking questions about Millie, even though I want to know everything. Not just about Millie, but Dallas and Silas too.
About Wilder.
Their parents. I know their dad is still around, but no one talks about their mother.
He clears his throat. “I’ve got to get going, but there’s a fully stocked fridge and cabinets of fresh groceries.”
“Really?”
“I raided The Shack earlier. When your brother started asking questions, I told him I was moving you in here tonight.”
“What’d he say to that?” I ask as I pop open the fridge.
“He was annoyed. Said he had a bet going with his sous chef on how long you’d make it in a cabin. His money was on you not lasting a week.”
I laugh. “Surprised you didn’t take that bet.”
He doesn’t laugh with me. “I wouldn’t. I wanted to bring you back here sooner, but knowing how you feel about this being Millie’s place, I .?.?. had to clear some things out first.”
“Wilder—”
“It had to get done,” he says quickly. “Not like my brother was going to do it.” I watch him until he turns to leave. “Anyway, I’lllet you get settled.”
I follow him out the door. “Wilder,” I call until he stops and turns back around. “You’re busy enough. You didn’t have to come back here and prep this house for me.”
He rubs the back of his neck. “Yeah, well, maybe it was for selfish reasons.”
“How do you figure that?”
His eyes roam my face. “Maybe now you’ll get some sleep and get to work on time.” He offers me a small smile. And for once the word “sleep” doesn’t sound so evil.
