“Of course.” He opened the coat closet and hung up her jacket before motioning behind her. “This is the tiny family room.”
“It’s so cozy!” She walked over to the sofa. “Oh! Here are the kitties.”
“That’s pretty much where they stay too—unless they’re begging for food.” He pointed to his portly orange tabby. “This is Thor.” Then he touched his gray cat. “And this is Loki.”
She gave Thor a head rub, and he opened one eye before rolling over onto his side, facing away from her. “I guess they just want to sleep.”
“Don’t take it personally.”
She laughed. “I won’t.” When she rubbed Loki’s chin, he began to purr. “It’s so nice to meet you both.”
Drew pointed to the kitchen. “Over here is the tiny kitchen, where the table hardly fits.”
“I think it’s adorable.” She set the bakery box on the counter and peered down at the lasagna. “Oh my. This looks amazing.” She spun to face him. “Show me the rest of the house before we eat this incredible meal.”
“It won’t take but a minute.”
She followed him down the short hallway.
He pointed to the right. “The bathroom is here.” Then he opened a door beside it. “Tiny linen closet here.”
She peered into the bathroom. “It’s perfect.”
He pushed on the next door, revealing a desk, bookshelves, and his console piano. “This is my office, music room, and everything else room.”
“Wow.” She stepped into the room and turned, as if taking in every detail. “So nice.” She touched the bookshelves. “You still like to read?”
“I do, but I don’t read as much as I used to.”
“I remember when you always had a novel in your backpack.” Kacey walked past him and he caught a whiff of her sweet perfume, which made his mouth dry. “And this must be your bedroom.” She gripped the doorknob and then craned over her shoulder to look up at him. “Is it okay if I look inside?”
“Of course.”
She pushed open the door and stepped inside his modest bedroom.
He stood in the doorway as she walked around his bed, looking at his dressers, and then spinning to face him.
“I love your house.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “You’re easily impressed.”
“It’s perfect, and since I don’t have a house of my own, I think it’s fantastic.”
She moved closer to where he stood, and he touched her arm as he guided her out and toward the kitchen. “Let’s go enjoy our meal before it gets cold.”
They sat down across from each other at the table and began to eat their salad. While they ate, they discussed the Christmas Tree Lighting Festival and reminisced. Soon their salad, garlic bread, and lasagna were finished, and she helped him carry their dishes to the counter.
“I have a surprise for you.”
“Oh?” She rubbed her hands together. “I love surprises! What is it?”
“I’m working on a song, and I’d like to share it with you.”
“I’d love to hear it.”
His hands began to sweat as she followed him toward his office, where he sat down at the piano, and she stood beside him.
Closing his eyes, he began to play the song, which had been inspired when he first reconnected with Kacey. His fingers flew over the piano as the melodious sound filled the room and a vision of her beautiful face filled his mind. When he finished, he opened his eyes and found her watching him, her eyes shining.
