She watched me carefully and I knew she was trying to take my temperature. I reached out and squeezed her knee.
“I’m fine, baby. Things are better with him gone. I did hear some news.”
“Oh?”
“He and Tawny split up.”
“Trinity.”
“Whatever. She’s trying to get a settlement out of him, he wants the ring back, and things are messy.”
“What a surprise,” Tessa said sarcastically.
I drove into an area of Windward with beautiful homes perched on the hillside. It was still in the eastern side of town and only a few blocks from Tessa’s house. “No more talk about my father.”
“Oh, there are some gorgeous places here.” She peered out the window. “Emily and I used to come and daydream about what house we’d buy if we won the lottery.”
I pulled into the driveway of a house. It wasn’t as big as some of the rambling mansions—but I knew Tessa would want a home, not a showpiece. It had lots of glass and lots of natural stone. It reminded me a little of the Langston Windward.
She shot me a confused look. “Ro, what are?—?”
I took her hand and squeezed. “Come and see.”
We exited the car, and I tugged her up the drive. I pulled out a set of keys and unlocked the front door.
Her brow creased. “You have a key?”
“Yep.” Our footsteps echoed in the empty entry. She gasped, taking in the huge open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area. There was a huge stone fireplace that gave me lots of ideas. I imagined warm flames and naked skin on a fur rug. The house also had a gorgeous mountain view out the floor-to-ceiling windows.
“I have a key because this is ours.”
She whirled, brown eyes wide.
“I love your place, but it’s small and very much yours. I thought we could make this place?—”
“Ours. It could be ours.” She pressed her hands to my chest.
I nodded. “That’s what I hoped. What I want.” A home that we would make together.
Her smile bloomed. “I haven’t seen it all, but I love it.”
“There’s an indoor swimming pool.”
Her mouth dropped open.
“And lots of garden for you to transform. And a games room your cousins will love.” I smiled. “They’ll probably never leave.”
“And it’s still walking distance to Emily’s house.”
“Yes. I was thinking we could add a cat door for Simba.”
She grimaced. “Don’t you dare.”
“Hey, he likes me.”
She smiled. “I love you, Ro Langston. Not because you bought us a house, but because you want to make a space that’s ours.”
“I love you too, Tessa Ashford. More than you’ll ever know.” I nuzzled her neck. “My bright sun in the day and my fairy queen at night.”
