Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157672 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 788(@200wpm)___ 631(@250wpm)___ 526(@300wpm)
When she flips to the last page, she inhales deeply.
“Talon, what am I seeing?”
Her question hangs in the air until she raises her face to mine. “Is this… is this yours?”
“It’s ours.”
“Ours?”
“You don’t like it, we’ll start over.”
She jerks back. “This isn’t a recipe gone wrong. This is a house. A huge house. You don’t just start over.”
“I meant the plans. You want something different, say the word.”
She thumbs back to the first page, this time reading with a shaky whisper.
“This is everything I’ve ever wanted. It’s my dream house. How did you know all this?”
“It’s my job to know.”
She squints, studying me with disbelief.
“Baby, you told me. Every time you visit Ford and Rowan’s construction, you come back animated with the details. The weekend you helped Jewls, you gushed over everything from her closets to her fucking trim work.”
“She has a wine room!”
“Her in-laws are also invested in a winery. And Harley’s kitchen is the shit, but babe, you describe it like it’s a damn magical realm.”
“She has a pot filler!”
“No shade but she didn’t even know how to cook when she hooked up with Ace.”
“Well, now she has a magnificent kitchen.”
“Ours will be better because it will have your mark.”
“Talon, I don’t think… This is way too much.”
I knew this was coming and planned accordingly. “Okay, we’ll shelve it. But fair warning, we’re gonna need somewhere to go when Ford and Rowan’s house is ready. The Whitmans aren’t kicking me out, but they want to speed up their plans to get down here full-time.”
The last part is a lie, but it fits into my agenda.
She nods slowly, confusion in her expression. “Yes, okay, that makes sense.”
“We can consider renting somewhere, but not a huge fan of throwing away two-to-three thousand a month on rent.”
“We can go to the townhome.”
“I’ll consider it if Rosie and Lynden agree to take money.”
“They won’t accept that.”
“Just as well. Not to be a dick, but I’m not eager to live in a place where that fuckwad ex of yours stayed with you.”
She flinches, a flash of repulsion crossing her features. “I don’t want that either.”
“Then we’ll look for places this weekend after your graduation.”
“What about throwing money away?”
“Ace and Harley are about to have a newborn. Jewls and Major have their hands full. Ford and Rowan are about to be newlyweds. Not many options out there and we’re sure as fuck not going back to two separate places. You got any other ideas?”
“I, um… well, this just happened. I need to think.”
“While you’re thinking, we’ll check out apartments.”
“Apartments don’t have yards for Wolf.”
“We’ll find something and compromise.”
She nods sadly, glancing back at the papers. “This is a gorgeous house.”
Now we’re getting somewhere.
“One day it will be.”
“You own the lot on the corner next to Ford?”
It’s a statement more than a question.
“Thought you knew that.”
“You never specifically said, but I always wondered if it was yours.”
“We bought at a great deal. You don’t like it, we’ll go somewhere else.”
Her head pops up. “Why wouldn’t I like it?”
“Not sure.”
“I love it, and the neighborhood is amazing.”
“Glad to hear because I don’t want to do this shit forever.”
“What shit?”
“My time in the service, I lived in different places around the world before coming to Nashville. Nothing wrong with the deal we got to live in the Whitmans’ place, but it was never permanent. You’re not ready, but eventually, Princess, I want permanent.”
At the word, her eyes go wide.
Tears puddle and fall down her cheeks. “You didn’t even want to tell me you applied for a new job.”
“For months, I’ve been watching and listening, cataloging your wishes. It took the architect a few extra days to get those specs over. I waited to tell you about SWAT until everything was in place and you knew the whole picture.”
“It’s spontaneous, impulsive, and slightly irresponsible to ask your girlfriend of a few months to build a home with you.”
“You’ve been mine since that first kiss. I don’t fucking want to waste time on the bullshit when I know where we’re headed.”
The tears come in streams now, her lips quivering. “I want to give you permanent.”
“Then tell me what you think. We waiting to do this shit, or are we moving forward?”
The papers fall as she launches herself around me. Her lips seal over mine, the taste of salty tears and sweet lip balm filling my mouth.
I squeeze her ass, hoisting her higher and sweeping my tongue before twirling it with hers. She gives over control, slanting her head and giving me deeper access.
My body strings tight, wanting more but knowing I can’t throw her down and fuck her in a field at twilight.
“Fuck, babe, is that yes?” I tear away, feeling her heart race against my chest.
“Yes,” she whispers breathlessly.
I grin against her lips and she pulls back, her gaze raking over me. “You’re gloating.”