Page 85 of The Bitterroot Inn (Jamison Valley 5)
“Do you want to stay and play or come upstairs?” I asked Coby.
“Upstairs.” He pushed off the floor and sprinted past me to catch up with Hunter, sticking close to his side while we toured the spacious second floor.
With each room Hunter showed us, I fell more and more in love with his empty house. The spare bedrooms were large and airy. The Jack and Jill bathroom that separated two of them was lit with a bright skylight. The bonus room above Hunter’s four-car garage was enormous, perfect for a home theater and gaming room.
If I hadn’t already been falling, the master suite would have won my love. “This is . . .” I didn’t have the right word.
The far back wall was filled with windows overlooking the trees behind Hunter’s house. The ceilings had been vaulted and an iron chandelier hung down from the center. Hunter’s only piece of furniture, a California-king-sized bed, looked nearly too small for the expansive space.
“It’s a big house,” Hunter said, looking out a window. “Do you think it’s ostentatious?”
I shook my head. “It’s just right.” While his neighbors had homes that screamed “money,” Hunter’s home was the perfect blend of lavish and comfort. All of the finishes were top-of-the-line—it was clear he had invested money here—but they were tasteful. And it wasn’t too big.
“Bathroom?” I pointed to the door in the far corner of the room, then let my feet follow my finger. My jaw fell open as I took in the space. “This is nicer than a spa.”
Hunter chuckled from the doorway behind me as I inspected the floor-to-ceiling marble tile. Then I opened the door to the adjoining walk-in closet.
“Okay. This is just not fair. Your closet is barely smaller than my entire bedroom.”
“Let me see.” Coby pushed his way past my hip and into the closet. He drove his car along the custom-built shelves, then came right back out. “Is it time for dinner yet? When can we get my cheeseburger?”
I shook my head and muttered, “No appreciation.”
“Huh?” he asked.
“Nothing, little man. Let’s go to dinner.”
“Let’s race! I’m gonna win!” he yelled as he raced out of the room and disappeared down the hall.
“Now that you’ve seen it all, are you going to help me make this livable?” Hunter asked as we slowly followed Coby.
“Totally.” I smiled. “I’m super excited to spend all your money.”
He chuckled and took hold of my hand. “What would you think about making one of these rooms up for Coby?” He pointed into a spare bedroom as we walked by its door.
My ankle rolled and I crashed into his side. Had he just asked us to move in here? Did he think we were ready for that big of a step? Because I wasn’t. Not yet.
“For sleepovers,” Hunter clarified as he helped me regain my balance.
“Oh, gotcha. Then yes.” I nodded. “I’m sure he’d like to have his own spot.”
“I don’t want to rush things.”
“Me neither.”
“But . . . I’d like you to think about living here one day. When you’re decorating, pick things you’d like in your own home. We need some time, but in the future, I want you and Coby with me.”
I laced my fingers with his. “I can do that.”
We did need time and I was glad Hunter recognized that too. While I had no intention of ending our relationship, living together would be rushing too fast. Yes, Hunter was practically living in the loft, but we still had separate homes. I wasn’t quite ready to share an address.
Having sleepovers here, on the other hand? Those were starting as soon as the bare essential furnishings arrived. I couldn’t wait to spend a night out here, then cook a big breakfast in his fancy kitchen.
“Can you live out here?” Hunter asked as I followed him down the stairs.
“What do you mean?”
“I guess I didn’t think about the inn. Do you need to live in town?”
