Page 72 of Reckless (Adventures in Love 3)
Feeling anxious, I grab my keys off the counter in the kitchen, then head outside, where I pull the four-wheeler out from the shed and park it next to the front porch. When she comes outside a few minutes later, I place a helmet on her head, then make sure she’s securely behind me before I take off up the road that now leads the way to the house that will one day be ours. As we get closer, the dark wood frame comes into view, and a sense of pride fills me. Growing up, I always wanted a place that was mine, a place that I wouldn’t have to worry about moving from. And I might not have been able to get it then, but I have it for myself now, not only in the form of the house before me but also in the woman behind me. She’s become my home, a place I feel safe, wanted, and loved.
“They put in the windows,” she says behind me as I shut down the engine, her hands on my waist growing tight. “It’s so beautiful already.”
“It is. I just hope this weather holds so they can continue to work.” I give her hands a squeeze before I help her off the four-wheeler, then remove her helmet before taking off mine. Last summer, the builders were able to get the foundation laid and the frame and siding put up, but then they had to put things on hold over the winter when it was too cold to work. Two months ago they got back on the job, and since then they’ve gotten a lot of work done, so with any luck the place will be ready to move in to by the end of summer this year.
“I know we’re supposed to have some rain coming up, but with any luck they’ll still be able to work inside,” she says, leaning into me while we walk hand in hand into the house through the three-car garage. When we get inside, she lets me go to have a look around the combined kitchen and living room, which is better than I imagined it would be. The ceilings are tall, and there’s a triangular window in the living room looking over the land below, as well as one large single-pane window in the kitchen above where the sink will be and sliding glass doors that will lead to the deck, which has yet to be built.
“Let’s check the master.” I lead her to the stairs, which are still unfinished, and walk behind her up to the second floor. When we reach the bedroom, I smile at the look of awe on her face. The view below is nice, but from up here we can see everything from the mountains to the town in the valley below.
“This is giving me princess vibes.” She laughs, spinning to face me. “Do you love it?”
“I do.” I walk to where she’s standing, then take her hand and lead her into the bathroom. When we get there, the overly large claw-foot tub that they delivered today is in its place on the tiled floor in front of a large octagonal window.
“Maverick.” She spins to face me and wraps her arms around my shoulders while resting her forehead on my chin. “I have a confession.” She tips her head back to meet my gaze. “I knew about the tub.” She shakes her head. “But I had no idea that it was going to look like this.”
“You knew about it?”
“I saw where you had drawn it into the blueprints.” She smiles at me. “But I honestly forgot about it until right now.”
“Sneak.” I smile, kissing her nose as she laughs.
“Sorry, but in all fairness you left them out in the open.” She walks to the tub and climbs inside. I watch her for a moment, then go to her and urge her forward so that I can get in behind her. “Will you take baths with me?” she asks quietly, lacing her fingers with mine.
“You wet and naked is not something I’m going to miss out on.” I smile as she laughs again, then wrap my arm around her upper chest when she leans back against me.
“This is nice.” She turns her head so that she can look out the window, and I do the same, just enjoying the moment of quiet with her in a house that will someday be our home.
“This time next year we should be settled in here,” I say softly, kissing the side of her head, then reach into the pocket of my jeans and pull out the ring I’ve had there since the guys told me earlier today that the bathtub was in place. Grasping her left hand, I hold it up in front of us and rub my fingers down her ring finger before sliding the platinum band with a large solitary diamond down over her knuckle. Her breath comes to a stop against my chest, and the silence that fills the space becomes almost deafening.
