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“He was never going to take it well. Can you think of a better way to handle it?”
After a moment’s consideration, he shook his head. “Yeah, I got nothing.”
“Look, I didn’t do this just for myself. I know Gabi’s headed off to school in a couple of months, and your plans haven’t been firmed up yet, but there’s room for all of us here.”
Gabi bumped Rios on the shoulder. “Can you get over your overprotectiveness and look at the opportunity we have here? We can make our own home. A real one. No more tiptoeing around. No more having to abide by all his rules. Don’t you want that?”
“Of course I want that.”
I knew then that we had him. He could never say no to Gabi.
“Fine. The lease is signed. We might as well make the most of it.”
“Yay!” She bounced up and threw her arms around him, pressing a noisy kiss to his stubbled cheek. “Let’s start talking about paint colors and who gets which room.”
My sister’s excitement fueled my own as I gave them the grand tour, such as it was. Room by room, we discussed the work that needed to be done. As I had said to Hoyt, the place needed a lot of TLC. There were probably bigger things that would need to be done in the long term. But he’d told me straight out that I could paint whatever I wanted. I’d never been able to choose a color for my room before. The idea of it filled me with a ridiculous level of excitement.
In the end, Gabi and I got the bedrooms on the top floor, and Rios was taking the bottom. I suspected he chose that one because he’d be closest to the door, should we have any unplanned visitors.
“Well, there’s a hell of a lot of painting that needs to be done before we move in,” he announced. “That’ll give us time to get some air mattresses and other basics. At least you’ll have a work crew.”
I looked up from the notebook where I’d been making lists of projects. “Oh?”
“Ford and Jace get back on-island tomorrow. I’ll round up both of them and Sawyer. With all six of us, we ought to be able to make short work of this.”
“You don’t have to do that. They’re only just back.” Certainly, the last thing any of his friends wanted to do was to be put to work.
Rios swung an arm around my shoulders. “Let us do something for you for once.”
I leaned into him, soaking up the comfort of family solidarity. This would be a good move for all of us. He’d see.
My phone buzzed with a text, breaking the moment. Pulling it from my back pocket, I glanced at the screen and felt my stomach drop.
Hoyt: We need to talk about something important regarding the house.
Heart tripping with anxiety, I stared at his message and felt my newfound sense of freedom wilt with uncertainty.
Had Hoyt changed his mind?
9
Hoyt
Caroline: Fine.
I might not have been in a relationship in a while, but I was well aware that this concession was hard won.
I hadn’t been trying to start a fight this morning. I’d just wanted to make it clear that I’d be paying for any paint or other materials she’d be using on the house. The hardware store had already set up my account, and I’d called to add her to it first thing, because I didn’t want the burden of the cost of materials to fall on her.
You’d have thought I’d insulted her first born considering how she reacted. At least, that was my interpretation of her text responses. She’d tried to insist she could cover her own costs. I pointed out that anything she did was staying with the house I owned, so it only made sense that I pay for it. She’d finally relented. Grudgingly. I really hoped she didn’t severely limit what she wanted to do just because I was footing the bill. While I wasn’t a rich man, I could certainly afford a bunch of paint.
I wondered if this was going to torpedo my chances at our relationship becoming a real one. Once the subject of her tenancy came up, the question of real or fake dating had been dropped. I hadn’t wanted to do anything to pressure her. Which meant I also hadn’t kissed her or touched her again after that unguarded moment in the kitchen. Even so, the dinner itself had gone great. She liked my cooking—bonus—and we’d enjoyed each other’s company. At least, I thought we had.
Maybe I’d be able to turn it into a more regular thing, given she’d be right next door. Granted, with both of her siblings. But still. I wanted to spend more time with her. Because I just… liked her as a person. Beyond the attraction. Once she loosened up a little from the wine and being out of the public eye, she was really smart and funny, with occasional irreverent remarks I hadn’t expected. I wanted to see what else was under all those layers of caution.
And, okay, also under those layers of fabric. I’d spent half the night fighting the urge to trace those little spaghetti straps where they draped over her shoulders. Proof that I still had a pulse. I could still see them in my head, still imagine what it would’ve been like to nudge them down and follow the trail with my mouth?—
“McNamara, see you in my office?”
