‘Do you like it?’ I asked, reaching for his hand.
‘I do. Very much.’
I looked across to the full-length windows and balcony that now faced the bed, taking in the view of what would eventually be the garden, and then up at the man beside me.
‘What?’ he asked, brushing a strand of hair that had broken free of my chignon back from my face, a soft smile on his face. The smile he reserved for me.
‘No one’s ever built me a balcony before.’
‘That’s because you were never with the right man before.’
I wrapped my arms around his waist and looked up. ‘I think you might be right.’
‘No doubt in my mind.’
I looked back at the window and Jesse released me. ‘Go on, I know you’re dying to.’
I grinned, went on tiptoes to kiss him and then turned the key. Opening the door, I stepped through onto the balcony that overlooked what I knew would become a beautiful garden with the fields beyond. With a change around of layout, following Jesse’s suggestion, the bedroom had now been extended and become double aspect, but I’d chosen to place the bed this side because I knew I was more likely to sit here in the morning with a cup of herbal tea than I would in the evening. The opposite side had two squashy bedroom chairs that we could sit in to appreciate the sunset, the full-length windows there being framed by a smaller Juliet balcony.
Once we’d posited the idea of replacing the current windows with full-length ones, I’d mentioned to Jesse that I wanted to put a small seating area here to enjoy the view and get some morning light and air. A few hours later, he’d come to me with a drawing for a balcony extension off the bedroom and it was perfect. I hadn’t even known I’d wanted it – but he’d known. It was just one of the many reasons I loved him.
‘I love it so much. I can’t wait to sit out here with you.’
Jesse leant against the frame of the balcony door. ‘When you arrived, did you think you’d ever be standing here saying how much you loved this house?’
‘Not for one moment. I thought it was the worst decision I’d ever made in my entire life.’
‘And now?’
‘Now I know it was the best.’
His smile lit up his face as the evening sun danced through the leaves of the trees, the warm tones bathing his skin.
‘Best. Decision. Ever.’
‘Good. Now, come on, you need some food, a hot bath and your own bed after all those hotel ones. Well, my bed but as good as.’
‘Oh-h-h-h.’ I tipped my head back for a moment. ‘That sounds absolutely perfect.’
We headed back down the stairs. The carpets and flooring were being laid over the next few days and I couldn’t wait to see the final result. Then came the really fun bit – styling! And this time, I’d be doing it with Jesse. We’d already decided that this was going to be our home. We’d choose things together, make it reallyour home. The connection it had to his family and the fact that we’d been designing and working on it together made it seem the logical, and the right, decision. Together, we had made this house special. It was built with care, and thought – and love.
Love.
‘Jesse?’
‘Yeah?’ He turned, his hand on the latch of the front door.
Terror knotted my inside but I knew I had to say it.
‘What is it?’ he asked, his brow crumpling in concern as he took a few steps back towards where I was standing on the uncarpeted bottom stair.
‘I love you.’
He stopped dead.
Oh, shit! Abort! Abort!
‘I mean I love?—’
