She locked her car—a total city girl move that wasn’t necessary here in Burton—and walked slowly toward the porch steps.
“Nash, this is—your house. It’s gorgeous.”
“Thanks.” My hands in the pockets of my jeans, I rocked back on my heels. “I took my time to make it happen—lots of years of planning, finding the right architect and the perfect artisans, too. Reggie and I wanted this to be a sort of show piece to demonstrate what green development can look like when it’s done right.”
“I can’t wait to see the inside.” She climbed the steps toward me.
Taking her overnight bag, I held out one hand. “Come on, then. I can’t wait to show you.”
I’d already unlocked the front door, so now I nudged it open, stepping back so that Peyton could enter first. She stood in the expansive foyer, looking around, turning in a slow circle.
From this vantage point, we could see almost the entire first level. The open concept kitchen, breakfast nook, and dining room flowed easily into the great room with its massive fireplace taking up one wall.
“You have a fireplace?” Peyton glanced at me, one brow raised. “Is that a green option?”
“Bio-ethanol,” I responded. “It’s the best eco-friendly choice. The rest of the house is run on solar, with some wind-turbine input as well. You can’t see it tonight—too dark—but I have a field behind the house with my solar receiving cells and another with windmills beyond that.”
“This is a total dream house.” Peyton wandered into the kitchen, exclaiming over the appliances, the counter space, the extra sink in the island. She peered out the window in the breakfast nook, but the sun had set, and it was hard to see anything.
“There’s a deck out that door,” I told her, gesturing to the far wall of the nook. “It’s perfect for coffee in the spring and fall. It can be a little too warm this time of year, but I can still sit out there and enjoy a beer in the evenings.”
She eyed me speculatively over her shoulder. “Maybe I can get a better look tomorrow morning.”
“You most definitely can.”
I led her around the rest of the first level, pointing out the powder room and my office, before we moved upstairs.
“I actually went a little overboard here with the guest bedrooms,” I confessed. “I built this place while Max was in high school, so he only lived here for a few years, and then off and on during college breaks. But I still keep a room for him, all the same.”
“I don’t blame you for that.” Peyton smiled. “We like the idea that our chicks can always come back to the nest, even it’s only for a visit.”
“True,” I agreed. “I have three other bedrooms up here—they’re furnished, but just barely. Each one has an ensuite bathroom. Reggie had the idea that if we were able to design our super green community, we could invite some investors or other interested visitors to see what we’d done, and they could stay here with me.” I chuckled, shaking my head. “Reggie’s always scheming.”
“It’s a good plan.” Peyton peeked into the bedrooms, pausing the longest in the doorway of Max’s room. “Oh, look, you still have his trophies and pictures from school in here! Does he love it?”
“He tolerates it,” I replied. “Since I’ve been back from our reunion, I’ve been thinking of rechristening it the Glory Days suite.”
Peyton laughed. “Great idea.” She pulled Max’s door shut and turned to face me. “Now I want to see your room.”
I took her hand, knitting our fingers together. “Hmm, I don’t know. I’ve never had an overnight guest sleep there. You’ll be the first.”
She reached up to touch my cheek. “We can’t be each other’s firsts in many ways, so if you don’t mind, I’ll take what I can get. I’d love to be the one to take your bedroom guest virginity.” She giggled. “Okay, I think that metaphor went a little off course.”
“I understand, and I am honored that you’re my first.” Still holding her hand, I led her down the hall to a door separated from the rest of the upstairs. I touched a panel just inside the doorway so that lights rose to a soft glow.
“Oh, my God, Nash.” Peyton brought her fingertips to her mouth. “This room is a dream. It’s got space without being cavernous . . . whoever your decorator was, their talent is insane. I’d stay here forever.”
I dropped her bag onto the carpeted floor and pulled her against me. “Well, that’s the plan, sweetheart.”
She cocked her head, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “Are you planning to hold me here?”
“No, I’d never take your freedom, Peyton.” I cupped her cheek in my hand. “If you were bound in anyway, it would be of your own free will. I want to make you so happy that you want to stay.”
“Nash.” She whispered my name and rose up to kiss me, her lips igniting a blaze when they touched mine. I held her close, wrapping my arms around her so that our bodies meshed, not a fraction of space between us.
“I want to tell you something, but I’ve been thinking about it a long time, and I’m afraid it could come off . . . creepy. Or weird.” I looked down at her speculatively. “Will you promise not to turn around and speed back to Savannah if I trust you with a truth?”
A faint line creased Peyton’s brow. “Ummm, that lead-in is a little concerning, but I trust you. Lay it on me.”
