“Who else?I love you.I love Emily.”
She removed her hand from his.“This is a lot to process.”
“I’m not in a hurry,” Paul said easily.“When I finish my contract in San Angelo, I’ll apply to Lost Lake and Eagle Pass.There are always openings for police officers.I can work anywhere.I just want to be close to you.We don’t have to make any set plans other than being together.”
“Are you asking me to move in with you?”
“I’m asking you to look at the property and tell me what you think.I was hoping you’d visit on weekends, but you’re welcome to move in.It’s a shorter drive for both of us.I’d like to spend time together in an actual home.”
“You want to play house.”
“No.I’m not playing.”
She glanced at Emily again.Then she turned toward him, nibbling her lower lip.“I’m willing to look at this house and offer my opinion.I like the idea of meeting somewhere other than a Motel6 but I’m not ready to give up my apartment.We have to make it clear to Emily that the place will be yours, notours.”
“And the kitten?”
“You can have all the kittens you want, Paul.Just don’t tell Emily she can take one home to Lost Lake.”
“Fair enough.”
They waited for Emily to tire of the playground before setting off.Vanessa followed Paul in her SUV.They passed the main drag, which boasted a gas station and convenience store, along with a few other businesses.Arden’s only claim to fame was its proximity to Catarina, a Western-style ghost town on the same route.
Paul took a left turn on a lonely country road.Five minutes later, they arrived at the ranch house.Gravel crunched beneath his tires as he parked out front.He felt a frisson of nerves as Vanessa pulled in beside him.The place was rustic, and Vanessa… wasn’t.With her glossy dark hair and perfectly manicured nails, she looked more like a rich man’s mistress than the girlfriend of a cowboy cop.She was so damnedbeautiful.
Fortunately, he had an ace in his pocket: Emily.She ran in a circle around the property with airplane arms.There were several trees to explore.Although none made for easy climbing, she declared one suitable for a treehouse.Then she asked to meet the livestock, which included three noisy goats and a very fat pig.
“What’s his name?”she asked, pointing to the pig.
“Wilbur.”
She turned to Vanessa.“Mommy, I want him.”
Paul couldn’t hide his smile as Vanessa grasped Emily’s hand and gently led her away.“Let’s go look at the house.”
Emily hop-skipped toward the front door.Paul unlocked it and let them inside.He’d inspected the place earlier in the week, so he knew it wasn’t impressive.The living room had nothing but a large multi-paned window.There was a fridge in the kitchen, along with a square table and three chairs.Vanessa strode forward with her arms crossed over her chest.She perused the space, perhaps noting the lack of a dishwasher, and glanced out the back window.
Paul inhaled a hopeful breath.
“The view is nice,” she said.
He nodded an agreement at the spare compliment.If she meant the exterior was better than the interior, she was right.The allure of this property was the land and trees, fresh air and farm animals.
“Are you going to live here with Wilbur?”Emily asked him.
“I might live here, but Wilbur isn’t invited inside.”
“What about me?Am I invited inside?”
“Yes.”
Emily scampered past him and ran down the hall.There was a single bath, rather old-fashioned with a claw-foot tub and a pedestal sink.The first bedroom had a twin bed with a new mattress, still covered in plastic, and a single window.Vanessa continued to the second bedroom.It was more spacious, with a large, four-poster bed.The sight brought a smile to her lips.
Emily tested this mattress, also new, by climbing on the surface.After a few jumps, she declared it “bouncy enough.”
Vanessa sighed and slipped her arm around his waist.
“Yeah?”he asked.
