“That’s for sure,” I muttered around a sip of coffee just as the front door opened and Henry’s familiar footsteps echoed in the space.
When he turned the corner into the kitchen, a warmth filled me at the sight of him in a Henley shirt, dark jeans, and work boots.
Just like he wore up at the cabin in Maine.
“Morning,” he murmured as he approached and brushed his lips against mine.
“Morning,” I sighed into him. “Although technically it’s afternoon now.”
“Time is all relative.” He winked before his expression turned serious, his analytical gaze sweeping over me. “How do you feel?”
“Surprisingly…peaceful.”
“Good.” He gave my leg a squeeze before shifting his attention to my mother and quirking a brow.
“It’s okay. I told her my plan,” she assured him.
I snapped my eyes between my mom and Henry.
“You knew about this?” I asked.
“I only found out this morning when she mentioned it,” he explained.
“Told me if I didn’t tell you, he would,” Mom added. “Something about refusing to keep secrets from you.” She gave me a sly wink.
“I promised she could visit any time she wants. And you can visit her any time you want. It’s a short flight. Plus, I’ve been thinking about buying a place in Manhattan. This would be a good excuse.”
“You’d buy a place in Manhattan just for me?” I asked in disbelief.
“I do have a branch of my company there. But yes. If it gives you peace of mind to know you have a home up there, too, I’ll buy you a place in Manhattan. Hell, we can move up there if you want.”
I instinctively scrunched up my nose at the thought. While I grew up near New York City, the idea of living there didn’t appeal to me. Not anymore. Not after Henry.
“I like the farmhouse better.”
“Me, too.” He touched a soft kiss to my mouth. “Does this mean you want to stay?”
I was taken aback by his question. To think he worried I’d leave now that Victor was gone. Granted, that was once my intention. Hell, only a few days ago, I’d yearned for freedom. To be able to go wherever I wanted.
To be free of Henry.
Not anymore.
“I couldn’t imagine not being near you. Not having you in my life.”
“Neither can I,” he exhaled as his mouth found mine once more.
I sighed into him, everything about this moment feeling right. A stark change from a mere twenty-four hours ago. I knew it wouldn’t always be like this. That we’d undoubtedly face more than our fair share of hurdles, but I wasn’t going to think about that right now.
I was going to enjoy this moment and not worry about the future.
A loud chiming cut through the serenity, and Henry pulled away, retrieving his phone from his pocket. When he looked at the screen, his brow furrowed.
“Excuse me for a minute.”
He stepped away to answer the call, slipping into the living room, his gaze focused out the back door and over the acres and acres of rolling hills. I tried not to listen, but unease tightened in my stomach with every clipped response.
“Yes. … Understood. … I see.”
