“Being out here, away from everything. I didn’t know you had this place. It’s pretty amazing. I can’t wait to see the finished house.”
“I’m actually looking forward to moving back to the city. It’s been a long time.” I’d lived outside of Detroit for years, but I’d always wanted to return eventually. The resurgence of the downtown area had been great for the economy. Land was selling at top dollar, and new developments were sprouting up everywhere. It was a blessing that Prescott-Hayes had been in the mix on some of those projects. “I’m already pricing boats.”
Her eyes lit up. “Oh, that’s even better. I love being on the water.”
I stared at her. There was nothing about Dallas that didn’t intrigue me. “You continue to surprise me.”
“That’s what I live for.” She placed a quick kiss on my nose.
“You love the outdoors, and you don’t mind getting dirty. And you love the water too?”
“My parents live on a lake. And we lived in Cali for a while. I loved the beach and I enjoy boating. I remember when we were young, my parents would take us up north, and we’d spend the entire time on the water, jet skiing, swimming… Those were good times.”
“Lake Michigan?”
She nodded. “Yep. Back then, they rented vacation homes. Now, they own one. We try to visit as a family at least once a year.”
“That’s cool. I like that your family gets together the way they do.”
She smiled softly. “You’ll have the same thing with your siblings.”
“You’re confident about that.” I entwined my fingers with hers. “I’m not that sure it’ll work out like that.”
“I’m confident inyou. You’ve already made the first move.”
That visit to Wellspring had been an important step. Since then, I’d finalized my second trip. I would spend a week there in October. “Sometimes I can’t help but wonder how my life would’ve been different had I known the truth. I missed so much time with them.”
Her eyes glistened as if she was thinking about something sad. “That’s hard. But you have time now. You should make the most of it.”
“What was your favorite part about having siblings?”
A tear fell from her eyes, and I wiped it. “Just having someone to talk to, to love on. It wasn’t always like that, though. I had my phases where I didn’t want to be bothered. Duke and Dex got on my nerves right around the time we turned ten. They always had each other, building forts and shit. I wanted to go in the fort, and they wouldn’t let me.”
“What? How could they not let you in the fort?”
“Stop making fun of me. My feelings were so hurt about that. But anyway, we fought often, but the love was always there.”
I rested my forehead against hers. “I want that,” I admitted—to her and to myself.
“And you’ll have that.”
I brushed my lips over her forehead. It seemed as though I was in a constant state of desire for her. No matter where we were, I wanted her wrapped around me. But it wasn’t just physical either. My emotional attachment to her grew stronger every day I spent with her. After this charade was over, I knew I wouldn’t be okay if things went back to the way they’d been before. “You’re so beautiful,” I whispered.
Dallas buried her face in the blanket and grumbled. “Stop saying that.” She peered up at me. “You know you don’t have to ply me with compliments. I’ll give you some anyway.”
I pulled her into my arms. “I only say what I mean.”
She pressed a soft kiss to my lips. “I like that about you. I’m the same way.”
“I know.”
“Can we stay like this for a while?” She snuggled into me.
“As long as you want.”
She wrapped her arms around me. “It’s the anniversary of his death,” she confessed softly.
Only, I didn’t know whohewas. “Oh.”
