Page 115 of Shattered Hearts

Cole’s face drops.

I pull Laynie towards me, my chest filling with butterflies again. “Are you okay with this?”

Looking up through her thick golden lashes, Laynie smiles, and I know that’s a yes from her.

“Can we see it?”

“Sure.”

We polished off the last coat of paint yesterday afternoon, with some final touches added today like doorknobs, light fixtures, and appliances. We decided on a light grey and white finish outside, and internally the place is full of pine, cream, and silver tones. It’s subtle, which I know Laynie would appreciate after living in a blue popsicle house her whole life.

As soon as she sees it, Laynie’s giddiness amplifies. I squeeze her tighter. Macie takes my spot, the two of them looking it over as my brothers and I wait outside.

“So, you think you’ll be living here?”

I shrug. “It seems like the best idea. I don’t think we’d feel entirely comfortable living in Laynie’s house.”

“Because it looks like a kid vomited after eating too many skittles?” Cole says.

My eyes roll, even though he’s right. That’s exactly what it looks like. “More because we didn’t really have any space. At least here, we’d have some room.” I turn my attention to Holden. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?”

He nods once. “It’s yours.”

“Plus, the ranch is the best place for kids to grow. Take Aspen for example, surrounded by family, nature and animals,” Reid points out.

“Agreed,” I admit softly, watching Laynie and Macie through the living room windows. Her face is glowing with so much happiness, it makes my heart swell. “I think this will be the best place for us. You’re not getting rid of me anymore.”

Holden chuckles.

Reid counters, “Never wanted to get rid of you, man. But at least now we don’t have to see your bomb of a bedroom.”

“Yeah, good luck Laynie dealing with that.”

I feel a hand on my shoulder, and Reid murmurs, “She must love you a lot to put up with that.”

All I can do is snicker and disappear inside, finding Laynie and Macie in the kitchen. As soon as they see me, Macie dismisses herself to give us a moment together.

Linking my fingers through Laynie’s, she leans against the polished timber bench as I stand an inch away, grinning down at her. “So, what do you think?”

“I think…” she starts, breaking eye contact to take in the modern country vibe of the house before smiling once again, looking more relaxed than she’s been in months, “this is what we need. Our own space, and I have secretly always wanted to live on the property.”

“Oh, you have, have you?” I ask, a glint shimmering in my eye that she giggles at.

“Yeah, mainly because of the setting and peacefulness, but you being here added to the dream.”

That makes the organ in my chest pump harder. “The dream?”

She swallows and peers down at her stomach hidden beneath her clothes. “I mean, the dream has sort of been derailed a little.”

My head shakes as I hold onto her tighter. “I would say more detoured.”

“A big detour,” mumbles Laynie with a smile.

“I don’t mind a detour,” I admit quietly, “because you always get back on track afterwards.”

Laynie grins, smile lines deepening.

Her phone chimes. Frowning, she grabs it off the bench.