Page 51 of Silver Brewer

“It’s much different than it was. I changed everything after a year. Furniture, paint colors, even tweaked the layout.” The house looks like a sprawling ranch from the outside with false dormers, but there’s a second floor below us, hidden in the cliff. A porch the length of the back of the house is half screened in and half open, and my eyes are drawn to it.

“Want a complete tour?”

“I do.” I nod with a grin, and Giant leads me through all the rooms. On the lower level, a pool table centers a room with another fireplace. A hot tub in a screened-in porch is off this man cave. We climb the stairs again, and I notice a glass-paned door leading to a second floor.

“What’s up there?” I ask.

“Nothing of consequence,” he answers. It’s a vague answer, but I let it slide as he leads me to his room. When we step inside, he tackles me to the bed. “Too soon to have sex with you?”

I chuckle beneath him. “Nope.”

+ + +

The strange thing about sex in his bedroom is it didn’t feel right. I mean, it felt amazing, but something was off, and I just chalked it up to the distance and reacclimating ourselves to one another. I’d never had a long-distance relationship, and we’re still so new to each another. I’m excited to be here and learn more about his life, but we weren’t the same people we’ve been in his bedroom.

After sex, he makes me dinner. This time, it’s on a grill on his deck instead of a campfire.

“I bought the house to keep Clara in one place.” He smiles weakly. “She didn’t want to continue traveling everywhere with me, and some places weren’t meant for her. I was career military but didn’t make it a full twenty like I planned.” He’s quiet for a moment. I don’t want him to be shy about talking about her, but the hesitation he had during sex is present again. He pours me more wine and opens a second beer for himself while our steaks cook. He continues to tell me minimal details of his military time but emphasizes the distance. “I went for long spans without seeing Clara. It was difficult at times.”

I don’t know what he’s telling me, but I listen all the same.

When he serves dinner, we switch topics to the adoption process. I haven’t heard anything more.

“And there’s a time constraint, you said? You’d have to petition to remove the baby from the state for any reason.” Once I have a child, the finalization process could take a year. I wouldn’t be able to leave Illinois without permission from my adoption liaison. Again, I’m not sure where he’s going with his line of questions.

Finally, we shift to an easier subject—Oktoberfest and his family.

“You’ll meet the whole crew tomorrow.” He shakes his head. “I hope they don’t scare you away.”

“I’m not easily frightened,” I say.

“Oh, I’ve noticed. Although they might be worse than bears.”

The night is cool, but a fire pit near the table keeps us warm. Candles scattered around the deck give off a romantic atmosphere. The backdrop of the mountains is reminiscent of our time on a higher ridge. Soft music plays through an outdoor speaker, and Giant reaches for my hand, gently tugging at my fingers. “Dance with me.”

When we stand, he pulls me into him, and we sway like teenagers pressed together.

“I’m not a good dancer,” he mutters. It’s more of a moving embrace, and I’m warm and comfortable in his arms.

“You’re just fine,” I say. “Quite charming actually.”

He huffs before speaking. “I should have danced with you under the stars.” The assumption of where is clear, and I tip my head back and gaze upward. There are plenty of stars to be seen here.

“This is pretty perfect,” I tell him, dropping my eyes back to him.

“Yes, you are.”

I smile. “See? Charming.”

“I don’t know about that. I think it’s more your doing. I don’t know how to be around you, yet I just be.”

My brows pinch. “You don’t have to be anyone special or someone different, honey. I love who you are.”

He stops moving and shifts to lean against the railing, putting his backside to it while he pulls me between his open legs. His hands loop around my lower back, and my palms rest on his chest.

“Is it strange being here?” Somehow, I know he doesn’t mean Georgia.

“Is it strange having me here?”