Page 63 of Unspoken Love

She smiled. “If we want coffee and food before we explore the tunnels, then yes.”

That got him moving.

They showered together, something she enjoyed immensely since it usually involved Nate’s hands running shampoo all over her body. She couldn’t help but laugh when he hit her ticklish spots, making him look for more weaknesses. Then she returned the favor.

An hour later, she stepped out onto the back deck holding two steaming mugs of coffee. Nate followed her outside into the morning sunlight, holding two plates piled with eggs, toast, and the leftover strawberries they’d picked up at the Fourth of July booth and had, thankfully, put in his truck before her incident.

They settled into the wooden chairs on the deck that overlooked the cliffs and ocean below, the rising sun glinting off the waves like scattered diamonds. A cool breeze stirred her still-damp hair, and seagulls called faintly in the distance.

“This view is amazing,” she said quietly, sipping from her mug. “Your place has a nice view too, now that you’ve cleared the pathway.”

Nate stretched out his legs and nodded. “Yeah, I’m hoping to have a lot of mornings like this on my back deck.” He took a sip of coffee. “There’s something about the way the sun meets the water that centers you.”

“That’s it. I’ve felt more centered since being here. I’m less worried about the scary possibilities than I’ve ever been,” she admitted.

“I hope I’ve had a little to do with that too.”

She grinned over at him. “You have.”

They ate for a few moments. “After I’m done checking the horses, we can explore the tunnels. Then I want to get your opinion on which tile to use in my bathrooms. I’ll be starting those this week. If you’re up to it?”

“Tile already? Wow. You’re ahead of schedule.”

He chuckled. “Not really. I still need to finish removing the old tiles from the walls. The kitchen’s almost done though. The countertops come in two days. After that, it’s backsplash, which I will need your opinion on too. Then it’s on to the bathrooms. I plan on doing the main bathroom first. I’m desperate for a shower where the shower head doesn’t spray in all different directions.”

“Do I get a say in the shower design?” she asked, raising a brow.

He grinned at her. “That depends. Are you planning on spending a lot of time in it?”

Her laugh echoed across the deck. “That depends on whether you fix the hot water issues you keep complaining about.”

He held up his hands. “Parker and his crew are installing a new tankless water heater tomorrow.”

“Then it’s a deal,” she said easily.

“What are you going to do when Max and Juliette return?”

She sighed and glanced out over the water, her smile fading slightly as she thought. “I had planned on finding my own place, maybe a rental. But I suppose I let myself get too busy.”

“You could always move in with me. You know, help me finish the place. Plus, you could put your touches on each room. I’m hopeless without your help.”

Her heart skipped in her chest and for a split second, she dreamed. Really dreamed of living with him.

Then her implant buzzed softly and she shrugged. “I’ll think about it.”

“Take your time.” He reached out and took her hand in his. “No pressure.”

After breakfast, they rinsed their dishes and grabbed their boots before heading out to the small pasture where the horses were grazing lazily in the morning sun. Nate walked the fence line while Faye checked the feed bins and water troughs. Everything was in good order, and the horses trotted up for a quick scratch behind the ears.

With the chores done, they returned inside and she fetched the heavy-duty flashlight from her closet, flipping it on to test the beam. “Still works. Ready to go tunnel exploring?”

Nate had grabbed a smaller flashlight from the kitchen drawer and nodded. “Let’s see where this tunnel goes.”

The familiar click of the hidden wall mechanism sounded again, and the panel slid open with a soft hiss. She leaned in and looked down the dark passage as the cool air rushed toward her.

Faye aimed the flashlight beam into the darkness and took a slow step forward, her heart pounding—not in fear, but in excitement.

“You sure about this?” Nate asked, close behind her. “I can go first.”