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I can’t.
There’s no way to make this work when we’re so far apart. Our lives are leading us in two different directions, and that realization is startlingly sad.
So, instead of asking her to give us a real shot, I ask, “What do you want to see now?”
Her eyes flash a sorrow that I almost miss, but it was there. It’s quickly replaced with something lighter and happier, a grin that makes my cock spring to life. “How about the inside of our hotel room?”
Chapter Seventeen
Cricket
“This is where you live?” I whisper, taking in the cabin nestled in the hills of the Smoky Mountains.
“This is home,” he says, getting out of the passenger seat and back at where I stand.
When we landed at the airport, Rueben’s brother, Royce, was there to pick us up. I had never met his older brother, since he was already in the military when we graduated college, but I had heard enough stories about him it felt natural and comfortable to be in his company. The brothers teased each other mercilessly, and I didn’t miss the way Royce looked at his brother, the question and shock in his handsome face, as we stepped off the plane together.
“It’s gorgeous,” I say, in awe over the view.
“Wait until you see the deck,” Royce says, collecting our bags from the back of his four-wheel drive SUV.
Rueben grabs my suitcase and wheels it toward the front door. I join him, taking in everything around me, from the pair of white wooden rocking chairs on the porch to the flower boxes hanging from the railing, as he unlocks the door and pushes it open for me to enter first.
When I step inside, air catches in my throat. It’s…beautiful. And not in a feminine, pretty way, but in a rustic, gorgeous way. The living room is straight ahead with a comfortable brown couch and recliner. There’s a fireplace with stunning stonework around it adorning one wall, and a sliding glass door off to the side.
“Come on, I’ll give you a tour,” he says, dropping the bags at the front door.
“I’m going to head out. I’ll text ya later,” Royce says, clearly trying to give us privacy, yet wanting his brother to know there will be a conversation about my presence here.
“It was nice to meet you, Royce,” I holler over my shoulder, my eyes sweeping from floor to ceiling.
“Nice to meet you too, Cricket.” And then he’s gone.
“Rueben,” I whisper, taking in the spiral staircase that leads upstairs.
I can hear the smile in his voice as he says, “Come on, Crick. Let’s start up here.”
Taking my hand in his, he leads me to the staircase. “I bet this made moving in a little complicated,” I say, my hand running along the smooth wooden handrailing.
“There’s actually another set of stairs in the back of the house that doesn’t spiral. We used those to move me in,” he says.
When we reach the landing, there’s a huge floor-to-ceiling window directly in front of us that looks out over the mountains. This view is breathtaking. I could see myself waking up every morning and standing right here in this very spot, enjoying the spectacular display of nature while enjoying a cup of coffee.
Rueben opens the first door on the left to reveal his office. It’s a good-sized room, running the entire width of the house. The ceiling is sloped toward the center of the house, but it doesn’t feel small or cramped. There is great lighting from two skylights and a large window overlooking the spectacular view.
The second door on the left side of the hallway is a small laundry room, which is clean and organized. He leads me to the only door on the right side, and I already have an idea of what’s beyond that doorway. Rueben pushes open the door, revealing his bedroom. The bed is a king-sized bed with dark headboard and footboard and hues of blue bedding. There’s a five-drawer dresser along one wall and a comfortable chair and table in front of the window.
“I like to watch the sunrise and drink coffee there,” he tells me, nodding to the tan chair.
“I bet,” I reply, loving the open, airiness of the room. Of course, the skylights and floor-to-ceiling window only enhance the view, giving it a feel that you’re floating amongst the clouds.
“There’s a bathroom through there,” he says, pointing to one of two doorways. “The other is a closet.”
After glancing in and taking in the complete room one last time, my eyes finally return to his. Even though I’m a little worn down from so much travel, there’s a buzz of anticipation, of exhilaration in the room. It’s thick and heavy, weighing on my chest and my heart. My legs start moving before I even process it, his arms wrapping around my shoulders and pulling me against his chest when I approach.
We stand there for a few minutes, just drinking each other in, as if us standing there together is the most normal and natural thing ever. It sure feels like it is. I hear Rueben exhale, his warm breath blowing my hair. “Want to see the rest of the house?” he asks without making a movement.
“Yeah,” I reply, sighing against his chest. “Show me this magical deck.”
