AllFreeNovel
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The furniture here is casual. None of the modern lines of my chrome and black leather in my soon-to-be former Florida home. Warm tan fabrics with blues and creams. Rich chocolate-brown leather wingback chairs.
It’s the ranch and my bachelor pad coming together. The walls are a soft creamy white, letting the light make it brighter in the summer and warmer in the winter.
To the left is a chef’s kitchen with white cabinets and a marble island that seats at least ten. The same cream and tan colors are here, but with a brighter white and a silver and a blue vein that snakes through the old stone.
Behind there is the master bedroom with the same view. It has multiple sets of French doors that allow anyone to walk straight out of the bedroom onto the deck and the sunken hot tub connected to the pool. There’s also a large lawn that begins there as well. The lot is larger, roughly an acre. It’s no ranch house, but it’s small enough to feel cozy, yet large enough for privacy from the neighbors.
A ten-foot brick wall goes straight down the property line to the lake. Unobstructed view from here. No one looks into each other’s homes, except by boat.
“So this is how the other half lives.”
I slide behind her, wrapping my arms around her belly, and tug her to me. “I bought this with my sign-on bonus. Every story I heard was about players who spent big, flamed out, and were broke by thirty. My parents encouraged me to skip that path, to do what I had done with training—put off what I wanted now for what I wanted most.”
“They guided you well. I’m sorry about your mom.” I stiffen at her words and I know she feels it. Her hands squeeze mine, and her voice softens. “I saw her obituary. It was obvious how loved and admired she was.”
I swallow roughly.
“What did she think of your home?”
The knot in my throat breaks up some. “We didn’t get here much. I spent a lot of time away, but when we were here, it was comfortable. She wrecked the kitchen making massive Italian dinners… Big pots of red sauce. Lots of dishes with lemon and capers. I came home to find meals in the fridge and freezer more than once. Grown-ass man with my mom still cooking for me.”
She rubs my hand at her belly, letting me live in my memories.
“This place is stunning.” Willa comes around the corner. “The wallpaper in your guest bath makes me want to sketch. I’m going to plop in that chair and get after it if that’s okay. I may be convinced to come outside later, but not while the sun is trying to kill us.”
“The pantry is stocked. The refrigerator is pretty bare, except for condiments. But there’s a drink fridge in the butler’s pantry that has sodas and carbonated water. I’m sure there are ingredients to make green smoothies.”
Willa’s face contorts. “Don’t threaten me, Layton Ranger.”
“Holler if you need us. And don’t go into labor. Exton would kill me.”
She grabs her tablet, plops into one of the deep recliners, and kicks up the footrest.
“Twenty bucks says she’s asleep before we get outside,” I say to Livy.
“You’re on.” Livy leans past me and hollers to Willa, “Don’t nap until after we get outside. I’m about to make bank off Layton’s lousy bet.”
“You’re on.”
I pinch Livy’s butt and guide her toward the bedroom.
* * *
“Order some and have them delivered.”
“You make that sound so easy,” she retorts.
“It is. Apps on your phone will give you everything you need. They’ll ship to your door.”
“I have some at home. I just need to get them here.”
“Fine. I’ll do it then. But you’ll get what I choose.”
We’re arguing over swimsuits.
She has on yoga shorts and a small strappy sports bra. “What’s wrong with this?”
“Nothing.” Seriously nothing. It hints at what’s underneath just enough to drive me nuts. “But you need a few suits. We have nearly two months left of this heat. And the pool is heated for winter. There’s no reason to ruin your yoga outfits.”
