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“You could have anybody live here. Why choose me and my two kids? We’re not quiet, and we come with some craziness.”
“Good,” he says, not faltering. “I grew up not far from here, and my niece used to come here a lot.”
“Used to?”
There’s no denying the flash of pain on his face.
A Heart for Evie.
Oh, no.
“Logan, I’m so sorry. When?”
“Two years ago.” He looks away and clears his throat, covering his pain so easily before he continues, “You’re right. It’s beautiful here, but it’s been missing something. It needs their imagination. We see a large space covered in grass, and a lake beyond the trees. We see what’s in front of us. They see another world. They bring everything in their minds to life.”
I swallow the sticky lump in my throat, fighting the sting behind my eyes. He’s right. I mean, they’re already so lost in their own world, and it’s amazing.
A beautiful escape.
For all of us.
Do I take the risk and jump, close my eyes and hope for a safe landing?
I chew my lip between my teeth, my skin tingling with elation, and a touch of intensity from the heat of his stare.
We need a fresh start, and it needs to be somewhere. Why not here?
And yet, I can’t commit with my whole heart. Not yet. “Can I take a trial run? Say three months?”
“If that’s what you want.”
I don’t know what I want. That’s the point.
“I have one condition.”
He cocks a thick brow before swiping the glasses off his face, so our eyes meet for the first time today, and it’s like a gut punch. I remember that, although his features are now all sharp edges and sculpted to perfection, there used to be a boyish charm to his smile.
Not today.
“Okay?” he drawls, turning so the toes of our shoes are only inches away.
“I want you to increase the rent.”
Eyes wide, it takes a second before a deep chuckle vibrates in his chest. Then his smile falls when he realizes I’m being serious.
“You’re kidding?”
“Nope.”
“Why the hell would you want me to increase the rent?”
“Because Jake and Claire have already done enough for me. I can’t accept anything more.”
He wipes the hint of a grin off his lips with his thumb. “Beyond recommending you, Jake and Claire have nothing to do with how much I’m asking for the rent.”
I lean into my hip, assessing him.
“Then why don’t you ask for more money? This is a beautiful town with tourists all year round. I’m sure you could make a small fortune with this place.” I wave a hand towards the house, already willing my mouth to shut the hell up. I don’t want to talk him out of letting us move here. I love it. Yet I keep yapping as if there’s grease preventing my jaw from shutting. “Isn’t this a popular place for weddings?” It is. I even saw a sign on the way into town that said, ‘Voted most scenic town for weddings.’ “I mean look at it. Couples would love to get married here.”
