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Smiling, Sarah nodded. "We have the basement apartment all ready for you." She looked at Hope. "It's got a kitchen, dining area, living room, and a bedroom suite with a full bath."
Though Hope wondered what abedroom suiteincluded since the keywordbedroomwas singular, she had to admit the rest of the living space sounded perfect.
"Since you'll be making the rounds with me while you're here, it only made sense for you to stay with us. Plus, it'll give you some privacy as well," Zeke explained with a devilish wink. "I'm sure you don't want to spend every waking moment with this motley crew."
As expected, Drew's family had already concluded they were much more than friends. Or coworkers. Hope knew they should set the record straight sooner rather than later, but she just wasn't up to braving those waters tonight. Especially not in the presence of Drew's entire family.
No. Right now, all Hope wanted was a hot shower and about twelve hours of uninterrupted sleep. Everything else could wait a bit longer.
Chapter Six
"Nice house," Hope observed when Drew pulled into the driveway encircling his grandparents' house.
Silver Oaks was a rambling log and stone rancher with a gabled roof, a wealth of windows, and a covered porch stretching across the front. "It's more than they need, but aside from the main house, it's the only home they've shared since they've been married."
They stepped out of the truck, and Zeke tossed Drew a set of keys. Everyone made their way into the apartment, either pulling or carrying the luggage they’d unloaded from the truck. Once they deposited their belongings on the kitchen’s knotty pine floor, Zeke gave them the nickel tour, more for Hope’s benefit since Drew and his brothers has spent many a night in the basement during sleepovers with their grandparents.
The apartment had hardwood floors and white painted walls. The kitchen was separated from the living area by a raised wooden breakfast bar with stools lining one side and a granite workspace on the other. An L-shaped kitchen with stainless steel appliances, gray-speckled countertops, and glass-fronted pine cabinetry lay behind the island.
An eating area was nestled in the right corner of the kitchen and melded into the living room, where a chocolate microfiber sofa flanked by two matching recliners faced an entertainment center built around a river rock fireplace. A narrow curving staircase led to the main level, and the closed door on the right opened into a bedroom suite complete with a king-sized bed covered in a blue and white handmade quilt. A large mirrored oak dresser faced the bed with matching nightstands on each side.
"We've stocked the fridge, freezer, and pantry with everything we thought you'd need to start with, at least," Sarah informed them, opening a few cabinet doors for confirmation. "Feel free to come upstairs to visit with us whenever you want. I fix plenty to eat, so don't worry there won't be enough. Breakfast is around seven, lunch by noon, and supper at six."
"Thank you so much, but I wish you hadn't gone to so much trouble,” Hope replied.
"No trouble at all," his grandfather assured her. "Since I know you're plumb worn out from the drive, we'll let you two get settled." He motioned his wife toward the stairs. "We'll be sure to knock before coming down," Zeke promised with a wink as he hustled Sarah up the steps.
Hope stood in the middle of the living room. Her shoulders sagged, and smudges darkened the skin beneath her eyes. Traveling six hundred miles in one day was enough to wear anyone out. But add in Hope's anxiety levels about meeting his family, the continued grief she still suffered from losing her father, and the fact that she was four months pregnant, it was no wonder she appeared on the verge of collapse.
"C'mon." Drew took Hope's hand and led her straight through the bedroom to the en suite bathroom. He turned on the water in the glass-enclosed shower and pulled two large fluffy green towels and a washcloth from the linen closet. “I’ll get your bags.”
Hope raised her eyes to meet his, and the exhaustion he saw reflected in the amber depths slayed him. "You don't have to wait on me, Drew."
The hell he didn't. "I know. But you're completely worn out."
"And you're not?"
Reaching out, Drew tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering along the soft skin of her jaw. "I'm not tied up in knots the way you are." He cupped her cheek in his palm. "And I'm not carrying a baby."
Hope's hooded gaze locked on his. "I don't have the energy to argue about it."
"Good." Drew smiled. "Now, go on and get your shower."
* * *
Nearly forty minutes passed before Hope emerged from the bathroom. She'd stood under the pulsing jets for a good ten minutes, letting the water pound against her aching muscles. Who knew just riding in a truck for twelve hours could be so draining? And take such a toll on the body?
After wiggling into a pair of nondescript white cotton panties, Hope pulled on a thigh-length navy blue tee that doubled as a nightgown and slipped into an oversized turquoise fleece robe that tied at her waist and fell to her ankles.
With her hair in a haphazard top knot, Hope padded into the living room and found Drew seated in one of the recliners, flipping through the channels on the flat-screen TV. He’d set her a glass of milk on the end table by the sofa.
"Hey." Hope moved a crimson throw pillow and eased onto the nut-brown sofa.
"Hey, yourself." Drew dialed down the volume on the TV and motioned toward the glass of milk with the remote. "I figured since you can’t have beer or wine, I couldn’t go wrong with milk. I can warm it up if you’d like.”
"No. This is fine. Thank you.” Hope took a generous gulp and wiped her lips with the sleeve of her robe. "I'm trying to limit my caffeine intake to one cup of coffee per day, and I've switched to green tea since it's decaffeinated and full of antioxidants."
"Lots of changes, huh?"
