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Josie texts me just as we’re pulling up to the rental house.
“Josie and her husband are running late,” I tell Chase as I read the text. “She says she’s really sorry and that they’ll be here as soon as they can.”
“Okay.” Chase unbuckles his seatbelt. “I’m going to make sure everything’s good inside. Do you want to wait out here or come in?”
“I’ll come in.”
As we walk up to the rental, I admire the front yard. It’s small, but it’s really cute with its stone walkway and little shrubs.
“Did you do all this landscaping yourself?” I ask Chase.
He nods as he unlocks the front door and holds it open for me.
“Oh, wow,” I say, my attention shifting to the inside of the home. For an empty house, it feels surprisingly warm and cozy. Hardwood floors run throughout the rooms, and there’s crown molding everywhere. Plus natural light floods the space. “Chase, this is beautiful.”
“Thanks.”
“I’m not just saying that to be nice. It’s a really lovely home. Can I see upstairs?”
He hesitates, then nods. “Sure.”
Keen to see more, I lead the way. My hand runs over the smooth banister as I make my way up to the second story.
At the top of the stairs, there’s an adorable reading nook and some built-in bookshelves. Then a hallway leads to more rooms. I step into each of the rooms, admiring the thoughtful layout of each. There are two bedrooms, then a bathroom, and then at the end of the hallway there’s the primary bedroom.
As I step into it, it’s so easy to imagine what it would look like fully furnished. A large bed here, with nightstands on either side of it; a dresser here; an accent chair over here. Oh, gosh, and the closet—it’s simply gorgeous.
“Josie is going tolovethis,” I say, smiling over my shoulder at Chase.
He’s leaning against the doorway, watching me. “I’m glad you think so.”
My eyes trail over to the windows. “Are those casement windows?” I make my way over and turn the crank handle to open one. Fresh, cold winter air hits my face, and I smile and poke my head out to peer into the back yard.
Then, all of a sudden, Chase is grabbing me from behind and yanking me back from the window. I gasp in surprise. “Chase—what are you?—”
“Sorry, I—fuck, I was just worried you might fall out, and I?—”
I’m facing him now, still in his arms and still confused. “What?”
“I still need to put the screens in.”
I laugh. “You really thought I was about to fall out the window?”
“I—” He looks flustered and embarrassed. He pulls his hands away from me. “Sorry. It was a stupid reaction.”
“No, it’s okay. It’s sweet of you to look out for me.”
“Sorry again.”
“Stop apologizing.” I take a breath and work up the nerve to say the rest of what I’m thinking. “I liked having your arms around me.”
His eyes study mine. He shifts forward again, then stops, and leans back. The movement is so subtle that it would be easy to miss it. But I don’t miss it.
“Oh, fuck it,” he finally says, and steps forward and wraps his arms around me. I’m in shock as his lips capture mine.
Finally.All these years, all this wanting, and he’s finally kissing me. My body pulses with heat as I try to get over the shock of it. But that’s hard to do when a kiss is as good as this. I melt against him as his lips dominate mine, a feeling of explosive desire burning between us.He really does want me. It feels so good to finally know that it’s true, that it hasn’t just been in my head.
