AllFreeNovel
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Everyone I met, I measured up to him. And so far, only one other man had ever met my expectations.
We came to a stop near the gate, and I rushed out of the car to greet him.
“The rockstar has returned!” my dad yelled out and pulled me into a crushing embrace.
“It’s so good to be home.” I pulled back and smiled at him. “I brought Van with me. He’ll be staying on for a while, including Thanksgiving.”
“You finally got your man, eh?”
I’d confided to my dad last year about my feelings for Van. He was the only one in my family who knew.
“Shhh. Early days yet. Let’s not scare him off.”
“Me? You worry about your mom and sisters. They’re the nosy ones.”
I laughed and turned my head to find Van walking toward us. In his dark wash jeans and an Irish knit sweater, he fit right in with our surroundings. He reached for my dad’s hand.
“Lachlan, nice to see you again.”
“You as well, Van. You’re looking good,” Dad remarked and shook his hand. “Keeping my son busy?”
Van’s face flushed. “Ah, yes. We’re going to work on songs for the next album. No rest in this business.”
“Well, if you have to work, you’ve come to the right place. Great air, stunning views. You’ll be inspired in no time.”
“Dawson is also staying on.” I pointed to the car. Dawson waved. “Some pap was following us this morning as we headed to the airport.”
Dad nodded. “Call on us if you need to. Now let’s get the gate open so you can unpack and get settled in.”
We unlocked the gate, and Dad said his goodbyes.
The gravel driveway was long and meandering until, finally, the cottage came into view.
With gray siding and white trim, the cape cod-style house sat on the edge of a marsh where the river met the ocean. I had five acres of pristine land.
Fresh, briny air, tall grasses, and bursts of autumn colors greeted us. I shivered and pulled my leather jacket tight as the cool New England air surrounded me.
Dawson helped us unload our luggage. I walked with him to the back of the property, where the poolhouse and the studio were located.
Both were built in a similar style to the main house, complete with kitchens and bathrooms. I had enough space on this property to house twenty guests comfortably. Fifty if you didn’t care about sharing a bathroom, a bed, or a couch. Five hundred, as per my infamous housewarming party, where we’d set up tents on the grounds.
Once Dawson was settled in, Van and I entered the main house.
Thankfully, the housekeeper had turned on the heating, there was wood stacked up next to the fireplace, and the fridge and cupboards were filled.
“Bibi thought of everything. We could survive the apocalypse in this place,” Van declared as he pulled out a bottle of sparkling water.
“She’s the best,” I replied, sliding my arms around Van’s waist. “What do you say we go for a walk on the beach and then hit the hot tub?”
“I say yes. Just let me grab a jacket.”
“Meet you on the patio.”
I grabbed a gray scarf from the closet and wrapped it around my neck, then slipped outside to the patio that overlooked the pool.
The wind had picked up, and I could hear the crash of the nearby waves as they hit the beach. It was too cold at this time of year to go swimming or surfing, but in the summer, it was cool and refreshing. Too bad I was usually on tour during that time. Next year, we’d be in North America in the spring and summer, so maybe we could schedule a break and come here for a bit.
“You look deep in thought,” Van spoke behind me.
