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"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." – Nelson Mandela
Estes Park, Colorado is basically a mountaineer’s wet dream. With a population of nearly six thousand, it’s still pretty populated but it has a definite small-town vibe. The main street is lined with small businesses - fudge stores, ice cream parlors, vintage clothing shops, and small diners. It's honestly adorable. It’s a place that I imagine myself having chosen to settle down…if things were different.
The biggest draw to this area is usually hiking and sightseeing during the summer months and skiing during the winter months. There’s even a big ski resort in town that most of the occupants of Estes Park tend to work at. It’s far more beautiful than the tiny town in Maine that we were holed up in.
We arrive late in the afternoon and all of us are exhausted as we take the winding roads to the address that Spence sent over.Apparently, he’s excited to come visit because the house we got ishis dream house.
And I can see why when we head up the mile-long driveway and come to a stop in front of a rustic yet modern cabin. Andcabinis honestly downplaying the mansion. The front window stretches from the floor to the ceiling, framed in natural wood. There’s a chimney made completely of stone that already has smoke billowing out of it invitingly. To the side of the house is a massive four-car attached garage that is painted a deep gray.
“Holy crap,” Aiden breathes as he leans forward through the two front seats and stares at the house with big heart eyes.
I don’t even have it in me to tell him not to saycrapbecauseholy fucking shitthat’s a nice house. I don’t know what Spence was thinking. This house is literally massive. It had to be worth over a million dollars, easily. There’s no way in hell that the agency is covering this place for us.
We all climb out of the car and stretch our aching stiff limbs as we inhale the cold fresh air that is Colorado. The air seems to burn my lungs but in the best way, it’s frigid and thin but smells like pine and snow. It’s so beautiful here. The house is surrounded completely by sprawling green trees. There are no sounds of traffic or smells of smog. It's just nature and a cozy house. It honestly looks like it could be on the cover of one of my smutty romance books.
Lucas stares at the house like it personally offended him before grumbling, “We leave right when Spencer decides to buy a goddamn mansion.”
I snort out a laugh and make my way to the fancy carved front door, entering the code Spence sent over to me and swinging it open. I’m immediately hit with the smell of spiced apples as heat engulfs me. It reminds me of Spence, which automatically makes this place feel like home. Spencer has this obsession with apple-scented candles but he tends to collect the spiced fall ones the most.
I let out a laugh that borders on manic when I see the interior of the house. Open floor concept meets cozy log cabin. Brand new furniture adorns the entire living space - including a massive gray sectional and a big-screen TV already mounted to the wall. The dining table and coffee table are deep stained wood that looks like it is right out of a catalog. The kitchen is massive, with stainless steel appliances and dark-marble countertops.
“Where the hell did he find this place?” I ask, not expecting an answer.
Dave answers with a gloomy tone, sounding almost like a petulant teenager and not a forty-something-year-old man, “He hates me.”
I snort and grab my bag from the car before heading back inside and exploring. Five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a massive office space. Spencer even went through the trouble of having my office set up to have everything I could ever want. This place is by far the biggest home I have ever been in, much less lived in. It's absolutely insane.
Heading back to the kitchen as Aiden sprints past me to pick a room, I find Lucas unpacking security equipment. He glances up at me but gets right back to his task of unpacking different cameras and motion detectors.
“Why do we have a mansion, Lu?” I ask as I prop my hip against the counter and cross my arms, “Aiden and I have never had anything bigger than a three-bedroom.”
I watch as he grimaces, hiding it quickly before turning to me fully, “Because your team will be living with you this time.”
I’m not sure why he is grimacing. Or why he says it so quickly like he needs to blurt it out and run away so I don't smack him. I really couldn't care less about them living in the house. I mean,they would have constantly been here anyway so what’s the big deal?
“Okay?” I ask, drawing out my word and making it a question.
He sighs and puts the equipment down on the counter, “They’re a good team, just a little…rough around the edges. I’ve only heard good things but they aren’t the most friendly bunch.”
I shrug, and reply nonchalantly, “Do you think they will be rude to Aiden?”
He shakes his head immediately, “Fuck no, Spencer would kill them.”
I nod, “Well that answers that. I don’t care about them living here so long as they are polite to my boy.”
I leave Lucas to get started setting up security equipment and head to my room on the second floor. I pull my phone out to text my brother.
Kota:How much did this place cost?
Spence:Don’t worry about it.
Cheeky little shit knows that I will worry about it. I have money..mostly because I don't go anywhere or do anything. But this is just too much.
Jesus, there I go acting ungrateful. I swear I’m not an ungrateful whiny bitch but this just feels like Spencer is trying to compensate for us relocating again. And it isn't his fault. Of course, it's not his fault.
I let out a sigh.
Kota:It’s beautiful.
