AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I guess you might be right on that one.” She moved closer to him, her small smile growing. “But you’re different now.”
Something strange flickered in his eyes—so brief she couldn’t read it well enough to know what it was. He’d reacted to her statement, though. Didn’t he believe he’d changed? She knew better than anyone that a person was their own worst critic.
Rose reached for his hand, lacing her fingers between his and staring at the way they fit together. “Sometimes we have to accept that opposites are better together than apart. There’s a reason primary colors and complimentary colors work so well together. They bring out the best in each other.” She lifted her focus to him from beneath her lashes. “Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”
Mike covered her hand with his other one. “Yeah,” he whispered, “I understand what you’re saying. But just because opposites attract doesn’t mean they should.”
She laughed quietly. “Well, Mr. Anderson, you’re gonna have to make up your mind. Do you want to see where this thing can go, or do you want to call it quits while we’re ahead?”
He laughed with her. “Oh, I’m all in, sweetheart. I just want you to make sure you’ve considered all the possible outcomes. I still have quite the reputation.”
“I know,” she said simply. “But it’s like I said. You’re a different person. You’ve grown up. You have dreams and plans for your future that your younger self had zero interest in.”
Once again, that strange expression flashed through his eyes. She nearly asked him what was bothering him but thought better of it. This whole thing was too new. She wasn’t going to muddy the water by giving him a lecture about having self-confidence. Instead, she’d show him he was worthy of her love.
“So, what’s next?” he murmured, bringing her hand to his lips to brush a kiss to it. His brows lifted suggestively.
She laughed as he pulled her closer with his other hand. “I think we should focus on one thing at a time. We’re still so busy with the house. Once we have the plans in place, then let’s schedule our first official date.”
“You mean this one doesn’t count?”
Rose loved the way Mike could keep her on her toes. He was quiet and unassuming, a complete mystery—and one she couldn’t wait to get to know better. “You thought tonight was a date? I don’t remember anything happening tonight that would make that statement true.”
“I kissed you.”
“Okay,” she conceded, “but one kiss does not a date make.”
“I became a buffer between you and your family.”
Her brows shot up and she laughed. “What does that even mean?”
“I told your mother how much I appreciated your hard work and that your talents were wasted anywhere else. I also said that as far as artists are concerned, you’ll be one of the greats.”
She warmed at his compliment. “You said that?”
He kissed her hand once again. “Because it’s true. Don’t sell yourself short, Rose. You’re going to do great things.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“Mike! Mike where are you?”
Mike jumped, bumping his head on the underside of the bathroom sink upstairs. “Up here,” he called.
Rose’s hurried footsteps rushed up the stairs and down the hall. She skidded past the doorway and then backtracked. Breathless and rosy from her sprint, but practically glowing, she grinned at him. “You’ll never guess what I just heard!”
He tossed the wrench into the box at his side. Her eyes locked on the box, then she dragged her attention back to him. Something in her countenance dimmed, but only momentarily.
Mike groaned as he got to his feet. “What did you find out?”
“I got the final numbers from the accountant. There’s a certain amount we have to reserve for tax purposes, but after that, he said we have enough to get a whole new roof and even complete that rewiring you thought would be a good idea.”
Mike could have been blown over by a light breeze. For a second, he couldn’t even move as he registered what she’d said. Then, all at once, it hit him.
He swept Rose up into a tight hug and spun around with her. “That’s incredible!”
“I know! It’ll be like you have a brand-new home.”
“Have I told you that you’re amazing?” He grasped her chin with his finger and thumb, intending on showing her just how much he appreciated her, but the sound of tires crunching on the gravel outside stopped him. He held up a finger. “Hold that thought.”
