Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
“Why hasn’t anyone put a house here?” she demands, frowning.
“I’m getting to it,” I finally reply.
A slow smile spreads over her gorgeous, plump lips. “Are you really?”
“Yeah, really.” God, my heart, and other key parts of my anatomy, aches. “I’ve already had the plans drawn up and everything. I’m just waiting to get past the wedding to move forward with it.”
“Thank God,” she says with a sigh. “Because this spot, right here, needs a home. It’s absolutely perfect. Tell me all your plans. I want to know.”
“Really?”
“Oh, absolutely. Spill it.”
I nod slowly, resisting the urge to pull her to me and kiss her. I’ve been so fucking attracted to this woman since the moment she moved to town, and now here she is, daydreaming about my house with me. “Well, you’re right on the placement of the dock and the house. Single story, with a wraparound porch. I want to screen in part of it so I can sit out on warm summer nights like this and not get eaten alive by mosquitos.”
“Smart,” she says with a nod. “Go on.”
“I want a big shop over there.” I point to the spot I showed Remington. “With lots of space for any project I might dream up. But there will still be an attached garage on the house.”
“You need a greenhouse,” she says, pointing to the west. “There’s not going to be a lot of shade there, and it would be perfect for a greenhouse. You can plant vegetables, flowers, you name it.”
“I hadn’t thought of a greenhouse, but I do want some killer landscaping.” I rub my chin, watching her. “What else would you do?”
“I’d have a regular outdoor garden next to it, and probably flower beds all around the house. Flowering trees and bushes, too. Although there are already so many gorgeous wildflowers in the woods, you really don’t need them. You’d want a birdbath and a bird feeder. Maybe a little water feature to add the sound of running water. It’s so soothing.”
Did this woman climb inside my brain and look at all my plans for this place? Because that’s what it feels like. I feel naked as I stand here with her, and she lays out for me exactly what I want for this property.
“I’m sorry,” she says, shaking her head with a little laugh. “I totally got carried away. This is such a great spot. I couldn’t help but daydream a bit. You’re going to have a gorgeous home here, Chase.”
“Look.” I take her shoulders in my hands, relieved when she doesn’t flinch or back away from me, and turn her so she can see the sunset on the other side of the lake. “This is another reason why I want this spot.”
“Oh, Chase.” She brings a hand up to cover mine and, to my surprise, leans back against me. “That is just…amazing.”
Yeah. It’s fucking amazing.
When the sun has set, and the sky begins to darken, Summer turns to me with a grin.
“Thank you for sharing this with me. I needed that.”
“You’re welcome. Should we head back?”
“Yeah, probably. Ida took Lily home and fed her, but I don’t like to leave her home alone for too long.”
We climb back into the truck, and with the windows rolled up now, we make our way back to the highway and into town.
When I park in front of her house, Summer turns to me. “I think we should go out on a date. Not as friends.”
I quirk up a brow, and her eyes widen right before she slams her hand over her mouth. Her cheeks redden, and she shakes her head. “Oh, God, I can’t believe I said that out loud. I meant to say thanks for a nice evening.”
She stares at me, and I feel the smile spread over my lips.
“And you’re not saying anything. You know what, I think I’ll just go now, before I embarrass myself more.”
“Whoa.” I reach out and snatch up her hand, keeping her where she is. “I think I was stunned speechless. You absolutely should have said that out loud, sugar. I don’t know what you want if you don’t say it.”
“I could have been more eloquent,” she mutters.
I grin and pull her hand up to my lips. “Nah, I think you did just fine.”
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMER
He’s not laughing or scowling. In fact, he’s perfectly calm as he smiles over at me with those sweet hazel eyes.
“I think,” he continues, “that maybe we’re finally on the same page. Or maybe just in the same chapter. And that’s a good place to start.”
“You mentioned being friends this afternoon—”
“Well, yeah, because you already turned me down once a while ago, and I’m not in the habit of harassing women who aren’t interested.”
“It’s not that I wasn’t interested before; it’s that I wasn’t ready. But I’m ready now.” I take a long, deep breath and let it out slowly, willing the butterflies to calm the hell down. “And that makes me nervous.”