Total pages in book: 190
Estimated words: 185785 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 929(@200wpm)___ 743(@250wpm)___ 619(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 185785 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 929(@200wpm)___ 743(@250wpm)___ 619(@300wpm)
“Sure thing,” the boy says.
I reach into the back seat for my laptop bag and overnight bag. Killian takes the overnight bag from me and scorches me with a look as he carries it and his overnight bag with him toward the house.
He’s moving like he’s not injured but I’m sure he’s got to be feeling it. His body is so covered in bruises it can’t possibly not hurt.
He would only let me give him Tylenol at dawn when he was restless and couldn’t sleep. And not even the Tylenol with codeine; just regular old Tylenol. He’s not a cooperative patient. I can see he doesn’t like feeling vulnerable.
“Don’t be so difficult. Then again, at least I know my future isn’t going to be inundated with pathetic cases of the Man Flu,” I said as a positive that morning and that got me a chuckle from him.
“Glad you’re a glass-half-full gal, Dimples,” he replied as he kissed me.
The water is anything but calm. It’s a dreary day with grey skies and a chill in the air. The property is neglected, and the house looks like it needs some love, but wow, this place could really be something.
“This place, Killian!” I exclaim.
“Needs a little TLC. But the spot is great. Lots of space. Didn’t know if I wanted to renovate it or build new, but decided to renovate for now.”
“It’s amazing,” I say, taking it all in. “I’m glad you haven’t torn it down. This place has huge potential.”
He’s staring, intently.
I smile and his expression brightens.
“Could you see yourself here some weekends, summers?” he asks.
I startle and he chuckles. He’s teasing me. I think.
I smile while I shake my head and give him an assessing look. “Killian Coulter, you have got no chill,” I tell him.
He smirks. “Where you’re concerned? Zero.”
“I can take that.” I reach for my bag. “All I’m carrying is my purse and laptop bag.”
“Forget it. Get inside. You’re lucky I have no free hands or I’d swat this ass.”
I raise my brows. “You’re recovering. Behave.”
“I promise nothing and will likely deliver even less,” he mutters, eyes on my butt.
I snicker as we step inside together and definitely, this place needs some love, but screams potential.
The furnishings are old, not much of them in the front of the house, and what’s here must have been left from the previous owners. The great room is wood paneled walls with a massive grey stone fireplace. There are lots of windows and a lovely view of the water.
To the side of the great room, a staircase climbs up and a hallway leads back deeper into the house.
“How big is this house?”
“About seventy-five hundred square feet. Was owned by a large family that kept building onto the original structure, which we’re in. The upstairs used to be three bedrooms but converted to one big one and a massive bathroom. They kept building onto the back and adding multiple living spaces. Got three kitchens. Six bathrooms. There’s an apartment over the garage. A small granny flat Bunkie at the back of the property, too. Basement has a full apartment, too, but it’s old and shit, so it’s bein’ gutted. I’m renovating from down there upwards. Get my man cave done first.”
“Typical,” I tease, “But that’s a whole lotta space for a weekend and summer getaway. My parents used to rent the same cottage for a week every year down the coast from here and it was only a little bigger than my apartment. Puny. And half the time we’d have all our cousins, friends and family come, air mattresses taking up every square inch to fit us all. Sometimes we’d pitch tents outside, the cabin was so overflowing. So much fun.”
The boy with the groceries walks past us, on his second trip with another box and bags dangling off his wrists.
“It does sound fun,” Killian says with a small smile. “Didn’t know any of my cousins. Woulda liked growing up like that. I’ll get the fire started,” he adds, heading to the big fireplace. “Place needs a new furnace. We’ve got four fireplaces, though. And some baseboard heaters if we need ‘em.”
There’s a long old couch and a battered coffee table in front of the big fireplace, but not much else in the room. Beyond the staircase, I see a huge dining area with another weathered table, this one with eight chairs covered with pink upholstery. Some of the pale pink and mint green floral wallpaper is peeling. I find a bathroom beyond the dining room and use it. It’s got an antique pedestal sink and the mirror is definitely ancient, blackened in some spots. I look out the window at the water lapping at the rocky shoreline. This place – I’m in love with the potential.
After washing my hands, I go right and find a huge but outdated kitchen. I’m a bit in love with it, though. It’s a massive family kitchen with a fireplace. I can pick out part of the original house that was extended at some stage, clearly the first addition.