“She will. In time.”
32
GETTING COMFORTABLE
LILAH
Spookers jumps onto the island stool beside me as I stare down at the digital mock-up for the kids place Briggs wants to add to the resort. If I’m being honest, I’d thought the massive pool and hot tub were plenty, but this is other worldly.
There’s not just one massive pool now, but two large pools connected by a swimmable channel. One is within eyesight to the children’s place, while the other is nestled into a nook of planned greenery and lounge chairs. It’s separate but not, giving guests an opportunity to be with or away from the kids. Two large hot tubs on either side of the pool are plotted, the larger sitting between the pool and children’s place, which is more in splash park style with a slide dropping into shallower water. Everything is planned in shades of green, cream, and brown to give a natural and relaxing aesthetic that blends in with the land.
I love it. All of it.
“What do you think?” Briggs interrupts my study.
“I love it,” Shana says from over my shoulder. I jump, entirely unaware that she’d moved in closer.
I lift my eyes to Briggs. “This is really amazing.”
“So, you like it?”
I nod. “I think the town is going to love all of it. There’s so much detail and care.”
He’s standing on the other side of the island, leaning into the counter opposite. He pushes off the counter to cross the space to lean into the island. He’s closer, but not so close I can touch. Not so close I can scent him.
My heart thunders.
Briggs asks again, “Doyoulike it, Lilah?”
Oh gosh, why does it make me tingle when he says my name like that?
I can’t manage anything more than a breathless, “Yes.”
“Good.” Briggs doesn’t look away. Neither do I.
We’re locked in this heated standoff neither of us seems capable of escaping. I’m not even sure I want to escape. My belly squeezes.
His eyes drop to my mouth. A muscle in his jaw jumps.
Those knots in my stomach twist tighter.
The alarm on the front door chimes to let us know it’s been opened, and I hear Nash call out, “Honey, I’m home.”
“Oh, thank heavens,” Shana exclaims. “Is it hot in here or am I just having a hot flash?”
I tear my gaze from Briggs. I mumble, “It’s hot in here.”
Briggs mutters, “Becausesomeonedoesn’t think the AC is necessary.”
Nash pauses in the space between fireplace and kitchen. “I feel like I interrupted something.” He looks to Shana. “Did I interrupt something?”
“Oh, yes, yes you most certainly did.” She’s chuckling as she pats her palm into the wall of Nash’s chest. “Come on, you. I’m starving.”
“Well, we can’t have that, now, can we?” Nash tucks Shana’s arm into the nook of his and calls, “You two kids have fun, now.”
Neither Briggs nor I respond. Both Nash and Shana laugh before the front door silences them.
Alone with Briggs, the heat in the room only intensifies. I feel like I’m warming from the inside out.
