“Want to take a look?”
She bit her lip. “I don’t know. Feels rude to gawk at someone else’s property.”
“No worries. Just for a moment. I’m sure the owners wouldn’t mind.”
I led her toward the fence.
“They must be used to people staring,” Kaia said. “It’s the most beautiful house in the area. But let’s only look for a second, okay? Imagine if they recognize you—you’ll make headlines.”
I kissed her knuckles. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”
She giggled, slowing her steps as her feet sank into the sand. “I’ve got a confession.”
“Did you give an exclusive interview about our sex life?”
Kaia snorted. “Never. It’s ours and too good to share. But I did ask Nova for the pictures she took of you during training. I think it’s time for a new scrapbook.”
Nova worked at Ale’s agency, and she was in charge of my social media apart from being a talented photographer.
Warmth seeped into my chest. “How the hell did I get so lucky?”
“Says Mister Watch-My-Dance-Lessons.”
I stopped at the fence. “I love watching you dance. And I’ve got a confession too.”
“Surprise me.”
“I know the owners of this house.”
Kaia tilted her head, studying me. “You do?”
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a set of keys. “Go ahead and gawk, peque.”
Her eyes widened.
I swallowed a laugh and kissed her instead, pressing the keys into her palm. “It’s ours.”
She froze, staring at me, then dropped her gaze to the keys glinting in her hand. “Ash. No way.”
I shrugged and tapped the code into the panel. The gate unlocked, and Kaia stepped forward cautiously, gasping at her surroundings.
The poolshimmered in the evening light. Palm trees swayed in the yard—because she loved them. As I nudged her toward the white stone house with its wide square windows, she covered her mouth with both hands. “It’s even more spectacular up close.”
I had Rys to thank for the help with construction and design. He’d recommended the team that built his hotel, and a year and a half later, here it was—the house of our dreams.
Inside, sunlight filled every room. Kaia trailed her fingers over the glass of a floor-to-ceiling bookcase in the living room, her grin tugging at my heart.
“For your books,” I said. “I plan to give you more. Some are already in the package on the shelf.”
She lifted the rectangle wrapped in pink paper and tore it open impatiently. Her bottom lip trembled at the sight of another special edition ofEl Principito, but it was the book beneath it I wanted her to notice.
“Our story?” She looked up from the cover, her eyes shining.
“Yes. I already added some things.”
She opened the album. Inside were pictures of us as kids, then our first photos together. My handwriting wasn’t nearly as neat as hers, but under each image I’d written fragments of the memories I cherished with her.
Kaia sniffled, drying her cheeks with the heel of her palm. “I love it. And there are lots of blank pages.”
