“I bought this property more than two years ago.” I jutted my head in the direction of the two acre plot of land. “Like I said, I wanted to live close to my brothers and parents. They don’t live in this community but are only ten minutes away. But it never felt quite right to build … until now. With you.”
Her mouth fell open.
I tightened my hand around hers, unaware that I had even been holding it but not shocked. It was rare that whenever we were in the same space some part of me wasn’t touching her.
“You keep saying how you’re rarely at a loss for words, but this isn’t the first or second or third time you’ve come up with nothing to say,” I stated, tugging her hand so she would face me again.
She blinked. “B-because you keep leaving me speechless. I-I …”
“Sheesh, you just sprung this on her?”
I blinked, narrowing my gaze at my dipshit brother who I’d forgotten was still there.
“Any fucking way,” I dismissed him and turned back to Destiny. “Let me show you the design I was looking at before you answer. Plans,” I said to Joshua who wore a lopsided ass grin that I wanted to wipe off more than anything.
Still speechless, Destiny followed me toward Joshua as he laid the iPad he’d been carrying on the hood of my car to pull up the designs of a colonial, Spanish-style home that featured five bedrooms, a finished basement, sun room, upstairs playroom, four full bathrooms, and two half-baths, as well as a three car garage.
“It’s huge,” she finally breathed out after looking through the main designs of the house for a second time.
“Just over five thousand square feet. Not too big. Little brother didn’t want to go too big,” Josh added.
Destiny looked up at me. “That’s one of the smaller designs?”
I nodded. “There’re larger ones if you like. But I figured you’d like the Spanish colonial look the best. Do you?”
“Do I what?” she asked, still looking a little dumbfounded.
“Like it?”
She nodded. “I do. I love it.”
“Come here.” I took her by the hand toward the property. “Watch out for the dirt,” I warned, not wanting her to get stuck in the dirt with her heels. “This is where the driveway would be that leads to the three car garage. The mudroom will be right there as you enter from the garage …” I continued to point out where each of the rooms would be to help her visualize our future home.
“You’re really good at painting a clear vision.”
“He’s always been that way. Also helped him on tests,” Josh came up behind us, stating.
Destiny turned to him with a raised eyebrow.
“He didn’t tell you? Our kid brother got a perfect score on his SATs. Damn near failed all his classes but managed to scrape by with perfect scores on all his tests. A real idiot savant this one is.” Josh tapped me on the shoulder.
I moved to grab Josh by his collar just as he jumped backwards, laughing. At the same time Destiny’s hand firmed around my forearm.
“He did tell me,” she giggled, answering Josh. “He also told me how his older brothers couldn’t wait to give him shit once he finally fell in love. Payback is a bitch in heels,” she laughed.
I turned to her, my heart racing. She’d mentioned the L word.
“He—” She was cut off by my lips on hers. I needed to kiss her more than I needed my next breath. I took my time, savoring the kiss, but too soon she pulled back.
“A-are you asking me to move in with you? Is that what this is?”
I shook my head. “I’mtellingyou this is where we will make our home once it’s completed.”
“About a ten month build time,” Josh yelled behind me.
Destiny stared at him over my shoulder then turned those brown, doe eyes back to me. “You’re telling me?”
I nodded. “I am, precious. We’ll have a lot of work to do between now and the time we can move in.”
