The ceiling has caved in over the clawfoot tub.
“Water damage,” he says behind me, taking my shoulders in his hands. “The leak has been fixed, but the bathroom needs to be gutted.”
“I see that. Fucking water damage is the bane of my existence.”
He wraps his arms around me from behind and lowers his lips to my ear. “What do you think? You don’t have to know today. This house isn’t going anywhere.”
I bite my lip, afraid to hope and trust that this could be real.
But he’s right here, behind me, holding me tight, and itisreal.
“I love the house across the street.” I turn and loop my arms around his middle. “It’s a great house.”
“You’re right. Itisa great house.” He kisses my forehead. “What’s going on in that gorgeous brain of yours?”
I work my lip through my teeth as I ponder this. “I’ll be perfectly happy living across the street while we fix this one up. It’s so handy that we’reright there.And then, later, we can decide if we want to keep it and rent it out or sell it. But I think I want to keep it. Because I’m greedy as fuck, Brooks.”
His lips spread into a smile as he takes my face in his hands and lowers his lips to mine.
“This sounds like an excellent plan. And I love that you’re sayingweso much. It sounds fucking amazing.”
“Yeah, I like it, too. And Brooks?”
“Yes, baby?”
“That kitchen is the first thing to go.”
Chapter Eighteen
BROOKS
Ihaven’t felt this light, thisoptimisticin … ever? Maybe not ever. Juliet knows everything now, all the secrets I’ve carried around all these years, and we’re working our way through it. Everything that happened in the house just about ripped my heart out, but we’re okay.
We’re going to renovate our house together, and I’ll make sure it’s exactly what she wants. Hell, she could turn it into a bed-and-breakfast, and I’d go along with it.
We left through the back door, so we could check out the three-car garage, a little vegetable garden that hasn’t been tended to in years, and a shed, and now we’re circling around the side of the house toward the street just as a car pulls into my driveway.
“Who’s visiting?” Jules asks, frowning.
“I believe that’s Dani.” I kiss her cheek as we cross the street, and Birdie comes bounding out of the back seat of the SUV.
“Hi, Uncle Brooks!” She runs to me and leaps into my arms. “We’re here.”
“I see that, peanut. Do you remember our friend Juliet?”
“When are you opening your restaurant back up?” Birdie asks Jules, who smiles softly at my little niece.
“As soon as possible. I miss it, too. The construction people tell me about two weeks.”
“That’s sofar away,” Birdie says, acting like her life is over.
Dani and Darby join us, both with their arms full.
“Hey, guys,” Jules says. “What in the world are you doing?”
“Operationmake-the-kitchen-safe-for-Julesis officially here,” Dani says with a smile. “We’re replacing everything today. I have plenty more in the car. Brooks, do you mind being the muscle?”
“I never mind being the muscle.” I flex one arm, and Dani and Darby roll their eyes. Jules bites her lip, which was what I intended.
