Laughing, he shakes his head. "Still just me, I'm afraid. Nothin’ special."
“That’s where you’re wrong.”
"How's the arm, by the way? I saw you've gotten rid of the dressing.
Startled, he looks down at his rolled-up sleeve and nods stiffly. "Yeah. Healed right up."
Good,” I smile, admittedly a little starry-eyed.
His gaze seems to flash with something before he jerks his head back toward the wall of swatches and quickly changes the subject. "So, the vibe you're lookin’ for? Are we thinkin’ of creatin’ a retreat of sorts? Like a cozy oasis after a long day–or night–at work? Or somethin’ bright and refreshin’?” He runs his finger over the shelf. “Or do you prefer the clean, modern look?"
"Sounds like this is not your first paint rodeo?" I tease.
"The ranch house needed freshenin' up when we bought the ranch, and as is always the way, I was volunteered to do it all,” he replies with a laugh. “Then there’s Rhett’s cabin which we gutted and rebuilt, just the way he wanted it, then he met Cora and now he’s renovatingherfarmhouse.”
Austin holds up different colors against each other as I watch him, fascinated by the way his brow furrows in concentration. His fingers graze each swatch with a gentle touch. It's a small gesture, but it speaks volumes about the depth of his character and the man he has become--which isn't a lot different from the boy I knew. He's still just as great as he was back then, which isn't a good thing for my heart since it has decided to give me an impromptu cardio session without me even moving a muscle.
"Charlie?" he asks, snapping me from my thoughts about my racing pulse andwhyit’s racing.
"Yeah?"
"You OK? You seemed to zone out a bit there. If I'm oversteppin', please let me know. This is meant to beyourspace, after all…”"
"Oh gosh no, sorry. Was just thinkin' about how you were always a man of action back when we were younger."
His brow arches. "A man of action, huh?"
I roll my eyes as a laugh escapes me and without thinking, I bump his shoulder with mine, not expecting a snap of awareness to buzz between us at the contact. My breath catches and I feel my cheeks heat but I push past it and focus on the swatches in his hand.
“I always loved the colors of houses in Spain. “
“Spent some time there?”
"Yeah. I was workin’ for a women's health initiative that traveled around the country. We provided medical services to those who didn’t have easy access to specialists and the like. It was a good way to see Spainandhelp people at the same time,” I say.
“Wow,” he says quietly, but I don’t miss the awe in his voice.
“It’s not much, but I like givin’ back. What’s the point of all these skills and qualifications I have if not to share them with those less fortunate.”
"You may say it's not much but to all those women you saw and treated and helped, I bet it was a lot to them."
I nod, studying my feet for a spell as my cheeks heat. “Thanks, Austin.”
He shrugs. "Just sayin' it like it is, Char." We both freeze as his former name for me slips out. He looks at the color wall again. "OK, so I'm not well traveled so I don't really know the colors you're talkin' about, but I'm thinkin’ you're more of a comfort kind of woman."
"You'd be right."
After what feels like an eternity of deliberation, Austin finally settles on a few swatches and hands them back to me. "Here are my top picks," he says with a grin. "But remember, it's all about what makesyoufeel good. This is your home, your space. You want somethin' that you look forward to bein’ in."
I run my index finger over the three swatches he's given me, one is a warm white with yellow undertones and the other a deep red. Lastly, there's a warm sage green that I fall in love with at first sight.”
"You could do all of the walls with the white, then do the trim and windows in either the green or the red," he explains. I feel his gaze on me as I try to picture the image in my head.
I slowly lift my eyes to meet his. "I like the green. Nice and calm, soothin' too. I see a lot of stark white and dull grey at the hospital. It'll be nice to come home and just relax in a cozy space."
His gaze drops to my smile, making my heart thump. thump. thump against my sternum.What is up with my body today? Maybe it’s me who needs a check up."Definitely what you want," he says in a deep, smooth-as-molasses voice.
"There you are!" Mom says, breaking the moment as she rushes down the aisle toward us. "Austin,fancyseein’ you here…”
