“And I’ll overlook your trespassing.”
“That’s a tad dramatic.”
I signal to the open space surrounding us. “Never a dull moment.”
Sutton follows the motion and a curious glint flickers in her gaze. “Can I have a tour?”
I’m not prepared for her question, or any of this. My vision narrows on all the flaws and scars littered about. What good is there to see? Then my eyes land on earnest baby blues. Those glittering pools draw me in, calming my breath. This is Sutton. She’s the reason, my motivation, behind all of this. Why wouldn’t I show her?
Because she’ll dig too deep.
I shove the warning away, but shackles of doubt remain. “Won’t the food get cold?”
She swings the bag in her grip. “We can nuke it. I don’t mind.”
“All right, follow me.”
I turn on my heel and stride toward the backyard. Sutton’s sandals slap against the ground as she hurries to catch up. Bear lopes off ahead, more than happy to lead the way. We pass by the house without pause. Those bare bones won’t hold any interest. I continue guiding us across the lawn, the last streaks of sunlight painting the grass.
Her gasp triggers a tightening in my gut. Fuck, that connection is a maze I’ll never solve. A single sound scrambles my ability to function normally. Making it through this evening unscathed will be quite a feat.
“Oh my gosh.” Surprise elevates Sutton’s tone several octaves.
When I glance over, she has a few fingers pressed to her lips. She stares at the scene spreading out in front of us, a landscape of vibrant green and blue. I stay quiet and focus on the lake’s sparkling surface. A zing rips up my spine while recalling the first time I saw this view. I bought the place thirty minutes later.
We stand in silence. The type that’s comforting and easy to get lost in. I watch Sutton take it all in, from the rickety dock to a massive oak reaching over the shore. Wonder colors her cheeks the most beautiful shade of pink. She gobbles up every detail as if this is a decadent meal. Pride threatens to split my chest wide open. Maybe she’ll want to visit more often.
I shake that idiotic thought away. Beautiful as the sight might be, she doesn’t belong here. To believe she’d actually want to is ridiculous enough. I can’t let myself fall into that trap.
“So,” I burst the bubble. “What’s the verdict?”
Her gawking continues. “This place feels familiar. Is that weird? Like a dream I’ve had. There’s so much I love about it.”
Every fiber in my body misfires. I’m winded without moving a muscle. I wasn’t ready for that answer. Hell, I probably never will be. If Sutton looks hard enough, she’ll see the truth.
She doesn’t notice the war splitting me apart. “This is a hidden gem. Nice find, Gray.”
“Are you sticking around Silo Springs?” The question trips out of my mouth without warning. Why the fuck should I care? But I do. There’s no stopping it.
Sutton flashes those potent baby blues at me. I almost stumble from the magnitude. “That’s my plan. Why?”
I cough into my fist. “Just curious. You went off to school. Wasn’t sure if you’d land elsewhere.”
A crinkle forms between her brows. “This is my home. Not sure I could plant roots in another city. I’ll be at my parents for at least a month while looking for my own place in town.”
“What’re you doing for work?”
She beams at me. “I started my own business in media marketing. The large majority is done online so I can be flexible and remote. It’s a lot of scheduling and planning. Building brands and selling products. Most of my clients are authors. Fingers crossed that I’ll find an apartment near Main Street so there’s a coffeehouse or diner nearby. But I’m not too picky.” Sutton pauses with a huff. “Ugh, sorry, I’m rambling. I don’t want to bore you.”
That’s the very last thing she’s capable of doing. I could listen to her rattle off a list of job duties all night. She’s clearly passionate about this. It gets my blood pumping hotter watching her be so animated.
I lock my jaw to contain a sloppy confession of truths. Instead, I tuck my chin and look away. “Nah, it’s all good. I’m not surprised you’ve got a swanky job. I’m still roughing it in the trenches.” I hitch a thumb over my shoulder.
“You’re literally building a future, and I’m glad it’s in Silo Springs. Who’d want to live anywhere else?”
I snort. “Plenty of people.”
“Like?”
