Beth pulled back just enough to look up at him. She wanted to ask about sharing a room but didn’t want to ruin the moment—the sweetness of what he had done for her.
She just shook her head, smiling softly. “No. Just… thank you.”
Bryce brushed a kiss against her forehead. “Anytime, Lizzy.”
He made it halfway to the door before pausing, one hand resting on the frame. He glanced back at her, expression softer than she’d ever seen it.
“I’m glad you’re here.”
The words settled deep.
Beth swallowed against the sudden tightness in her throat. “Me too.”
With one last lingering look, he stepped out, leaving her in a space that already felt more like home than she ever expected.
CHAPTER 23
Beth made her way to the bathroom, shaking her head in disbelief. “I mean, I knew doctors made good money, but this is next level.
Buttons, dials, rain settings, voice activation—remotes, in a bathroom?” she muttered, eyeing the high-tech shower with both awe and frustration.
She reached for the shower knobs only to realize there were none. Considering the luxurious soaking tub as an alternative, she quickly discovered it had the same problem—too much technology.
After three failed attempts, each resulting in an icy blast straight to the face, she finally cracked the code. Warm watercascaded over her, and she stood victorious.
“If I can conquer that shower, I can do anything,” she beamed with a satisfied grin.
Feeling accomplished, she made her way to the closet to get dressed. Letting out a low whistle, she took in the massive walk-in closet—bigger than her entire bedroom back at her apartment. As she wandered through the space, she lightly ran her fingers along the sleeves of Bryce’s jackets. He had cleared out half the closet for her, but her wardrobe barely filled half the space.
She turned toward his side, noting the perfectly arranged shirts and neatly lined-up shoes. A chuckle escaped her. “I married a neat freak,” she mused, shaking her head fondly.
Grabbing a comfortable outfit, she got dressed, slipping into a pair of joggers and an old t-shirt.
With a final glance at the pristine closet, she padded downstairs barefoot, curious to see if Bryce had returned from his errand.
Beth descended the stairs, stretching slightly as she moved, her feet cool against the wood. Bryce stepped off the elevator at the same time, his lips curving into a tender smile as he took her in—cozy, relaxed, like she belonged here.
His gaze flickered down at her feet, and without a word, he turned toward the smart panel on the wall.
Beth frowned. “What’s that?”
“The control panel for the smart home features,” he said, tapping the screen. “I didn’t want your feet to get cold, so I turned on the heated floors.”
Beth’s mouth fell open slightly. “You have heated floors?”
Bryce smirked. “Wehave heated floors. Both levels and on the deck. It also controls the alarm, lights, temperature—pretty much everything.”
“That would’ve been nice to know before I took a shower. Your bathroom is ridiculously over the top… kinda like you.”
“No comment,” Bryce said with a grin. “But should you ever need help in or with the shower… I’m your man.”
Beth flushed and looked quickly toward the kitchen. Bryce chuckled.
“Hungry? I can get dinner started.”
“You know how to cook?” she asked, surprised.
“Do you know how to cook?”
