“Ending up with the Houston organization saved Cormac,” Keelie said, returning for another box. “He was well on his way to derailment without Silas’s mentorship.”
“I’ll be sure to tell Silas you said so,” Paloma said. She sat her box in the entry hall, and I bent down to do the same.
As I rose, I gasped. “What…” I couldn’t push any more words past my lips—too overwhelmed by Pax’s house. It wasperfect. “You…”
“Paxton gave us the scrapbook,” Millie said as she surveyed the space.
“Since you were hesitant to spend your man’s money when you were here before, we decided to help out with the first step, so you’d be comfortable living here,” Naomi said.
“Naomi’s great at finding bargains—and beautiful things,” Ida Jane said with a hint of rancor and a lot of admiration.
“You’re getting there, little grasshopper,” Naomi countered.
They all laughed. I was still dazed by the transformation. The house no longer looked like a single man’s bachelor pad. It looked just like the house I’d planned for us during that last year we were together.
These women and Paxton had recreated my dream home.
“Oh,” I gasped. Tears sprung to my eyes.
I’d spent hours cutting out pictures and taping them into my dreams book. I’d wanted to create what I’d never had: a home. Paxton’s house now had the double crown molding, the shiplap, even the reclaimed wood floors I’d sighed and dreamed over.
I swallowed the lump of emotion building in my throat as I moved to the kitchen. It was the same as when I’d left last month. I took comfort in the glossy, black French stove and hood, all done up in brass. The white cabinets and countertops were spotless, but they warmed me deeply.
“This is…amazing,” I whispered as I turned back to the living room. They’d matched the exact shade of red I’d wanted for the large sectional and loveseat that cozied around a geometric-patterned rug and a low, live-edged cube of wood that had to be two and a half feet across.
“We know it’s notexactlywhat you had in the book,” Ida Jane said.
“I figured you’d want vegan leather, especially since it was the only place we could get the sectional and loveseat made up in time,” Millie said.
“Y-yes. Vegan? Really? That’s cool.” I smiled.
“The cube coffee table was all Paxton. He saw it and said it was very Hana,” Keelie added, her tone earnest.
These women were nervous. Of my reaction. Even Naomi shuffled her feet—Naomi, the queen of confidence.
“I love it. I—I’m overwhelmed…”
“Don’t show her the bedroom yet,” Ida Jane said from the corner of her mouth, her eyes dancing.
“You decorated the guest room?” I asked.
“Well, sure, but that’s for Paxton.” Naomi decreed as if it was normal to kick the home’s owner out of the primary suite and into a guest one.
I shook my head. Paloma settled her hand on my shoulder. “Paxton wants you in the big bedroom. He said it has a better bathtub for your leg, and he said it was better for you take the stairs as it would help rebuild the muscles around the injury.”
I gulped. “That sneaky—” My chest heaved.
“Oh! We pushed too hard,” Millie moaned.
“We just want you to be happy,” Keelie fretted.
“Are you okay?” Paloma asked quietly.
“Yes.” My voice came out strong and steady. “I am.”
And I was. Because with these alterations to his home and lifestyle, Paxton was showing me he wanted me here. He’d made sure his friends’ wives were here to greet me, even though I’d also texted the CATS to let them know my plans. Some of my fear that he was using me to assuage his guilt melted away much like a chunk of rock eroding under the pressure of a stream.
He loved me. He’d told me so. Now he was showing me. I just had to believe.
