I could tell by looking at it that Kip had designed it. It was awe-inspiring. There were two floors, with large windows that would allow light in all the time. From the street I could see into the living room, and what I was able to see took my breath away.
“What is this?” I prayed I was right.
“This is our new home,” he said proudly. “Remember I told you John and the pack had donated some land?” He gestured to the house. “I designed this, and both of our parents gave us the money to have it built.”
My mouth fell open. “We can’t afford this. We can barely scrape enough money together to live at the motel.”
The one we’d been staying at ever since Jerome burned our place down four weeks ago.
“You’ll take it and shut up.” Tony said from behind us. “It’s the least we can do for our son-in-law.”
I turned around and our parents stood there, grinning.
Conversation would have to wait. Kip was tugging me toward the house.
“Come on,” he urged. “Let me show you the place.”
He dragged me up the steps to the entrance. “We start our tour here.” His voice was light, but I detected an underlying tension, as if he were afraid I wouldn’t like the place.
He didn’t need to worry. Even the tiny bit I’d seen made me feel more at home than the last house we lived in.
“We have a solid oak door with leaded stain glass inserts.”He reached into his pocket and drew out a set of keys. “These are yours. Don’t lose them, because I’m not waking up at midnight when you lock yourself out.”
I stared at him. “Midnight? I’ll be in bed next to you.”
“Well, in case you sleepwalk or something. I need my beauty rest.”
I laughed and leaned in to kiss him, but he opened the front door and pushed me inside, into a foyer comprising solid oak floors, with an impressive staircase with a wrought iron balustrade.
“The closet has plenty of space for jackets when you’re entertaining.”
Before I could say anything, he propelled us toward a gorgeous dining room awash in light gleaming as it bounced off the oak table.
“There’s a service for six, but it’s expandable up to fifteen if necessary.” Then Kip moved us down the hall, stopping at each doorway so I could glance inside. “The guest bedrooms or offices or whatever you want them to be. There are eight of them on this floor, each with a book nook, a rocking chair, and… you know, space for transitioning them to nurseries and kids’ rooms if we want.”
Kids? Hell yes, I wanted kids.
I grinned. “Are you trying to tell me something, Kip?”
His cheeks stained red. “I’d like to go without the condom, if you think you’re ready for it.”
Without the condom, I’d be almost guaranteed to get pregnant.
“But we don’t have the money,” I protested.
He spun me to face him. “Yes, we do. My parents are giving us money to start a family.”
I loved the idea, but…
“I don’t like owing money. The town isn’t back on its feet yet, so you’re not getting paid.”
He ignored me and reversed course, leading me into aspacious room with vaulted ceilings, filled with a huge television that had to be at least one hundred inches, a massive amount of stereo equipment, and two sofas, four armchairs, and several beanbag chairs in neon colors strewn throughout the room.
“What’s going on here?”
He smirked. “This will be where our families congregate. Holidays, celebrations, cookouts. Everything focuses on this room.” He held my hands in his. “Iwantthis, Mase. With you and ours. Think about us having Christmas in here. A twenty-foot tree, decorated to the hilt with lights, and covered with baubles made by our kids. All of us sitting around, sharing cider, telling stories, singing carols, and reveling in the love. And when we’re alone, imagine me laying you on one of the beanbag chairs and fucking you under the twinkling lights.”
A shiver raced up my spine at the thought, but one of us had to be practical.
