Still talking, they moved slowly in the direction of Gloria’s house.Ellie could feel Becket right behind her.She didn’t have to turn around to know that.Her whole being was aware of his presence, his footfall, she could swore she even heard every breath he took.
“It’s a beautiful old place,” Arlene was saying.“And Gloria and her husband looked after it so well.Since her husband’s death, the garden has become too much for Gloria to handle, though.I think that’s one of the reasons she’s selling.”
As they walked down the footpath toward the house, Ellie lost her breath.Her steps faltered.The strangest sensation of déjà vu washed over her.Behind her Becket cussed softly.
The trees hid most of the house from the street, but up closer you got a clear picture of the whole place.It washerhouse.Painted in white, with a big porch and bright blue shutters, it was exactly the house she’d always pictured in her mind’s eye.
Over the past few months, she’d driven down this road many times on her way to first visit Laura and, lately, Rose.She’d never really looked at this place, noticed the porch, noticed that it was identical to the house she’d conjured up in her mind.Wow.
“Well,” Willow called out.“If I’m not mistaken, this is your house, Ellie.White, bright blue shutters, big porch—am I right?”
For a few moments, Ellie was unable to talk.“I can’t believe it.It’s straight out of my dreams.”
“So, let’s see inside!”Laura grabbed her hand.
*
Becket slowly followedthe others into the house.Since his mother had moved into the house a few doors down, he’d been up and down this street many times.The garden hid parts of the house from the street, but he’d obviously seen this house, maybe in winter when the leaves had fallen, even if only subconsciously.That was probably why he’d drawn this exact house with the porch and the blue shutters, with Ellie in the front.
While sketching last night, he hadn’t even thought of a specific house when he’d had his pencil in his hand, he couldn’t even say he was thinking of Ellie at that moment, nor the description of the house she wanted to have one day.His subconscious had taken over and his hand had simply drawn the lines.The end result was this very house, plus an orange cat, his dogs, a border collie and Ellie.
He had no idea how to explain what happened.Okay, he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Ellie since Wednesday.He usually drew what was on his mind, in his heart and, well, obviously Ellie Campbell was front and center in his thoughts at the moment.
“You okay?”Willow asked, walking up to him.“You looked kinda spooked.What’s wrong?”
He shook his head, making sure not to look her in the eye.
“Willow!”Fortunately their mother called from somewhere.“Come and look at this.You should really think about doing something about your kitchen, too.”
With a touch on his arm, Willow walked toward their mother.“I don’t cook, Mom.I paint.I’d much rather have a bigger studio than a fancy kitchen.”
“Well, you just haven’t found the right person to cook for,” his mom said.
A strange restlessness had him looking around, trying to find an escape.He should leave.Why had he followed everyone here, anyway?He should’ve gone back home straight after lunch; he’d received many more orders that needed to be processed.But then his mother had mentioned she’d spoken to Vivian and they were all going to show Ellie a house after lunch.
And here he was.Because Ellie was here.Damn it, this was ridiculous.He didn’t want to feel like this.So out of control.The constant need to be near her was driving him nuts.It had never happened before.Inhaling deeply, he tried to calm his racing heart.
But, okay, it probably wasn’t that strange.They were both single, she was gorgeous; of course he’d be interested.Apart from Roxy, he hadn’t been near a woman for months.This whole craziness was probably only a passing insanity.
Surely they should be able to date without letting things get complicated?She could laugh all she wanted, say no a hundred times, but he’d seen how she’d reacted to him.Spending time together was the obvious solution.It was probably the only way to get this—whatever was going on between them—out of their systems.Surely, she would agree with him?
Besides, her stay in Marietta was only temporary, which meant he didn’t have to worry she’d ever reach a point where she wanted to take things to the dreaded ‘next level’.There was no need to even warn her he wasn’t interested in anything long term; she’d already mentioned she wasn’t interested in marriage.
He turned around and his eyes immediately found Ellie.She was in front of a big bay window, looking outside.The top she was wearing had been driving him crazy ever since he’d seen her in the street.The bottom part covered the top of the pants she was wearing, but every time she moved, he caught a glimpse of skin.By this time his fingers were itching to slip underneath the material to find out whether her skin was as soft as it looked.
As he neared her, she pointed toward something outside.
“Do you know if that is a kind of sparrow?”she asked.
He immediately noticed the tan-colored bird with thinnish streaking on its head and chest taking a bath in a birdbath under a big oak tree.“I’d say it’s a Lincoln’s sparrow.It differs slightly from a song sparrow.They have thicker lines.”
Her eyes widened before she returned her gaze to the garden.“Wow, so you do know more than just how to seduce a woman.”
He didn’t answer but stood next to her, watching the bird.The voices of the others in various places around the house faded away and for a few moments they were in a private, quiet bubble.Without looking at her, he was aware of her every move, aware of the rhythm of her breathing, which had changed like his own, aware of the strange vibrations swirling around them.
The backs of their hands touched, moved away, touched again.
“May I take you to dinner tomorrow night?”he asked.
