I’m not taking any chances.
The week comes and goes. We had another busy day yesterday and were completely swamped. Wren called in and said she couldn’t make it because her mom was sick, so she was going to watch the kids for Cade. At noon, West stopped in and brought me a burger and fries from Misty’s, so we walked across the street and had lunch together by the gardens. Today we’re going boating, and I’m both nervous and excited. I love spending time with West, but every moment we spend together is another moment I fall for him.
Yesterday at lunch I wanted to ask about the girlfriend thing, but I chickened out. I loved hearing him call me that, but it also made me sad because that’s all this can ever be. I can never give him more, even though it’s all I want to do.
Sighing, I finish packing up the cooler with sandwiches, a salad, and of course, dessert when I hear the crunch of gravel in my driveway. Refilling Pumpkin’s dishes, I bend to give her a kiss before I make my way to the front door. Stopping at the mirrored closet in the entryway, I give myself a quick once-over. My hair is back in a fishtail braid, and I’m wearing a little linen summer dress. It’s simple with wide sleeves that stop at my elbow and a drop waist silhouette with little pearl buttons between my cleavage. It’s light and comfy, and my swimsuit fitswell underneath. On my wrist glints the bracelet West bought me at the fair. I twirl it around, smiling at the purple amethyst. I love this bracelet so much and haven’t taken it off since he clasped it on.
Reaching into the closet, I grab my sunhat and a pair of brown sandals, putting them on just as my doorbell rings.
“One moment!” I yell, putting everything into a pile before opening the door.
West stands there, giving me a slow once-over before meeting my eyes. I shiver as his eyes trail over my body, and I can feel a need coiling tight in my core. Something about the way he looks at me feels sensual, and my body hums with awareness. His eyes meet mine again , and in a deep gravelly voice, he says, “Hi.”
“Hi.”
“I like your dress,” he says, eyes darkening, and a part of me hopes he’s thinking about what lies beneath, but another part has me afraid that’s exactly what he’s thinking.
“Thanks.” I smile, placing my hands inside its pockets. “It’s got pockets.”
Chuckling, he reaches for both the cooler and the beach bag by my feet. “Well, with or without pockets, you look beautiful.”
“Thanks.” I blush, still not used to the compliment. “You look good yourself.” My eyes scan over him just as his did me. He’s wearing a pair of tan shorts with a plain black tee, and his stubble that’s grown over the week is still there. As he swings the bags into his arms, I get hints of spice and wood from his cologne. I don’t think I’ve ever seen West in shorts before, which is probably why it looks so sexy right now.
He opens the door, and after locking up behind us, I stop in my tracks when all I see is his black truck. “Wait. Where is your boat?” I ask, wondering if we’re still going boating.
“At my place,” he says, opening the back door and placing the bags inside. “It’s about two miles from town and just off the river, so I have a dock out back where I keep it,” he tells me, moving to my door and holding it open for me.
Once settled inside, we exit the neighbourhood and leave the town behind us, turning onto a gravel road. I watch as the landscape goes from open fields to rolling hills, and at the bottom of the hill, we take a turn down a winding driveway that’s surrounded by a pathway of giant trees. When we reach the end, the trees open up, revealing our destination, and my mouth drops open. In front of us sits a two story wood and stone house made up of giant glass windows with a big deck on both floors. The house sits a few metres back from the water’s edge, and there is a stone path leading from the garage to the front of the house. The yard is surrounded by forest, and the whole place feels like a little haven of tranquility.
“This is your house?” I ask with wide eyes as I take it all in.
“It is,” he says, chuckling softly.
“West, this is beautiful.”
“Thanks. Follow me and I’ll show you around.” He rolls up to the front of the giant garage, putting the truck in park and getting out to come around to my side to help me out. Threading our fingers together, he leads me to his house.
I didn’t think it was possible for my eyes to widen any more than they already were, but stepping inside, I feel like they are going to pop right out of their sockets. The inside is even more breathtaking than outside. It’s modern but rustic, with high vaulted ceilings and a winding staircase to the second floor. Down the hall in front of me I can see floor-to-ceiling windows through an archway that I assume leads to the living room, and along the hall is a door under the stairs and another archway to the left.
Fingers still entwined, West leads me down the hall, taking the left where we enter into the most beautiful kitchen I have ever seen. The massive island and kitchen counters are granite with a stone wall, and there is a giant industrial oven that calls to me. It’s what dreams are made of.
Through the patio doors, I can see the river, and taking a walk through the kitchen into another archway, we enter the living room. From here, you still have a gorgeous view of the river, and in the centre of the floor-to-ceiling windows is a giant stone fireplace taking the centre of attention.
“West, this is seriously the most incredible house I have ever seen,” I tell him in awe.
“Thanks.” He chuckles. “But I still have more to show you, if you’re up to it.”
“Oh, absolutely!” I say, following down the hall that leads back to the entryway.
Along the way, he points out the bathroom, and then we take the winding staircase to the second floor. Upstairs houses a bathroom and four bedrooms, each with access to a balcony. All the rooms are a soft white with wood beams, bringing in that modern rustic feel again. West’s room is towards the front of the house, and the entire front balcony is his. Inside is another stunning stone fireplace, and when I peek into his bathroom, my jaw drops.
He’s got a beautiful double vanity, a stone rain shower, and in the corner against a giant window sits a massive tub surrounded by more stone. It’s a girl’s dream.
“West, this is truly amazing.”
“Thank you. I’m glad you like it.”
“Oh, I more than like it. I absolutely love your place.” I run my hand along the granite vanity, impressed that it’s free of clutter. For a bachelor, West’s house is super neat. I didn’t even catch a piece of clothing discarded on the floor, and his bed wasmade. It makes me cringe thinking of the pile of clothes I left piled on my floor back home. And my bed was definitely not made.
