“It is. I have my buddies, a few other men around who enjoy the peace. And there’s a bar not too far away. The town isn’t big, but it’s quaint.”
“I’m not sure I’ve ever heard a town called that before. Must be pretty small?”
I could hear him sigh a little and I had to smile. It wasn’t that the question annoyed him. I think he just forgets that he’s out in the middle of nowhere.
“It is. But it’s home. I’ve done the big city and hated it. I think the nearest one is about two hours away. So, when I shop, I have to make it an all-day production because I can’t do those trips ten and twelve times a month.”
“I can see that. A small price to pay for the peace and solitude of the location.”
“A fair trade, sure. Are you tired of the city life?”
“I’ve been tired, Christian. It’s loud, and rude, and dangerous.”
I heard him shift, almost as if he was sitting up, and it made me frown. Did I say something that threw him off?
“That’s part of why I left. The danger and the loudness. Here, I wake up to the sound of birds or rain, or bad winds. But certainly not to sirens blaring or people screaming.”
“I can’t imagine the quietness. I mean, even out here, quiet isn’t quiet. I mean, I’m the type that sleeps with a fan on while the heater is going.”
“For the noise?” he asked and I had to chuckle.
“Yup, I’m the type that needs that background noise. But not all this from the city. I am over it. My place isn’t huge either, so packing up isn’t something big for me.”
“Janelle?”
“Yeah, Christian?”
He paused and I held my breath, wondering what in the world he was thinking. Because it was evident he was thinking something and whatever was going on in that mind of his had him worried.
“Just spit it out already. What are you wanting? Because you want something.”
“You’d leaving everything behind?” he quietly asked and I struggled to hear him.
“Leave everything?”
“Yeah, you’d leave the city?”
“Sure. I have no family. I was an only child, and my dad died a few years back. Nothing is keeping me here.”
“So, you said you’d like my place, that it was something you could settle down in.”
“I did, yes. It’s beautiful. I’d love to see it.”
“How about you moving here? Would you want to do that?”
I didn’t pause, didn’t even think. Just said the first thing that came to mind.
“Yes, Christian, I’d like to move there.”
And there was no doubt about those words. They were honest and true, and I couldn’t wait to pack my bags and head out.
Even though I might not know him, I did sign up for this, and everything he was offering was everything I wanted, cabin in a wooded area included.
I’m not sure what I thought she would say but yes wasn’t quite it. Though, by the bubbling of hope in my chest, I’m going to assume that I had wished she said that. And now, I might be freaking out a bit because I wasn’t sure how I felt about someone entering my domain.
I hadn’t had anyone short of a friend come to my place. Any one-night stand bullshit was spent at theirs, never mine. Because I never wanted to taint my home like this.
This was my sanctuary, my comfort, and I never wanted to tarnish it.
