I haven’t known the adult version of Perry for long. Yet he’s never been a stranger, so pushing his buttons is second-nature.
Besides, our new house has good bones. Strong walls and a sturdy foundation. And with some TLC, it’ll be perfect for us.
Lila’s gonna love it,I tell myself for the fiftieth time since we took the Plant City exit and she started throwing me progressively panicked glances.
As soon as the house comes into view through a clearing in the trees, she starts humming nervously.
She shifts into park, her pretty eyes bulging from her heart-shaped face. Without looking at me, she asks,“Dirty dimples, owner of my heart, love of my life...?why are they unloading my stuff into this house?”
“That depends,” I hedge.
“On what?” she asks, eyes still locked on the modest ranch-style home where I’ll bring her dreams to life.
Unless she hates it.
“It depends on the feelings you’re masking behind the shock.”
Oxygen stutters in my lungs. A nice accompaniment to the twitches and trembles rolling through me while I await her judgment.
In classic Lila fashion, she obliterates my fears with a simple smile. It starts at one corner of her mouth, creeping upward gradually, until her entire face beams and shimmers like the sun, moon, and stars.
She’s radiant in her joy. And I’m the lucky son of a bitch who gets to see her shine.
“Did you buy us a house?” she whispers, awe coloring her tone. “On a farm?”
“Rental for now with a purchase option. I didn’t sign on the dotted line yet.”
Lila finally breaks her stare away, slicing it toward me. “Why not?”
Relief erupts from my gut in a boisterous laugh. “I was waiting to see if you liked it before committing.”
Reaching for the handle, she quips, “I see your motorcycle from here. And the boxes are flying off the trailer by an absurdly buff moving squad. So I’m calling BS on the commitment.”
Chuckling, I explain, “This move can be temporary or permanent. Up to you.Jonesy says we’re welcome to rent as long as we want. He had no plans for it and was glad to have it cared for.”
One of Sawyer’s fellow bodyguards inherited this tiny strawberry farm from his grandparents. When I mentioned I wanted something rural with a nice porch where Lila can sit and birdwatch, my twin was ready with the suggestion. He only saw the inside later, fortunately.
“Jonesy? The Jack Reacher guy who speaks predominantly in grunts, right?”
I give her a nod, then point my chin toward the house. “Shall we?”
With her excitement unrestrained, she bounds from the car and dashes off. Her feet draw to a sudden stop, and she reachesout for me, fingers dancing with impatience. But she doesn’t go any farther.
For as innocuous as the gesture may be, it hits me like a zap to the heart. That tiny move conveys so much.
It says we’re in this together, no matter where life takes us.And she’ll never let me go.
I wrap my hand around hers, running my thumb over her silky smooth skin.
“This was a bold move, dimples. Could’ve backfired on you big time. It’s quite heavy-handed, if I’m honest.” Her eyes twinkle up at me, making her smirk dazzle. “Lucky for you, I love your hands when they’re big and bold.”
Walking into the house—ourhome—her jaw drops, sagging lower with each step until it’s on her chest. She studies the down-to-earth charm, marinating in our new reality more with each passing second.
She freaking loves it. I knew it all along. Never doubted it.
You did good this time, kid.
Thank you, Mr. Freeman. Excellent job pointing out the blatantly obvious.
