The agent was Cole’s new aunt Crystal after marrying his uncle last year, so we were trusted with the key.
Plus, the house was empty because it was in serious need of some TLC.
The window frames had to be replaced because the wood was rotting and falling apart, and it needed a new door. I hoped Cole wouldn’t be put off because, even from the outside, I could tell it was perfect.
It was a detached, yellow brick house with a bay window and ivy climbing every corner, choking the life out of it.
Cole unlocked the door, and I stepped inside.
The entrance hall was large with an old-style black-and-white-tiled floor. It had a high ceiling and a dark oak staircase to the side. Past the square entrance hall and staircase was a long corridor with three doors off it.
“This is incredible,” I whispered, looking around in awe. Fora second, I forgot myself, and I imagined living here with Cole, walking through this door, clutching our shopping bags, or stumbling up those stairs kissing after a night out.
Cole stepped forward, his chest pressed against my back, and I bit my lip as my pulse thudded under my hot skin.
“We’re only in the entrance hall, Oakley. The rest of the house might be a craphole,” he whispered in my ear, and I shuddered at his breath on my skin.
“So? This room’s huge. Just camp in here.”
He chuckled and nudged me forward, towards one of the doors. “Let’s go in this one.”
I didn’t pay any attention to what he’d said. All I could concentrate on was how close he was and how my body felt alive again… how badly I wanted to turn around and kissed him.
Cole reached around me and opened the door.
“Wow.”
We stepped into the most amazing kitchen. It needed a lot of work. Like, alot. The units were old and falling apart, the floor tiles were cracked so bad it looked like a road map, and sockets hung off the walls, but it was huge—perfect for parties and entertaining.
I turned to him. “Cole, buy this house.”
He rolled his eyes. “You’ve only seen two rooms, and one was a hall.”
“But if it’s all like this—”
“Broken and falling apart?”
“Even the things that look broken beyond repair have a chance at being whole again. It just depends on how much you want to rebuild it.”
He reached out and stroked his thumb along my jaw, smirking at the breathy moan that escaped my lips. “Why do I get the feeling you’re not just talking about the house?”
“Because I’m not.” I frowned and forced myself to step away,not wanting to bring my ugly past into this house. His hand dropped. “Let’s check out the other rooms.”
Grabbing his hand, I pulled him out of the kitchen and into the lounge next door. It was large with a chunky wooden floor, which also needed more work.
“All right, if you don’t buy this place, I’m going to.”
Cole smirked and looked around. “I do like it, but I want to see the rest first.”
“Come on, then. Oh, and promise me you won’t replace the wooden floor. Have it restored instead.”
“Yes, boss.”
After making our way through the house, checking out the three bedrooms, box room, and bathrooms, we went out in the garden. Outside was also a decent size, but completely overgrown. If Leona was out there, we’d never see her. The patio was broken up and covered in slimy green moss.
“So, what do you think?” I asked, watching Cole looking around the garden.
“I like it.”
