Page 15 of Tangled in Temptation

“This is colonial style, right?”

“Yes.” I nodded. “Good job. It’s not as old as your house. I think the paperwork said it was built in the thirties. It’s been maintained pretty well, but there is still a lot of work to do.”

Timothy followed me with a nod and a polite smile. “I like it,” he said.

He seemed sincere, his eyes taking in the details of my labor of love. We started with the dining room, a space that held the promise of many pleasant meals and gatherings. The wallpaper was peeling in places, and the window frames needed repair, but I saw what it could become.

“There used to be a chandelier here.” I pointed to an odd patch on the ceiling. “I’m thinking of installing something modern to give it a little edge.”

Timothy looked up at the ceiling and nodded. “That would be nice.”

We moved on to the small sitting room slash den next, where a few cardboard boxes still sat unopened, filled with books and knick-knacks from my apartment.

“I’ll unpack them eventually,” I said, brushing a strand of hair out of my face. “I’ve been so focused on repairs and renovations, I haven’t had much time for decor. All of that stuff will go in the built-ins once I refinish them.”

“Like you did in the library,” he said. “Which by the way turned out really nice.”

“Thank you.” I smiled. “I’m the kind of person who likes to get her hands dirty first. Once the dust clears... then it’s time for the pretty stuff.”

“And I’m sure it will be very pretty,” he said. “Your work is incredible.”

I led him upstairs, grimacing at the carpet that still lined the hallway. “That’s coming out,” I told him. “I’m hoping to find the same wood flooring that’s downstairs.”

I watched as his gaze traced the lines of the carpet, then flicked back up to meet mine. “I bet it’s under there, just waiting to be rediscovered.”

His optimism was infectious. I found myself grinning at him. “You think? Well, let’s hope so.”

We moved from room to room, my face growing warm with a mix of embarrassment and nervous anticipation. His presence added a different feel to the house, one that I wasn’t accustomed to. There was no judgment in his expression, only curiosity and genuine interest.

“This is my master bedroom,” I told him. I had my mattresses on the floor and my bedroom furniture in a room down the hall. “I’m going to be working on this and the kitchen simultaneously. The bathroom is not connected, so I plan to do some remodeling to make it an ensuite.”

“Damn, woman.” He let out a low whistle. “You seriously have your work cut out for you.”

“I know,” I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “But I’ve always loved a challenge.”

“Well, it’s lucky for you then that this house seems to be full of them,” he replied with a chuckle.

We moved on to the last part of the tour, the yard. It was overgrown and wild, but there was potential hiding beneath the tangle of plants. I had dreams of clearing it out and having an outdoor space to read and relax.

“This is where I plan to have my garden,” I said, pointing at the chaotic greenery. “I envision a seating area over there under the trees and maybe even a swing. I love your yard. I think I might get with the landscapers that worked magic on your place.”

“They did great work,” he agreed. “I was just out in the yard tonight before I came over here. It’s very peaceful.”

I found it surprising he had been enjoying it. He was a pretty tense guy. It was hard to picture him doing nothing.

We made our way back downstairs to the living room. Technically, the main living room as there were two other living rooms, but they were devoid of furniture.

Timothy looked around. “It seems like a pretty exciting project. I can see you’re excited about it.”

“I am.” I nodded.

“Are you happy here?” he asked quietly.

I paused, considering my answer. “I’m happy to have a project,” I replied, my words more an evasion than a genuine response.

I could tell by the look on his face he wasn’t satisfied with my non-answer. “Are you happy here, alone?” he said again. “Without me? Are you happy to be away from me? Not seeing me every day or being around me.”

I hesitated, trying to find the right words. I was afraid to be vulnerable with him. The last time I’d let my guard down, he had walked away and left me feeling like he’d kicked me out into the cold. I didn’t want to feel like that again. “It’s... complicated.”