Chapter 23
The drive to Jeb’s house was cloaked in silence. He glanced over often, but she sat still, her silhouette etched against the light filtering through the windshield. Her hands were clasped together, resting in her lap. Her intelligent gaze seemed to take in every detail of the passing landscape.
His mind wandered to the homes of the other Keepers. Several of them had splurged on houses that overlooked the ocean or offered a majestic view of the mountains in the background. When he’d embarked on his search for a permanent place to live, it would be the first house he’d ever owned. The idea of spending a substantial amount for a down payment and then being in debt for years was hard for him to wrap his mind around.
While in the Navy, he often lived in base housing, saving on rent. Now with a respectable nest egg, he certainly had enough money for a down payment. But he’d learned as a child how quickly life could change. Sinking all of his money into a down payment on an expensive house was a frightening prospect, considering that he might need the money for something else if there was an emergency.
So his house hunt was meticulous and unhurried. He scoured online listings and visited numerous properties for sale. Move-in ready and at least three bedrooms with two full bathrooms were necessary. Even with no family to visit, he was tired of cramped living spaces. Other than that, he wasn’t sure what he wanted. He sure as hell didn’t have a style, but he was sure he”d know it once he saw the right place.
Finally, he toured a house that called to him. It had the requirements he desired and something special that let him know he’d found a place to call home. Now, glancing to the side once more as he pulled into the driveway and parked in front of the garage, vulnerability filled him as he wondered what Skylar’s impressions were. He lived in a neighborhood, but the lots were large, even if the houses weren’t. It gave everyone a sense of space, and being at the end of a wooded cul-de-sac afforded additional privacy.
Skylar leaned forward and looked out the windshield, then turned to him with a soft smile on her face. “Is this it? Is this your house?” The soft curiosity in her voice made his heart skip a beat.
“Yeah,” he muttered. As they climbed from his SUV, he said, “I’ll give you a tour of the place, then come back for the bags.”
She nodded and glanced at his outstretched hand before quickly linking fingers. They walked to the front door, and after disarming the security, he led her inside. “As you can see, it’s not very big. The former owners knocked down a couple of walls, so it’s open.”
“Oh…” Her voice was full of wonder. “I love how the living room opens into the dining room and the kitchen,” she enthused. “It feels like a house you can breathe in.”
He hadn’t thought of it that way, but she was right. After living in her tiny lighthouse, his place would seem large. He gave her a tour of the downstairs and showed her the half bath, laundry room, kitchen, and pantry. He wasn’t surprised when he opened the refrigerator and saw fresh milk, some vegetables, a rotisserie chicken, and a loaf of bread. It appeared one of the Keepers had made a quick grocery run when they knew he was coming back.
Turning, he waved her toward the back door from the kitchen, which led to a patio surrounded by green grass and ending with the woods at the back. “This leads to the back. I don’t use it much when it gets cold, but I have hosted a few cookouts for friends.” He turned to see her staring into the backyard, but her thoughts were still hidden.
“Come on. I’ll show you upstairs.”
At the top of the stairs, he opened a door to the right, showing her a bedroom containing a desk, computer equipment, and a treadmill on the other side. The next door opened to a full bathroom. Another bedroom offered a queen-size bed, dresser, and chair beside a bookcase.
“And the owner”s bedroom is across the hall,” he said. Stepping in, he felt some of the cares of the past several days fade away now that he was back in his own space. And having Skylar here only made it better. The room held a king-size bed, a matching chest of drawers and dresser, and an upholstered rocking chair. He inclined his head toward the large owner”s bathroom, which had a double sink and a separate shower and tub.
“I really like your home,” Skylar said, smiling at him.
He noted she referred to his place as a home and not just a house. Relief filled him, and he grinned widely. “It took me months of touring dozens of houses before I decided on this one.”
Tilting her head to the side, she said, “Really? Was it hard to find what you were looking for?”
“It wasn’t that I was terribly picky. It was just that nothing felt right. Until this place.”
Her inquisitive gaze stayed on him. “What made this place right?”
With a spark of excitement in his eyes, he inclined his head toward the back wall. “You’ll understand when you see this.” He walked to the other side of his bedroom and threw open the curtains, exposing a sliding glass door. Turning, he lifted his arm toward her and wiggled his fingers. She easily acquiesced, and linking fingers with him again, she looked outside and gasped.
Outside the bedroom was a deck. It wasn’t huge, but it was big enough for two comfortable chairs with a small table between them.
“Come on,” he encouraged. He opened the door, and they stepped outside.
She stood at the railing for a moment, looked around at the trees, and lifted her gaze to the mountains in the distance. She barely seemed to be breathing, and he felt nervous, waiting for her reaction. The moment hung in the air, charged with emotion. Finally, she turned to look at him, blinking rapidly to hold the tears at bay. “I get it. This is perfect.”
“Like you, I never realized how much I needed a place to sit and look out over the world. The downstairs patio is great, but I find myself out here most evenings. It’s not a big deck, but it’s just enough that I can sit and think. Mostly, I remembered.”
She took a step toward him and placed her palm on his chest. Looking into his eyes, she whispered, “What did you remember?”
“I remembered a girl who invited me to share her magical space. I remembered that girl becoming my best friend and the hours we’d spend sitting and looking out over the neighborhood. I remembered the girl I always wanted to protect from anything that could harm her. And realizing by the time I was getting ready to leave for the Navy, I’d fallen for her.”
She blinked again, but this time, a single tear rolled down her cheek before she quickly swiped it away. “You remembered, too?”
“I never forgot about you, Skylar. Ever. I never thought I’d see you again. And I sure as hell never thought I’d have a chance to be with you again. But when I toured this house and saw the small deck, it reminded me of some of my favorite times in my life.” He sighed. “It also reminded me of the biggest fuckup I ever made.”
She placed her other palm on his chest, and his arms wrapped around her waist. They stood gazing at each other as the setting sun sent streaks of pink and orange to meld with the blue. He knew that soon, the sky would turn indigo, and the stars would shine down on them. He’d sat out here enough times to know exactly how nightfall would appear. But he never imagined that he’d be able to experience it with her after having received her forgiveness.
She lifted on her toes and kissed the underside of his jaw. He felt the warmth of her lips ever so softly. “Jeb, I don’t know if things happen in life for a reason. Many people do. All I know is that I have to take life as it comes. The good and the bad. The happy and the sad. The ecstasy as well as the agony. Even though we’ll never forget our past and don’t want to, we can’t live back there. We have the here and now. We’re now the smarter, more mature versions of us. And being here with you now is exactly what I want.”
A weight lifted off his chest as he stared into the pale blue eyes of the woman he was getting to know again, remembering the girl she’d been. And she was right. He would never forget their past, and they needed to live now, cherishing the journey they had embarked on. “I know you’re exhausted, so I’ll go down and grab the bags out of the SUV. We can fix a quick dinner and then crash early.”
She stepped back and nodded. “You can drop the bags across the hall, and I’ll deal with everything. It was nice of you to offer to let me stay here.”
He snorted and shook his head. “Nice has nothing to do with it, Skylar. Now that we’ve reconnected, I don’t want us apart. And as far as the bags go, that’s totally your call. The room across the hall is all yours, including the bathroom. But I wouldn’t mind you sharing this space, either.”
Her eyes opened wide as she glanced around the large owner”s bedroom. A crinkle formed between her brows. “As amazing as that sounds, Jeb, I don’t want to do anything that would make you regret me being here.”
“I want you here with me. Of course, I want you safe. But mostly, I want you with me so we can continue to find out if what I think is growing between us is really there.”
She nibbled on her bottom lip, then said. “Tell you what. We’ll stick the bags in the other bedroom. Where we sleep can be wherever we feel is right for us.” She hefted her shoulders in a little shrug. “And then we’ll take it from there.”
Bending, he kissed her mouth, his body finally relaxing for the first time after leaving the island. “Sounds good to me. Easy. Uncomplicated. And everything just focused on us.”
They had a simple dinner of heated chicken and sautéed vegetables with thick slices of buttered bread. By the time they’d eaten, Jeb looked over, and the dark shadows underneath Skylar’s eyes had him standing quickly. Taking her by the hand, he led her to the bottom of the stairs. He gave her a little nudge when she turned her pale-eyed gaze to him. “Go take a long, hot bath while I put the dishes in the dishwasher. I’ll be up soon, but take your time.”
The relief on her face was palpable. “Thank you! I haven’t had a hot bath in months.” She lifted on her toes to kiss his cheek before heading up the stairs. He heard the bathwater running in the hall bathroom. The idea of having her in the larger owner’s bathtub where he could join her ran through his mind, and then he quickly squashed that notion. This time is for her. Adjusting his crotch, he walked back to the kitchen, where he took care of the leftovers and the dirty dishes.
Once finished, he walked upstairs, not hearing any noise from the bathroom. Knocking lightly, he called out, “Just checking on you, Skylar. Do you have everything you need?”
A splash sounded out. “Yes. Sorry! I almost fell asleep in the tub. I’ll be right out.”
“No worries. Take your time. Run more hot water if you want.”
Laughter met his ears. “I’m a prune already.”
“I’m heading in to take a shower. I’ll be out in a few.”
It didn’t take long for him to shower and dress in low-slung sweatpants and a long-sleeved T-shirt. He walked out of the bathroom, and his gaze immediately flew to the vision outside on the deck.
Skylar sat on one of the chairs, her knees drawn up and her arms around her shins. His feet skidded to a halt as the sight took his breath away. A sight he remembered well from so many years ago. A sight he thought he’d never see again. And a sight that struck him right in the chest. Lifting his hand, he massaged over his heart. Not to erase the ache but to hold the warmth in.