Chapter 42
Lila
By the time I locked the shop door behind us, the wet pavement had turned slick with slushy piles forming into ruts, making me think about the drive in the morning and the subsequent prep I’d have to do when it came to the sidewalks.
“We’re going to have some decent snow tonight, huh?” I dug my hands into my pockets. The street was already getting quiet, and the skies were dark. I was glad East had come in, for a lot of reasons, but one of them was for sure that I wouldn’t be on my own out here in the darkened streets.
“Come on,” he said, his hand brushing the small of my back as he guided me toward his truck. “You’ve been on your feet all day. Let’s get you home.”
The word stuck in my chest like a fragile promise. I hadn’t been able to go home for weeks.
I glanced up at him as he opened the door for me, the soft yellow light from the shop spilling across his shoulders.
He looked like a romance novel lumberjack — hair curling at his temples, flannel half untucked, and five o’clock shadow.
I’d told myself a dozen times not to fall for that look, that voice, that solid warmth that somehow always made me feel like everything might be okay again.
But it was clearly too late for that now.
I was in love with the grumpy Holt. When it had happened was a mystery.
Maybe it was in between the barn picnic and him buckling my seatbelt.
It could have been the way he’d looked at me that first day when I’d climbed out of my inflatable dinosaur suit.
Of course, I couldn’t even claim that he was all that grumpy.
I was the one who’d been out of sorts and all kinds of prickly.
The drive was quiet, but I could feel his gaze flicking toward me now and then, checking on me.
He was probably waiting for me to ask what he meant by the word ‘home’.
I wasn’t sure if he meant he was taking me to the farmhouse, Sage’s, or the cottage.
I wouldn’t object to any of those. East could take me anywhere, and I’d say yes.
After the last couple of days, I was on edge.
I just wanted to go somewhere where he could hold me, and I didn’t have to worry about what the next hour would bring.
I just wanted him to sleep next to me, where I could curl up next to him and rest.
When he turned into my driveway, I blinked in surprise.
The last couple of days, there’d been a pit of longing in my belly when I’d been looking over at my cottage, not because it was my house, but because I knew East was over there.
It made me angry that I’d been afraid to come back.
The sanctuary that it had been for me growing up with my Grams felt tainted now.
“East…” My voice caught.
“Just hang on.” His grin was slow and just a little smug. “I might’ve been keeping busy.”
He put the truck in park and came around to open my door before I could even move.
The air bit at my cheeks as I stepped out, and I stared at the house.
I didn’t bother to tell him that I knew well and good that he’d been keeping busy.
I knew all about the late nights because I’d been watching from the guest room window like an obsessed stalker.
“Come on. I want to show you,” he said, taking my hand as he led me up the front steps.
“First, you’ll see there’s an improved security system.
Briggs was upset about what happened. This one has facial recognition.
It’s linked up to Redhawk. It records and uploads all the data.
There are cameras and sensors at all doors and windows.
It’s all wired up.” He winked at me. “I also upgraded your door, because it was shit, and your locks.”
I wasn’t sure what to think of all of that, but let him pull me into the house as he shut and locked the door. He rattled off a passcode as he showed me how to activate the alarm. “We’ll practice some more.” I nodded as he nudged me towards the kitchen, where I about lost my mind.
“Oh my God.” My hand flew to my mouth. “It’s finished?”
His voice was low behind me. “Mostly. There’s still a tiny bit of trim work to do.”
The mess that had been created from fighting the fire was gone; any hint of damage or curled cabinet faces from the heat couldn’t be spotted against the brand-new kitchen.
In fact, everything was new—new appliances.
Fancy ones. All gorgeous modern farmhouse vibes.
The top cabinets were done in a cream color, and the bottom cabinets in a dark jade green, with a mix of butcher-block counters and granite.
When I turned around, East was watching me with that cautious look he sometimes gave, like he was afraid to hope for too much.
Or as if I were going to disappear any second, and I felt that sharp pang of guilt about giving him any room to doubt.
While I’d been spinning and stewing in my feelings, East had been over here at my house, putting in the work. I was a brat.
I couldn’t speak for a second. “Easton…”
“Don’t thank me yet,” he said with a crooked grin. “Come and see the mudroom and the back porch before you decide on the tip.”
“Oh, I see how it is. You’ve been over here hustling for favors.” I returned his smile with a smirk of my own. He was going to get all the tips. He had no idea.
I followed him through the kitchen and through the doorway.
The mudroom, which had been looking a little worse for wear, was now bright and crisp, with the scent of new wood.
He’d put in matching hardwood, somehow making it seamless with the great room.
In fact, I’d never have known that it wasn’t original.
He scrubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “I tried to remember everything you’d talked about.”
“It’s perfect.” I tucked my hand into one of his back pockets and dragged him closer.
East had built in a coat rack and shoe cubbies, even a couple of benches to sit on while taking off wet gear.
“I reinforced this door. The old one wasn’t fire safe. New locks here, too.” He showed me the security panel before opening it. “And obviously a new back porch.”
“East … holy cow.”
He’d outdone himself. Before, there had been a tiny landing with an overhang where you could fit maybe one chair, but calling it a porch was kind.
He gave a sheepish shrug. “Well, you called it a porch, and to me that’s what this should be when you look out onto your yard.
In the summer, you’ll have a garden. And this way you can watch the rain. ”
The porch was gigantic, with big beams and posts that stretched across the entire width of the cottage and out into the yard. It’d be perfect to hang out all year round, regardless of the weather. He’d even put some rockers out here with a coffee table.
“Now you can tell me if I did a good job.” His lips tipped into a hopeful smile.
“It’s beautiful,” I whispered. “You did an absolutely amazing job, and you’re definitely getting a tip.”
“I’m glad you like it.” The words were so gentle that my eyes stung.
Before I could reply, a familiar voice sounded around the side yard.
“Hello! I know you’re here. Don’t make me hunt you down, bestie.
” Sage, bundled in an enormous purple jacket and knit hat with a pom-pom that could’ve doubled as a small animal, came around the corner.
“Hey! You are here! I told you he’d haul you home eventually. ”
“Didn’t you say I had security cameras? Shouldn’t the cops be alerted?” I mock-whispered to East.
“Well, they’ll see the alert and then decide it’s a rabid raccoon.” He waved a hand at his sister. “And ignore it. Exhibit A. Rabid raccoon.”
She grinned, unrepentant. “I live for the drama. Also, is it Briggs watching? I might be in front of those cameras more often.” Then she leaned closer to whisper, “Also, you texted me, I’m leaving with East, and then nothing.
What was I supposed to do, just trust that you weren’t going to make out on the side of the road or get murdered? ”
I snorted, trying not to laugh. “You have issues.”
“Geez. I don’t want to hear about your voyeurism,” East laughed. “I have no idea if it’s Briggs or not.”
“Don’t be a prude,” she said brightly. “Now, am I getting a tour, or am I supposed to wait until after you two christen the kitchen?”
My entire face went hot. “Sage!”
“Relax, I’m kidding. Sort of.” She winked at Easton, who looked like he was doing his best not to grin.
“Come on. I’ll give you a quick tour.” I pulled her by the hand. I meant quick, because she wasn’t wrong that I was hoping we could get on to the other part. I had been missing my man.
“Did I embarrass you?” She teased, pulling off her hat in the mudroom and tossing it on the bench.
“No.” But I was sure my pink cheeks betrayed me. I wasn’t embarrassed by the sex talk, but I was more than eager. “So, Briggs, huh?” I deflected.
“Hello, you saw him.” She swept into the kitchen.
“But I’m just messing with East.” She paused to take it all in with wide eyes.
“Wow, my brother does good work. The porch was incredible, but I saw that earlier. I’ve been busy at the shop and haven’t been able to sneak over here.
” She trailed her fingers over the counter and turned on the faucet.
“A pot filler? Shit, I’m a little jelly. Very nice.”
“It’s nice, right?”
I was still a little surprised. When East told me he’d handle it, I was on board, mainly because I was still reeling from the fire situation.
He was a Holt, and I wouldn’t have doubted that he could do a good job, but this went beyond good.
This was excellent. We’d talked about his business up in Idaho at length, so I knew he had the skills, but this was next level.
“Better than nice.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “So I shouldn’t wait up right?”
I blushed. “No. I’m going to ask East to stay here with me. But,” I pulled her in for a hug. “You’ve been the very best friend I could ever ask for.” She squeezed me back. “Giving me a place to stay. Letting me come and go with my drama.”
“Providing a hot brother.” She cleared her throat. “What about that?”
“Yeah, thanks especially for that. That was a slam dunk on your part. You’d been hiding him from me.”
“Looks like you have it in the bag now,” she teased. “Go get your man.” She brushed a kiss over both cheeks. “Call me tomorrow, but not too many details.”
East came in through the mudroom and leaned a shoulder on the doorjamb. I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen anything so sexy. “See you later, sis. You want me to walk you?”
“Nah. You stay here with Lila,” she said sweetly, making moon eyes at her brother. “I’ll be just fine. Just going across the way.”
I smacked her ass lightly, but she just laughed, darting toward the door. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” she called, and the sound of her giggling faded as she closed the door.
I turned back to East, who was definitely grinning now. “She’s incorrigible,” I muttered.
“So, did I hear right?” his voice was low enough that it curled warm down my spine. “You’re going to stay here?”
I tried not to blush again, but I failed spectacularly. “I was thinking we’d stay here.”
“I was hoping that was what you meant.”
He reached out, brushing a curl from my cheek, his hand lingering against my skin. For a second, I just stood there, looking up at him, the quiet around us deep and safe. This was a good feeling with him here, and I wanted to lean into it, but I suddenly felt awkward.
He peered at me for a minute. “What’s going on in that pretty head of yours? Is the cottage making you feel ancy?”
“No. I don’t know what to say,” I murmured.
“You don’t have to know what to say.” He leaned in and brushed a kiss against my lips, and I was tempted to deepen it. “I’m just happy that we’re here together.”
I hesitated because the idea of being back here, in this place where everything had gone wrong, frightened me a little still.
There were some complicated feelings now surrounding the cottage.
It still held all the warm memories of me growing up here, but new ones had started to layer over it. Ones that I’d like to try to stamp out.
“It’s weird being back here,” I said finally. “After everything, but I want to stay here. Everything is beautiful. You did a great job.” I let myself take it in. It was all a little overwhelming, especially with him looking at me so intently.
“Good,” he said, and his voice softened.
“I’m glad you like it. Hopefully, it won’t feel so weird once you use the kitchen and stay here regularly again.
” He tilted his head toward the kitchen.
“How about we break it in? I figured I’d show off some other skills I have.
I’m not a one-trick pony after all.” He winked.
“I even brought a costume.” He picked up a barbecue apron, and I just about swooned. It was definitely game over.