21. Chapter 21 #2
She could see it all as he drove—palm trees swaying in the coastal wind, Spanish-tiled rooftops, sleek modern homes with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the water, private docks with boats bobbing lazily in the evening tide.
The roads were smooth, well-kept, and lined with hedges sculpted into perfection, like something out of a real estate magazine.
This was another level of impressive.
And Heath?
He wasn’t showing off. Wasn’t making a big deal about any of it. He had one hand on the wheel, the other draped lazily over the console, his baseball hat pulled low over his forehead like this was just home—just another day of hauling tools and finishing up work.
When he finally turned into a driveway, she blinked up at the contemporary coastal home that stood before her.
Damn.
It wasn’t flashy. It was perfect.
A two-story structure in a mix of modern farmhouse and coastal luxury, with white board-and-batten siding, warm cedar accents, and sleek black window frames.
The garage doors were natural wood, and there was a wrap-around porch with a built-in bench lined with deep navy cushions.
A home that felt lived-in, built to last.
Heath parked in the wide driveway beside another truck—an older model, meticulously kept—before shutting off the engine and glancing at her. “You gonna sit there all night, or you coming in?”
She snorted, rolling her eyes, but it took a second longer than necessary to unbuckle her seatbelt and climb out.
The moment she stepped outside, the smell of salt air hit her full force.
The sound of lapping waves and distant boat engines hummed in the background.
The neighborhood was quiet, private. It made sense—if he was home, it meant he wasn’t at work, and if he wasn’t at work, he wanted to be left the hell alone.
She followed him as he popped open the tailgate, hauling out his bag of tools and a few miscellaneous things from the backseat. He moved effortlessly, the way a man did when he had a routine, when this was just his normal.
She trailed him to the garage, expecting it to be a cluttered mess of tools and equipment, but instead, it was... pristine.
There was a workbench along one side, a squat rack and weights on the other, and built-in cabinets lining the walls. His gear—diving equipment, tactical bags, extra military storage cases—was stacked neatly in labeled sections.
She huffed. “Of course your garage is organized.”
Heath snorted, tossing his gear into a designated corner. “Only thing I can actually control in my life, Doc.”
She didn’t know what to say to that, so she let it go. Instead, she followed him through the side door that led into the kitchen.
And there, she stopped.
Because, holy hell.
The interior was just as stunning as the exterior—but in a way that felt… undeniably him.
Exposed wood beams stretched across a vaulted ceiling, giving the open-concept space a warm, grounded feel. The kitchen was sleek yet rustic, a blend of stone countertops, high-end appliances, and dark-wood cabinetry with open shelves lined with ceramic dishes and carefully placed cookbooks.
A long farmhouse table with mismatched chairs sat in the dining area, and beyond that, the living room opened up into a wall of sliding glass doors that led to a backyard patio with a fire pit and a grill, overlooking the water.
It was the kind of house built for someone who valued their space. Their peace. And suddenly, she felt like a complete intruder.
“Water? Wine? Beer?” Heath’s voice broke through her thoughts as he opened the fridge, glancing at her.
She blinked. “Water’s good.”
He nodded, pulling out a bottle, twisting the cap off, and handing it to her before setting his beer on the counter. “Make yourself at home. I need a shower.”
And just like that, he was gone, disappearing up the open staircase that led to the second floor.
Maddie took a slow breath, glancing around the space, suddenly unsure of what to do with herself. She wasn’t used to being in a man’s space like this. Not like this. Not after everything she’d been through.
Her fingers brushed the cool stone countertop, her gaze moving over the intricate details—the craftsmanship, the thoughtfulness, the care. Everything about this place had Heath’s touch.
A thought flickered through her mind.
He didn’t just build homes. He built security. Strength. Stability.
And for the first time, she wondered what it would feel like to let someone build that with her.
Shaking off the thought, she grabbed her water and wandered through the house, letting herself explore.
She peeked outside—the fire pit, the dock. She caught glimpses of family photos in the hallway. And finally, after a few minutes, she found herself upstairs, in the master bedroom.
And… wow.
She stepped inside, the scent of clean linen and cedar filling her senses. The room was minimal but rich in detail—a king-size bed, soft lighting, custom-built dressers, and a large sliding glass door that led to…
She walked toward it, pressing her palm against the cool glass.
The ocean.
The balcony overlooked the open Pacific, the waves crashing in the distance, the horizon stretching out infinitely.
She exhaled. “Jesus, Heath.”
“Hmm?”
She turned, finding him at the bedroom doorway, toweling off his damp hair, clad in only a pair of sweatpants slung low on his hips. His bare chest glistened from the shower, his arms flexing as he rubbed the towel over his head.
She swallowed hard. “Your house is… so nice.”
Heath shrugged, tossing the towel into the hamper. “Yeah, I like it.”
Her lips parted, but no words came. Because it wasn’t just a house. It was a home. One that felt entirely too good.
So instead, she forced a smirk. “I noticed you had a loose cabinet handle downstairs.”
He arched a brow, stepping toward her. “Did you now?”
“Yeah,” she said, crossing her arms. “And, I fixed it. Or tried to.”
He grinned, closing the space between them. “That so?”
She held her ground, chin tipping up. “I’m learning.”
His fingers skimmed her hip. “Guess I’ll have to double-check your work.”
Her breath hitched. “Guess you will.”
* * * * *
Maddie tried her very best not to fall in love when Heath put a plate in front of her—steak, roasted potatoes, and a handful of broccolini that he’d quickly blanched.