Page 166 of Before I Loved You

The one that I told Paul I loved.

He bought it. No, he didn’t just buy it. He transformed it into my dream home.

My mouth parts, all words in the English dictionary erasing from my mind as I’m rendered speechless.

“You…you…” I point at the beautiful house, now seeing it for what it is.

Our new home.

He wraps his arms around my waist, pressing my back to his chest. “I told you I would always take care of you and Lily.” His lips brush across my ear, sending goose bumps over my skin.

“Paul, this is more than that.” I turn around, clutching his shirt. “You built us a home.”

He smiles. “Do you like it?”

Tears gather in the corners of my eyes. “I don’t even know what to say except that I love it.”

He presses his lips to my temple. “Want to look inside?”

I beam, eagerly nodding my head.

He intertwines our fingers, leading us up the pathway to the front door. Slipping a key into the deadbolt, he unlocks it and suddenly lifts me in his arms.

“What are you doing?” I giggle.

“I have to carry you over the threshold. I’m a sucker for tradition.”

“Tell that to the baby we have together…” I tease.

He laughs, bringing me inside and placing me gently on the floor into a massive open space, the breath leaving my lungs as I see what’s hanging on the walls. My heart hammers beneath my chest at the sight before me. Placing my hand right over my heart, I whisper, “You were the anonymous buyer.”

The first paintings I ever sold hang front and center in the room.

I face him. “How?”

He takes a step toward me, reaching his hand out to trace the tattoos covering my shoulder. “These pictures were too important not to be in our home. They’re our family.” He smiles. “So, before I asked Ray to take our picture that day, I texted him to call the gallery and purchase all of them with my card.” I roll in my bottom lip, shaking my head. “Are you mad?” he asks nervously.

“No,” I admit, swallowing every emotion inside me. “I’m so thankful for you. I’m so thankful for this life.”

His arms surround me as I do the same, holding him tightly. His lips press against my temple. “Do you want a tour?”

I lift my head. “I would love one.”

He takes my hand, guiding me through the massively beautiful house.

Our home.

The tour starts downstairs, going through the living room, the dining room, the elegant kitchen that overlooks the lake, and his office. And when we make it upstairs, he says, “There are five bedrooms. A master bedroom for us with an en-suite bathroom, a bedroom for Lily, and rooms for guests or future siblings for Lily.” I blush, shaking my head.

This man.

He thought of everything.

Absolutely everything.

“Did I do good?” he asks.

“You did really good, big guy.” I rise on my tiptoes, pressing my lips to his.

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