Page 10 of Ten Kisses

I waved at the guy who wasn't Phillip. "Heyy," I said.

The guy nodded and waved at me and so did Phillip.

"Jack's been in there taking measurements for the window," Salem explained.

"This window is bigger than I thought," Jack said with a concerned expression.

"I can make the space smaller for you," Salem said easily. "It would look fine with thicker framework."

"No, no, I can make it that size. I think it's going to look great—a pretty epic window. I just didn't realize it was this big. It's going to cost a little more than I was originally expecting."

"It's okay," Salem said.

"I love all the round windows in this place," I said.

"Do you have three of them?" Phillip asked.

"Four if you count the half-circle in the front door," Jack said. "Which is already done."

"That one came out amazing," I said. "I was admiring that door a minute ago."

Salem looked at me with a little smile. "I need to choose the flooring for all three bathrooms. Look in there if you don't mind. There are samples laid out. It's the same options for every bathroom, so if you want to see a certain one in a different room, you'll need to take it in there."

"Aren't you planning on doing them all the same?" Phillip asked. "I don't even know why you need help picking this. I think you should do white everywhere. It goes with anything."

"I didn’t say I'm doing that," Salem said, shaking his head.

"You need white, Salem. Especially in this one right here, the master. It's got that big ol' green tile pattern going in the shower. You need white walls and floors to go with that."

I had helped Salem pick the big green tile pattern that would go in the shower. It was gorgeous and one of the things I was most proud of helping him choose in this house.

I walked past the gentlemen on my way into the bathroom. Phillip reached out and tousled the top of my hair like I was an eight-year-old. "Salem told me you gave him some of that chocolate."

"I did," I said.

"He said it was good. Better than Hershey's."

"Thanks," I said, smiling at him.

"I saw some at Jenny's wedding, but I didn't get to try it."

"I've given Salem chocolate a few times lately."

I looked at Salem, who said, "You think I share?" which made the others laugh.

I left the guys standing in the master bedroom area while I went into the bathroom. Everything was taking shape, and I smiled at the way his vaulted ceilings made the room feel so big. There were what must've been twenty different tile options spread out on the floor, much more than I imagined. There were even some bolder choices. My eyes were drawn to a gorgeous dark green tile that had the visual texture of petrified wood. It was a deep, jade color and it would match the tone of the tiles we had chosen for the shower.

I went to it instantly. I knew I was not going to recommend white in all of the bathrooms like Phillip. I didn't think it needed to be in this one. White would be fine, and my mom and sisters would agree with Phillip, but I liked that green one. If it were my house, I would definitely choose that one to go with the shower wall.

The tiles were heavy, but I carefully stacked and picked up about five of them to try in other rooms. I wanted more, but they were heavier than I imagined they would be, so I only took five. I included a plain white one because I thought it might look good in the guest bathroom. I also thought I might offend Phillip if I didn't have it with me.

I slid past Salem and his brother on my way out of the room, and he told me he would meet me in the other bathroom in a few minutes. Phillip left soon after that, and within minutes, Salem came to find me in the hall bathroom.

"What were you thinking?" he asked coming inside.

"I've been to all three bathrooms, and I have some opinions. I didn't listen to Philip."

"What do you like?"

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