Page 62 of Forever and Other Lies

WHOA!! Time for all this introspection to come to a screeching halt! Wife material? That breakfast bagel must have been bad. He had food poisoning, which was causing him to become delusional.

The answer that he needed was simple. It was time to put an end to this fake dating immediately.

This brought him to Tuesday evening.

“Wow, Derek. It’s incredible.” Jayna twirled, staring up at the vaulted ceiling with the exposed wooden beams.

His eyes were fixated on her. They weren’t narrowed with disdain. Was that longing they were filled with? What the hell happened to the plan? Call her over and end it. It was a simple plan. It was easy to execute. He ended relationships all the time.

But there she stood, twirling in tight blue jeans and a snug t-shirt, bringing back images of her in that sexy black dress. That dress was still haunting his dreams and waking hours.

Why had he invited her to tour his almost-finished house?

Because he wanted her help decorating it. Yeah, that was the reason.

“It is really beautiful, Derek.”

“Thanks,” he answered. Why did her praise fill him with so much pride?

“I love the fireplace.” She brushed a hand over the stonework. “What do you plan to do for a mantle?”

“That’s why you’re here. I liked the live edge mantle on yours. Where did you find it?”

“Jamie’s store. She has some incredible salvaged wood. Let’s get the dimensions and we can check out her storage room.”

He nodded. Yes, that was the only reason she was here. To help. Today would not be the right time to end it. She may not be so interested in helping if he dumped her.

“And the flooring, Derek, it’s so incredible.” She stared down at the wide plank flooring.

“Sedona,” he told her the name. “It’s white oak.”

She flashed him a smile. “Jamie has the perfect area rug. She just got it in. It’s a vintage Persian carpet.”

He frowned back. “I didn’t spend an insane amount of money on this hardwood to cover it up.”

“Oh, Derek,” she laughed and shook her head. “That’s why I am here. It’s not that you’re covering it up, it’s about defining the living spaces.”

Her hand swept the open concept space. The large room flowed into a well-laid-out kitchen. “The area rug will go in front of the fireplace, and the couch will sit on the edge of it. It will bring in warmth.”

“Okay,” he nodded.

“Let’s go shopping at Yesterday and Tomorrow. See what we can score from Jamie and then we can go to Patty’s for dinner and pour over the Wayfair catalog for the rest. You’re buying.”

“Yes, boss,” he saluted her.

“Oh, grab those rubber boots,” she indicated to the pair sitting by the front door.

“Rubber boots? Why?”

“You’ll see,” she winked and stepped out his front door.

Derek followed Jayna to Yesterday and Tomorrow and stepped out of his truck, shutting the door. “Jamie trusts you with a key?”

“I’m a silent partner.” Jayna stood at the door of Jamie’s workshop, which was located behind the store.

“Silent?” His left brow shot up. “Why do I find that hard to believe?”

“Okay, more like an enthusiastic investor.” She pushed open the door and hit the light switch.

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