Page 313 of By His Vow

“I don’t care if you want to move to Antarctica. We’ll find a way to make it work. Now,” I say. “I’m dying to look around this place that makes you so happy.”

She bounces on her toes in excitement.

“Come on then,” she says twisting our fingers together and tugging me toward the front door.

She’s like a little kid who’s just been given the keys to a candy shop. I can’t help but smile, my heart melting as I watch her open the door and skip inside.

I’ve barely crossed the threshold when she pauses and just breathes in.

“You okay?” I ask, noticing that her eyes are closed.

“Yeah,” she whispers, her lips pulling up to a smile. “Just…taking it all in. It still smells faintly as I remember.”

I nod, letting her have her moment, and look around.

My eyes widen at the sight of the old fashion decoration. The walls are covered in red and gold swirls that make my head spin even while sober. The furniture and woodwork are mahogany and straight out of the seventies, and all the fittings are tarnished gold. It’s…a time warp.

“Wow, this is?—”

“Exactly as I remember it,” Tatum says fondly as she takes off again, dragging me with her.

Every room she takes me into is the same. It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before.

It’s not until we get to the drawing room that something other than the decoration captures my attention.

Releasing Tatum’s hand, I walk toward the fireplace with my eyes locked on a photograph of two kids.

Picking it up, I stare at my girl. She’s probably ten. She’s got her dark hair pulled back into a ponytail, her eyes are alight with happiness, and she’s wearing a pair of denim dungarees. Both her and Miles look out of breath, like they’ve done a million laps of the pretty yard behind them.

“I remember that summer,” the girl in question says, stepping up beside me and turning the frame so she can see the image. “I never wanted it to end.”

“You really love it here, huh?”

I expect her to agree instantly, but she hesitates, making me turn toward her.

“Tatum?” I ask when I find her chewing on her bottom lip. “What’s wrong?”

“I do. I do love it here.”

“But?” I ask, sensing that there is so much more that she wants to say.

“But…and I never thought I’d say this…but I miss Chicago. I miss Miles, and Lori, and Griz.” I wince at the mention of the cat. Can’t say that I’ve had the same feelings about the little furball.

“And me?” I hedge.

She laughs. “Yeah, King. I missed you too.”

I smirk. It’s cocky as hell; I can’t help it.

“So, what are you saying?”

“I will always love this place. And I’m so incredibly grateful for whatever you’ve done to secure this for me but…I don’t think I’m ready for this life yet.”

Thank fuck.

“So…” I prompt, refusing to voice my relief that I don’t have to figure out a way to live a life that’s split over two continents just so we can be together.

“I think I need to come back to Chicago. For now, it’s my home. It’s…our home,” she says hesitantly.

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