Page 22 of Second Chance Spring in Paradise

“I lease it out, and it just so happens, I’m looking for a renter for the basement.”

“You are?” My pulse slows, and I can think straight again. “Long term?”

Rowdy doesn’t live there, which makes this whole idea feel slightly less rushed. At the same time, the fact he owns the house feels like fate stepping in. In fact, it seems like fate has made a lot of appearances ever since I stepped into Second Chance Spring.

He puts both hands on my hips. “I’ll rent it to you for as long as you want. A week. A month. The whole summer. Longer,” he adds with a teasing smile. “We can take it day by day while we get to know each other better.”

My impulse is to accept his offer. I’m about to, but all my money problems and the logistics of living in Paradise are still floating around in my head. “I want to say yes, Rowdy, but renting from you still doesn’t give me a house that’s my own. That’s what I came to Paradise to do.”

His eyes drift from mine, and he nods thoughtfully. Then he brings his gaze back to mine. “Do you trust me?”

That’s a big question, especially after everything I’ve been through with Dan. “The best I can say is that I think so.” I hope that’s enough.

His gaze grows deeper, more searching. “Let me prove that you can. Until then, I give you my word that if you like the house enough to buy it, I’ll sell it to you. No matter what happens between us.”

I suck in my breath, wanting so much to believe him it hurts.

Rowdy moves closer, pressing his forehead to mine. “Look, I know it’s a big decision, moving here. And the last thing I want to do is rush you into anything.” He brushes a finger down my hand, and I hook my pinkie around his. “But I think there’s something real between us. I know it’s crazy, but I hate the idea of you being in LA and me being here.”

“Okay.” My answer comes out in a breath.

“Okay?” His nose brushes mine, and I nod.

Then he kisses me, so gentle, but so deep that I know I’ve made the right decision. At least for now. I hope for longer, but like Rowdy said, we can take it one day at a time and see what happens. Just like I’m doing with my new story.

Sometimes plotting out the details isn’t what makes a great story. Sometimes the story has to write itself with the author making corrections or changing direction along the way.

When Rowdy and I pull apart, we go back to his chair where I curl into his lap.

“Your turn to get vulnerable,” I say into his chest.

His shoulders tighten, and I laugh. “Don’t worry. I’ll start easy.”

“All right then. Shoot.” His arms curl around me, and I feel as safe as I did on the back of his bike.

“Why did you paint the house that color?”

He laughs. “I didn’t. It came that way when I bought it, and I haven’t got around to re-painting. Why don’t you choose a new color? Maybe a nice gray.”

I shake my head against his chest. “I like the idea of a tough cowboy owning a bright turquoise house. I’ll paint it a different color when it’s mine.”

He chuckles. “Sounds like a plan.” With one swift move, Rowdy shifts us both so we’re tucked tightly together in the chair then points to the sky. “You see the Big Dipper up there?”

I lean my head back. “I think so.” I don't think I've ever seen a sky this clear or stars this close. Not even when I used to stargaze with Aunt D. Maybe the sky was just as clear, the stars just as bright, but I had to go a long time not seeing them to really appreciate their beauty.

Rowdy draws his finger across the sky until he points at a bright star. “There’s Polaris, the North Star.” Then he follows a line of stars to draw a shape. “And that’s the Little Dipper.”

“Uh, huh.” I point back to the Big Dipper and the stars around it. “You can see all of Ursa Major tonight.”

His head whips toward me. “I thought you didn’t know stars.”

“I said I’d never slept under them, not that I didn’t know them.” I’m not sure whether to be offended or find it funny that he thinks I don’t know anything about stars just because I grew up in a big city. “I’ve been to the Griffith Observatory a million times.”

“What’s that?”

“An observatory…”

He still looks confused.

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