Page 18 of Mad Love

He’s already getting Caleb’s car seat out and moving through the massive garage.

“You’re welcome to drive any of these. I’m not stingy with my things,” he says, pointing to the other vehicles. “Just let me know when you’re leaving…”

Is this going to feel like a prison or what?

There’s an Audi and a Jeep that is so divine I’d be terrified to drive it, and next to that is a four-wheeler and a boat. And that’s just what I can see as I rush past all of it to follow him. He’s still talking when he realizes I’m not right behind him and he turns, waiting for me to catch up.

“I haven’t been in this house long. I lived a few miles from here and it was a great house, but I was visiting a friend down the street and this was for sale for a long time. I liked the thought of more land, so…” He opens the door, and we walk through a wide hallway into the kitchen and I can’t help it, I gasp.

Back before the baby came and I wasn’t so sleep-deprived, I’d watch any home renovation show when I couldn’t sleep, but my favorites are about the luxury homes. Get me started on those and I’ll stay up all night. I’ve never actually seen a Viking stove in real life before, but I know what it is from those shows. The colors are black and cream and all the doors and windows are arched. It’s stunning. There’s a huge island and a long table nearby. When we walk into the living room, the arches are carried out in here too, only with columns on either side. There are columns on the second level as well, with beautiful iron railings between them. We keep going and there’s a uniquely shaped library, again with an arched door made out of distressed wood and a glass center, and a fireplace near the built-in shelves. It’s the second fireplace I’ve seen. We go into the foyer last, and there are double staircases leading up to the second level.

I’m speechless.

It’s beautiful. There’s no way I’ll ever feel comfortable in a place like this.

“Front door.” He points to the gorgeous arched double doors and then turns toward the double staircases. “There are bedrooms up there, and bedrooms downstairs too. Those stairs were where we came in…I don’t know if you noticed the door leading to the basement.”

I shake my head.

We go up the stairs and he shows me each breathtaking bedroom, and then we go downstairs and there’s a movie room with two rows of luxurious chairs.

“For movie night,” he says. “I haven’t been in this house during the offseason yet—I mean, except for the past couple of weeks—so I haven’t gotten to enjoy all the perks fully yet. Do you like wine?” He points out the huge wine cellar—I’ve never seen anything like it.

I nod and he stops at the large bar and island for entertaining. He bends and opens the beverage fridge—I’ve sort of been obsessed with those in the house shows I’ve seen—and holds up a bottle of water, handing it to me.

I take it, thanking him, and we go see more beautiful bedrooms and bathrooms. I think I’ve counted eight bathrooms.

Caleb wakes up when we’re walking back into the main section of the basement, where the movie screen is set up and the bar is next to it. Weston puts the car seat on the bar and looks at me.

“Is it okay if I take him out of the car seat?” he asks.

It’s funny that he asks me like I’m the expert.

“Yes. He’ll probably want to eat soon and will need his diaper changed.”

He takes him out of the car seat and is so cautious. Caleb gets fussy in the time it takes to get him out and Weston looks panicked.

“He’s stronger than he looks,” I tell him.

He relaxes a little and Caleb settles into his arms.

“What do you think?” Weston asks.

“He looks good.”

“I mean the house. Do you think you can be comfortable here?”

I open my mouth, about to sayabsolutely notor something else snotty, but I pause. He’s being nice and he doesn’t have to be. I could be in my ratty apartment right now crying because my sisterandmy nephew have been taken from me, but for whatever reason, Weston Shaw is being decent about the whole thing.

I haven’t figured him out yet, but I don’t have to tonight.

It’s already been a hard enough couple of days.

“Your house is beautiful,” I say instead.

It’s the truth, and it seems to help. His shoulders relax.

“Any favorite places you’d like to be?” he asks.

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