Page 42 of Secret Love

“It's stunning,” I say, looking back at the water.

“I’ve thought about you so much since Saturday,” he says softly.

I turn to him, surprised that he's going there. “You have?”

“Oh yeah, I have.” He nods, his smile luring me in like he’s telling me a secret.

“I’ve thought about you too,” I admit.

“What have you—” he starts, but a little voice interrupts.

“Hi, Miss Seymour,” a little voice calls.

I turn to see the smallest Ward daughter. She looks so much like Henley, I can't get over it.

“Hi, you must be Gracie,” I say.

“Yep,” she says. “I’ve seen you at dance before, but we’ve never met.”

I nod. “I’ve seen you too.” I smile and she smiles back.

“Cassidy said you're a really nice teacher and Audrey said you dance really good,” she says.

“Well, I’ll have to thank your sisters for saying that. I’m enjoying teaching both of them. Will there ever be a time when I see you at dance class besides coming in to get your sisters?”

“No, probably not.” She sighs dramatically. “I’m more of a softball kind of girl.” She adjusts her hat. It's white with a teal horse and says, Colorado Mustangs.

“I like your hat.”

“Thanks. It's my dad's team. Sometimes I get cool things from the team, right, Dad?”

“Yep, it’s one of the perks, peanut.” Henley grins and tugs on her braid.

“Well, it's pretty great. That horse is cute,” I say.

Henley snorts. “Yep, exactly what the league was going for,” he says softly.

I cut my eyes over and he sobers, trying to not laugh.

“Very cute,” he says in a serious voice.

Gracie giggles.

I laugh and we walk inside.

“Wow, this place. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Uncle Bowie says this is really his house. Why does he say that again, Daddy?”

“Because it has authentic Austrian murals and hand-painted elements all over the place, and Uncle Bowie grew up in Austria,” he says.

“I didn’t know that.” I study the mural in the living room and the huge arch-shaped window with the lake on the other side.

“He’s been in the States since he was twelve but still has extended family in Austria,” Henley says.

“That’s so cool. I bet he did want to switch houses when he saw this.”

It’s so pretty and cozy while still being massive.

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