Page 65 of Fire in My Heart

It wasn’t exactly my fantasy. In mine, we were officially living together, and coming home wouldn’t set off alarm bells. She wouldn’t think someone was invading her private space.

Then I remembered how she’d said she wanted to live here to hide from something. Dad never said what, and Charlottehadn’t mentioned it either. I wanted to talk to her about it, but now wasn’t the right time.

If we were in a relationship, she’d have to tell me eventually. She couldn’t keep a secret like that. I was done assuming too. I’d wait until she was ready to talk about it. I just hoped it would be soon. I didn’t like the idea of her being scared.

Why would she be running from danger? The thought was preposterous. Charlotte was such a good person.

My police instincts shouldn’t be going off. They were just overactive. I needed to relax because my intuition wasn’t always right. I might even have been too involved with her to see clearly.

“I want to relive this fantasy over and over again.”

Charlotte snuggled into my chest. “I do too.”

I’d be more careful in the future. Eventually, we got out of the tub and got dressed. Charlotte threw a casserole she’d prepared earlier into the oven, and we painted the last wall. It would need another coat, but this was a start.

“Do you have any more home improvements planned?” I asked as I rolled the paint over the wall, the action soothing even after a long day.

“I don’t think so. This was meant to be temporary.” Charlotte moved closer, examining the wall I was working on.

“My place will be done soon.” I wasn’t sure why I was scared to admit that out loud. I should have been excited. This is what I wanted.

“You’re moving home?” Charlotte asked softly.

I nodded. “That’s the plan.”

Charlotte smiled wistfully. “Hmm. I bet you’re happy about that.”

I shrugged, my shoulders tight. “It’s what I wanted. The garage is cramped.”

Charlotte’s lips twitched. “You’re not spending much time there.”

“True. But there’s no place like home.”

Charlotte’s smile faltered.

I forgot that she didn’t have a place she owned, and she didn’t see her parents’ home as a safe place. I needed to be that soft place for her. A few years ago, that thought would have sent me into a panic. I didn’t have time to protect anyone besides my family. But I wanted to create space in my life for Charlotte.

As scary as that was, I knew in my gut it was the right move for me. I pulled her into my side, keeping the paint roller away from her body. “You’ll have to visit me there.”

“I just realized I haven’t left the farm, other than to visit Cole and Daphne, since I moved in. I get my groceries delivered.”

I frowned, not liking the sound of that. It could be innocent, but combined with what my dad said, it made my intuition tingle again. “We’ll have to change that. You’re working too hard.”

Charlotte smiled softly. “I can rest after the holidays.”

“Speaking of the holidays, what are your plans?” I asked her as she stepped away.

“I’ll spend a few hours with Cole and Daphne’s family watching their kids open presents. I’m really excited about that.”

“I remember how chaotic our Christmas mornings were. We opened the presents at once, and my parents wanted us to go slower so that they could watch and take pictures. But we didn’t listen.”

“Why am I not surprised by that? With Colson being so young, I don’t think it will be that crazy. What will you be doing?”

“I spend the day on the farm. We hang out, and people come and go. Everyone has their significant other’s family to visit now.”

“You’re the only one who stays all day?” Charlotte asked thoughtfully.

“Just me and Dad.” I hadn’t thought about how lonely thatsounded. Everyone else had multiple places to visit except for me.

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