Page 95 of Fire in My Heart

I frowned. “Wouldn’t that be more expensive?”

“Not necessarily.” She searched on her phone. “I have a place that could be an option for you.”

My nose scrunched; I was starting to doubt if I’d find anything. “If it’s within my price range, I’ll look at it.”

She looked up at me and smiled. “Luckily, it is.”

I followed her to a place outside of town. Maybe it was cheaper out here, or I was renting an apartment over a garage similar to the set up at the Calloways. It would be too good to be true to rent something like the cottage.

When she pulled down a long lane lined with trees, I questioned what we were doing here. Then the house came into view. It was a modern-day farmhouse with vertical white siding and black shutters. Each window had one small wreath tied with a red velvet bow. The columns on the wraparound porch were lined with lights and garland.

I got out, my heart pounding heavily in my chest. This was my dream house. There was no chance this was in my price range.

When Juliana joined me, I asked, “This place has a room for rent?”

“Nope. It’s the entire house,” Juliana said brightly.

There was no way.

“You want to see it?” Juliana asked from the porch where she’d already unlocked the door and pushed it open.

I was already here. What could it hurt? “Sure. Why not?”

She stayed in the doorway. “I’ll let you take a look around.”

I couldn’t believe the owners let potential renters have free rein of the house, but I was too far gone now. I wanted to see everything.

There was a study to my right, a living room to my left, and as I followed the hallway it opened up to a grand family room complete with a stone fireplace and a humungous Christmas tree decorated with red and green ornaments and red velvet ribbon and bows. It was the perfect tree.

The rustic wood mantle was lined with mini poinsettias. The family room was open to a huge kitchen with a gourmet island and white marble countertops. I could see through a doorway to the dining room where red and white floral arrangement sat in the center of the table.

That’s when I noticed the trail of red petals on the floor that led to the French doors and outside.

When I opened the door, the view had me looking up. It was like being in a tree house. The deck spanned the length of the house, but it was also wide. We were so high up here; it was like being in the trees. White lights curved around the railing, and at the end of the deck, there was another Christmas tree.

Why would anyone decorate this place, then rent it out? It made no sense.

But I loved it. There was zero chance I could afford this, but a girl could always dream. I looked up at the sky, and said, “What do I have to do to get a place like this?”

“You don’t have to do anything.” The familiar gruff voice came from somewhere behind me and had me spinning.

“Teddy. Why are you here?”

He stood a few feet away from me, holding a bouquet of deep red roses. “This is my place.”

I shook my head as if to clear it. “I don’t understand. Why would Juliana bring me to your place?”

“Because I have a room to rent, if you’re interested.”

I opened, then closed my mouth.

He held his hand over his heart. “It’s right here, and it’s all for you if you want it.”

Tears threatened as he moved closer to me, moving a strand of hair behind my ear. “I love you, Charlotte Monroe. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you.”

I shook my head. “It was my fault. I wasn’t honest about my past.”

“I wish you’d told me sooner, but it doesn’t change how I feel about you. I felt powerless when I saw that asshole pressing you against the siding. I was so scared for you.”

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