Page 39 of Finding Her Strength

“You want to ride with me? I’ll have to come back this way when we’re done anyway.”

Hope nods her head. “Sure.”

I lead her over to my truck and open the door to help her inside. When she’s settled, I walk around the front to get in on my side. It’s only been a minute, and my truck already smells like her. It’s fantastic.

I start toward my house, excitement buzzing through me at knowing Hope is finally going to see all the work I’ve done. I’ve been dying to get her into the house since I first bought it. I want her to be a part of the whole process, get her opinion on my plans. Every time I’m there, I imagine her in each room and wonder if she’d like what I’ve done with it. That’s why I kept video calling her at night. I’d subtly ask what she thought of whatever I was working on, adjusting my plans based on her suggestions.

As I drive, I reach across the console to grab her hand. Her fingers slide through mine like they were always meant to be there. A small smile pulls at the corner of her lips when I squeeze her hand. Utter contentment flows through me. For once, I don’t feel like there are a million things I should be getting done or feel like I could crawl out of my skin with how restless I am.

I never knew being with another person could feel like this. As if my whole world is only right when she’s next to me. I don’t think I can ever let her go.

“Quinn and the girls came to the store this afternoon to invite me out with them.”

“Really? That’s great. Are you guys going to Donna’s?” I never got a chance to text Quinn about inviting Hope out, so I’m glad to hear she did it already.

“No, thank goodness.” Hope laughs. “They invited me to dinner next weekend at Natalie’s.”

“Good. You’ll have a great time with them,” I say as I pull into my driveway. I kiss Hope’s knuckles before letting go of her hand to get out. She follows my lead, jumping from the truck and standing in the driveway, looking up at the house.

“Levi…” she breathes. “This is beautiful.”

The Victorian-style house gleams in the sunset, highlighting the blue siding and white decorative molding. “You like it?”

“It has a turret, Levi! How could I not like it?” Her exasperated tone makes me laugh as I wrap my arm around her to pull her closer. She fits perfectly under my shoulder like she was always meant to be there.

“Ready to see the inside? It’s a mess since we’re still in the middle of demo, but I’ve gotten a lot done.”

“Absolutely.”

I guide her across the porch and through the front door. The wide foyer greets us with plastic tarps hiding the gorgeous cherry wood floors. Those were an amazing surprise hiding under the ghastly carpet from the seventies. A sitting room is open to the foyer on the left, and a study with French doors is to the right in the turret. I’ve been debating about closing off the sitting room to make a second office, but I haven’t quite decided yet.

Despite my progress, walls still block most of the downstairs since I’ve been focusing on getting the master ready this week. Hope makes comments on all the rooms, giving opinions that match my own for what to do with each space. It’s crazy how in sync we are with our thoughts, each of us building on the other’s ideas.

I lead Hope into the room I want to be all hers one day. The top of the turret has dark wood, built-in shelves lining the two straight walls, and the rounded side has three large windows brightening the room.

A gasp flows from Hope as she steps into the room.

“There used to be a ladder running around the room, butit was in pieces when I bought the place. I’m planning on getting a new one when we’re done refinishing everything.”

“Levi, this is amazing. I could spend every minute of my day here. Can you imagine how many books could fit on these shelves?”

“I know. It was definitely one of the perks of this house. Do you think we should brighten up the shelves? They’re a little dark.”

Hope looks at me with wide eyes, a multitude of emotions passing over her face. “We?”

“Yeah, I figured with us dating, you’ll be spending a lot of time here, so you should get a say with what it looks like,” I clarify. In all actuality, I meant when she moves in here one day, but I know the idea would push her too far, so I keep the thoughts to myself.

“You’d really want me to make decisions for your house? I mean, giving my opinion is one thing, but to actually make choices is something else entirely.”

“Of course, I do. I want you to have a say in everything we do.”

Hope’s body practically melts at my words, and I can’t stop myself from pulling her closer to me. I gently lay my lips against hers, trying to express all my feelings for her with my actions. I want to prove to her how different I am from those of her past. I can tell her she can trust me until I’m blue in the face, but until my actions back up my words, she’ll never believe them.

“Come on, you,” I say as I pull back from the kiss. “It’s time to get to work.”

Hope’s dazed expression makes me grin as she tries to come out of the haze of lust our kisses always seem to bring.

“What do you mean, it’s time to get work?” she asks as I pull her down the hallway toward the master suite. The space is huge now, having combined it with another bedroom. All I have left to do is paint, then I can bring insome furniture. The bathroom is still disgustingly outdated, but it’s functional.

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