Page 17 of Still Burning

“You cleaned it up,” I said. “And did you cut some trees?”

He nodded. “Yeah. There are a few more I want to cut, too, but the guys I hired had a bigger job they had to focus on before coming back to take out the last of mine. I’m not in a rush,” he explained, then added, “Not yet at least.”

I wondered what he meant by that last part, but didn’t ask. When I was off the bike, he didn’t let go of my hand, but tugged me closer to him instead. His eyes were hidden beneath the dark tint of his sunglasses, and I wanted to reach up and take them off.

“This is better,” he murmured before pressing a kiss to my lips.

“What is?”

“It’s quiet here,” he said. “Peaceful. Just us.”

My lips stretched into a smile, and he brushed his along my jawline.

“I can see what you mean. It has its appeal.”

He chuckled and nipped at my earlobe. “It does,” he agreed, then straightened up and nodded his head toward the farthest tree line. “Come on. I want to show you something.”

Happy to go anywhere with him, I fell into step beside him as he threaded his fingers through mine, and we walked out to the trees.

“Are these the ones you are going to take down?” I asked him.

“Yeah. They’re the ones blocking the view.”

The view? Of what?

I glanced up at him, and although I couldn’t see his eyes, therewas a smirk on his lips.

When we reached the trees, he squeezed my hand. “I’ll protect you from any wildlife, I swear,” he assured me.

“You’d better,” I replied, although my curiosity was winning out over my fear.

“Come on, crocodile hunter.” His voice was thick with amusement.

“Ha-ha,” I replied and stepped into the trees behind him.

We walked through three layers of trees, and although he was in front of me, blocking some of it, I could see the blue water peeking through along the line of brush, and I gasped.

“Oh my,” I breathed as we came out onto a sandy, beach-like shore of a lake. The sun glistened on the water, and seagulls perched on a pier across the way from us. “I didn’t realize you were so close to water. This is lovely.”

“It’s what sold me on the location. My idea was to build a house overlooking the lake,” he said.

“This would be an incredible scene to sit out on the balcony and drink your coffee to,” I mused. “I can’t believe you waited so long to start building.” I tilted my head back and looked up at him. “Assuming that’s what you’re doing. I mean, with the clearing of the trees and everything.”

He shrugged. “Depends.”

Frowning, I waited for him to say more, but he just continued to stare down at me.

“Depends on what?” I finally asked.

“On if you like it here or not.”

I pointed at my chest. “Me? It’s gonna be your house.”

He turned around to face me then. “I don’t want a house if you’re not there.”

Oh.

Oh!

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