Page 60 of Simply Yours

Her lips pursed like she was weighing her options. “But do I have to?”

His grin widened. “Uh, yeah. You absolutely have to.”

And then, just like that, she closed the space between them, sliding her arms around his shoulders as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Her warmth pressed into him, and before he could crack another joke, her lips brushed against his—a teasing whisper of a kiss that sent fire straight through him.

Jason stilled. His hands found her back, splaying wide as if to anchor himself, as if this moment might slip through his fingers like smoke. The scent of her, a mix of citrus and something uniquely Caitlin, curled around him, pulling him under. He wasn’t sure if he sighed or if she did, but the sound filled the space between them, soft and content.

This.

This was what home was supposed to feel like.

Not just a place, not just four walls and a roof. Home was her laughter echoing in the kitchen, the way she fit against him without hesitation. She brought something here, something he hadn’t even realized was missing until now.

And darn, if that didn’t scare him just a little.

His fingers curled into the fabric of her shirt, holding on like a man who had just realized he’d been drowning without even knowing it. He didn’t want to let go. Didn’t want this to be a fleeting moment that faded with the morning. Because if this—whateverthiswas—slipped through his grasp, he had a feeling it would leave a hole he wouldn’t know how to fill.

And then she laughed, pulling back just enough to grin up at him.

“Do you smell smoke?”

Jason blinked, momentarily dazed.

Then—“Crap! The pancakes.”

She spun toward the stove as he rushed to flip the golden-brown disaster.

“‘Pancakes’? There’s onlyonein the pan,” she pointed out, the smirk in her voice unmistakable.

“It’s two, it’s two,” he defended, wielding the spatula like a man on a mission. He let out a breath when the flip was successful. “Phew. Not burnt too badly yet—and we have the other side to cook.”

He turned back to her, his lips curling in a slow smile as he tugged her into his arms once more.

“Think the kitchen troll deserves another kiss for saving breakfast?”

She rolled her eyes but didn’t resist when he dipped his head, stealing another taste of home.

* * *

Jason had never cared much for houses, not beyond their basic function of keeping a man warm and dry. But walking through these rooms with Caitlin, talking about walls and windows and ceiling heights—it felt different. The space wasn’t just walls and beams anymore. It was becoming something else entirely. Something alive.

They moved together, step by step, his voice low as he told her his plans for each room. She listened intently, her fingers brushing along the old doorframes, her head tilting thoughtfully when she considered a suggestion. He found himself hanging on her every word, committing each syllable to memory like his soul was taking dictation.

“The ceilings are lovely,” she murmured, glancing up at them, her voice filled with that soft, admiring lilt that did dangerous things to his chest. “And with the height, you could put a chair rail and use it to make it feel so cozy…”

His lips quirked. “That’s a great idea.”

Itwasa great idea. And the fact that she saw what he did—felt what he felt about this house—made something tighten in his gut.

They opened each door upstairs, revealing rooms bathed in soft, golden afternoon light. The house smelled like dust and old wood, but there was a warmth here, something lingering in the bones of the place that whispered of possibility. Ofhome.

When they stepped into the next room, Caitlin gasped, her hands flying to her mouth.

“Ohhhh, Jason, this one is stunning—especially with the view of the farm out the window in the distance,” she breathed, and his heart thudded wildly in response.

He didn’t look at the window. He looked at her.

She stood by the glass, framed in the soft light, her eyes glowing with something unspoken. Something that squeezed his chest so hard he had to clear his throat to shake it off.

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