Page 85 of Until It Was Real

He opens the door and lifts me off of his lap and sets me on my feet. I was right. It is ‘demonstrate your strength’ day. You won’t hear me complaining. Any excuse to watch Rhett’s muscles bunch and strain is a good day in my opinion.

“Come on.” He entwines his fingers with mine and leads me to the house.

I study the structure as we get closer. I wasn’t kidding about it being fancy. It reminds me of a postcard of a typical island house – bright white with deep blue shutters, a wraparound porch framed by thick wooden columns, and a set of wide steps leading up to the grand mahogany front door.

I glide my hand along the railing as we ascend the stairs to the porch. On one side, a set of rocking chairs faces the water. Perfect for lazy afternoons with a glass of lemonade. Further around, a hanging daybed sways slightly in the breeze.

I sigh. “I’ve always wanted a front porch with a swing on it.”

“You can borrow my porch whenever you want.”

“I’ll pencil you in for a late supper since it’s the only free time I have for the next decade or so.” He scowls and I backpedal. “I’m sorry. I’ll stop bringing up how much I work now. It’s boring.”

“Nothing about you is boring.”

“Ha! You haven’t seen my everyday panties.”

His eyes flare.

I shake my head. “All you heard was panties.”

He shrugs. “I’m a man standing in front of a sexy woman. What do you expect?”

I motion to the door. “For you to show me inside.”

He unlocks the door. Stepping inside, I feel as if I’m walking straight into an architectural magazine titledHouses Too Nice for People Who Are Accident Prone.The open-concept space stretches before us in a perfect blend of elegance and easy coastal charm. Sunlight pours through floor-to-ceiling windows, glinting off the rich hardwood floors and bouncing off the high, exposed-beam ceilings.

To the left, is a sleek, modern kitchen straight out of a cooking show. It boasts marble countertops and top-of-the-line appliances, all of which I will absolutely never use but will admire from a safe distance. The dining area features a massive reclaimed-wood table. And the living room? It’s the kind of space that invites you to curl up on a plush white sofa – if you aren’t terrified of spilling coffee on it.

“Wowzer times two.”

Rhett wraps his arms around my waist from behind and rests his chin on my shoulder. “You like it?”

“Are you seriously asking? It’s gorgeous.” I throw out my arm. “It’s obviously not a cheap place, but it’s inviting. Not cold.”

He kisses my neck before releasing me. “I’m glad you approve since I plan for you to spend more time here.”

“Here?” I point to the floor. “Or in the bedroom.”

His eyes flash. “Oh, Havoc, I don’t need a bedroom to make you scream.”

“We’ve been over this. I don’t scream.”

He chuckles. “Liar. I can…” He trails off.

“You can what?”

He stalks toward the kitchen. “I saw movement.”

“Do you have a cat? I’m more of a dog person myself but cats are okay, too.”

“I don’t have a cat,” he mumbles as he kneels in front of the kitchen island.

“Bummer,” I mutter. “I can’t have an animal at the hotel. I don’t really have the time to care for one but a cat doesn’t need tons of cuddles.”

“There!” He jumps to his feet and rushes to the corner.

I hurry after him. “What is it?”

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