Page 56 of Delicate Escape

But there was a closed-in feeling. A formality that came with lots of rooms for countless purposes the rich likely had back then.

“I see the doubt in your face, but listen to my plan.” Shep was already moving deeper into the house before I could argue. “We’re knocking out all these walls.” He tapped on one where some drywall had already been taken down. “Look what’s on the other side.”

I followed him through a set of open double doors to a large, formal living room with endless windows.

“We’re taking these old windows out and putting in new, energy-efficient ones. This whole back wall will be glass, like you’re living on top of that field back there. Then this wall goes down, too, because the kitchen is on the other side. Then you suddenly have an open-concept kitchen and living room, and all you see when you walk in the door is nature.”

I could see the picture Shep painted with his words. And it was breathtaking. “You’re melding the old with the new.”

He nodded, a smile on his face like a kid at Christmas. “I’m keeping all the old woodwork. Upstairs, we’re knocking out a few walls to expand some of the smaller rooms. There were thirteen bedrooms.”

My eyes went wide.

Shep chuckled. “I know. What would anyone do with thirteen bedrooms nowadays?”

“Have a lot of kids?”

He grinned. “That’s one way to deal with it. But I’d prefer fewer, more spacious rooms. And I’ll probably take some of them out to expand the bathrooms and build out some closets. They weren’t much for closets in the 1800s.”

I made a humming noise. I didn’t give a damn about closets, but bathrooms were another thing altogether. “You need a bathtub in front of a massive window with this view.”

I always knew when Shep’s eyes were on me. I could feel the smoky heat of the contact. But this time, that connection burned a bit hotter.

“Bath girl, huh?”

I moved to the window. “Nothing feels better after a long day. But a tub with this view?” I let out a low whistle. “I’d never get out.”

“Good to know,” Shep said, his voice going a bit husky around the edges.

I turned to face him and got caught in the hold of his gaze. I’d been right about the heat. I swore I could see golden flames flickering in those amber depths. But Shep didn’t move. Didn’t approach. He just watched me, letting that beautiful burn skate over my skin.

“Thanks for bringing me here.”

The heat in his gaze melted into gentleness. “Had a feeling you might like it. I also thought you might want to help me break some shit after a day like today.”

That startled a laugh out of me. “Break some shit?”

Shep nodded. “What do you say, Thorn? Want to help me tear down this wall so we can build something better?”

A memory flashed in my mind. One of Shep and me on my back deck, him telling me about how his dad had taught him to process his feelings. Through hands-on work. He was trying to give me the same thing.

“I could smash some walls.”

A grin spread across Shep’s face. “Let’s do some damage.”

He crossed to an organized pile of tools and various construction gear. Rummaging through some things, he came back with a pair of goggles similar to what I’d worn in high school chemistry class. He pulled them over my head, settling them in place, his hands stilling.

I sucked in a breath as I took Shep in, all that strength and tenderness. Then his hands were gone, pulling his own goggles into place. He handed me a sledgehammer. “Aim this at anything along this wall.” He gestured to a wide expanse of exposed beams and drywall. “We’ve already cleared any pipes and electrical.”

Standing there for a long moment, I took it all in. Force and violence had never been things I’d been comfortable with, especially after my time with Brendan. But I also knew I needed to let some of the ugliness bubbling inside me out—release it before it swallowed me whole.

I moved before I could stop myself, swinging my sledgehammer with all the force I could muster. It landed with a vicious thwack against a two-by-four. The board cracked and splintered.

Power surged inside me as the anger and fear I’d shoved down for so long spilled out through my limbs. I hit the wood again, over and over, until I brought the beam down altogether. I moved on to the next and the next until my arms ached, and my breathing became ragged.

Slowly, I came back to myself and turned to seek out Shep.

He beamed at me. “How do you feel?”

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