Page 22 of More Than A Fixer-Upper
“Are you thinking of a color palette?” Rosalie asks, hesitating like she wants to ask something else.
“I’m not sure. The first floor is all one color in different shades. I want to pull from the mountains, forest, and sky. People come here to relax. I’m thinking spa like bathrooms too. What do you think?”
“I like it. I hadn’t thought of it that way. Do you know if the guest list leaned more family or couples?”
“From what I can tell, it’s a mix. I love Drew’s idea horse trails, hiking paths, playgrounds. What do you think about dedicating one floor to suites? Or building cabins for families?”
She bites her lip and leans back, nervous. I want to keep talking to her.
“I like the idea of a few cabins and maybe a couple of suites,” I say. I ask her to give me a minute and run out to my truck. I grab my iPad, sketchbook, and laptop.
Back at the desk, I fire up my laptop, connect to my hotspot, and open AutoCAD. We spend the next two hours sketching cabin layouts. They’ll be uniform in structure but decorated differently. She trusts Seth and me to pick the location.
“I noticed there aren’t any handicapped rooms,” Rosalie says. “I want at least one per floor. The cabins will be accessible too.”
She’s making smart decisions.
“I made pulled BBQ sandwiches last night. Want some for lunch?” she asks just as my stomach growls.
We laugh. I gather my stuff.
“We can work at the house. The internet company’s coming today to fix things. With the kids and their gaming, laptops, social media, and schoolwe needed the upgrade.”
It doesn’t feel like work, being around Rosalie. I’m usually the grump who prefers solitude.
But with her?
I wonder if I could do the stepfather thing…after the childhood I had.
Chapter Sixteen
Rosalie
LunchwithChaseisjust as easy and fun as dinner the other night. The conversation flows naturally never forced. He tells me about the town’s back to school traditions: a parade before the first football game, a fall festival, and all the little things that make this place feel like home. It sounds like the kind of town where my kids can thrive.
Drew sends pictures of him and his new friends. I send him money so they can grab lunch. Winnie and Hailey are having fun at the mall, and Hailey’s influence is showing Winnie’s even sending me photos of the clothes she’s picking out. I approve of every one.
The internet tech arrives, and Chase helps him while I clean up from lunch and prep dinner. It’s nice having someone to bounce ideas off of. Chase and the tech laugh as they walk into the kitchen, and I smile.
“You now have the highest internet we offer,” the tech says. “Mrs. Rosa already had everything just needed a few upgrades. If you could sign here, I’ll be out of your hair.”
“Thanks so much,” I say, signing the paperwork and returning to the meatballs.
Chase lets the tech out and comes back into the kitchen. I’m not paying attention, and we collide. The bowl of spaghetti sauce I’m seasoning spills all over his light blue shirt.
My eyes widen. I tuck my lips in, trying not to laugh.
“I am so sorry,” I say, but the giggles burst out of me.
“I don’t think you are,” he grumbles, scowling playfully.
“I’ve got a washer through that door,” I say, rushing to clean up the mess before it stains the tile. I hear the washer lid slam shut as I mop up the floor and toss the dirty dishes into the sink.
I grab the sprayer and start rinsing dishes, mentally listing what I need to replace now that the sauce is ruined.
“Can I help?” Chase asks, and I spin around spraying him square in the chest.
He grabs the sprayer, and somehow we both end up drenched. The sprayer clatters back into place, and suddenly I’m in his arms. My lips find his before my brain can stop me.
