Page 116 of Love Deep
“What?” Juniper asks, sitting up a little straighter across from me. Riley is in between us.
“Well, I was thinking that I’d like to move some more of my things in here.”
Juniper’s eyes widen. I know it’s not because she’s afraid of me moving in. More that this place is so small, there’s not a lot more thatwouldfit.
“Yes!” Riley says. “Then you can stay for longer instead of flying back to New York so much.”
We’ve agreed that while we’re based in Star Falls, I’ll spend four days in New York every other week. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than not being with my family at all. From September, the three of us will spend more time in New York during school vacations. But during this summer, Juniper needs to paint. There’s no point wasting time trying to find studio space in New York and then her having to settle in. There will be time for that when she’s built up some pieces for her show.
“What’s your plan?” Juniper asks.
I stand and head out to the porch, where I’ve stashed the plans that I’ve had drawn up. Juniper and I have talked about getting a place together in Star Falls, but houses don’t come on the market that much.
“Come see these drawings.”
Juniper’s eyes go wide in that oh-no-you-didn’t way she has.
I shrug. “See what you think,” I say. “I haven’t committed us to anything.”
Riley opens the tube, and I help her take out the papers and spread them on the dining table.
“So what’s this?” Juniper asks, as she approaches the dining table.
“It’s a house we could build,” I reply.
“In Star Falls?”
“Yeah. And I thought we could all live together in it. The builder that’s doing Rosey and Byron’s could do it.”
“Between the two of you, you’ve got to be keeping the Colorado construction industry afloat.” She trails her fingers down my back in that absentminded way that sends me absolutely wild.
I don’t know why either of us thought what we had couldn’t work out. Everything’s felt so easy since the night of Vivian’s concert at Radio City. Everything’s slotted into place. In a way, I have Vivian to thank for all of this. Maybe she’ll play at our wedding.
“This place is huge,” she says, as she takes in the plans. “And do we really need two kitchens?”
“And a pool, Mommy, look!”
She shoots me a look that says,Stop spoiling her.
“What?” I say. “I want a pool in our house.”
“But we don’t need all these guest rooms,” she says. “Your friends will stay at the Club when they come to visit, won’t they?”
“Yeah, but I thought…” I don’t say exactly what I’m thinking. We’ve talked about having children together. Eventually. Obviously, we haven’t said anything to Riley yet.
“But what about for my brothers and sisters?” Riley says.
Juniper and I burst into laughter.
“And I thought a guesthouse would be nice. Maybe for when your parents get older. And of course a studio so you don’t have to leave home to paint.”
She tilts her head and gives me the look that says she wants to jump my bones.
My eyes widen. “Thoughts of your parents make you think like that?” I ask.
“No.” She shakes her head. “You being thoughtful and generous and an all-round perfect human makes me think like that.”
“Well, save that thought,” I say.
