Page 111 of Wilder at Heart
He stares down at me, his expression serious once more. ‘I don’t want you choosing me over your dreams. No way. If I’mlucky enough to get you, I’ll sure as fuck make certain you get everything else, too. I came here today expecting to have to fight for you, give you the hard sell on why I can give you the safety and security I know you need. Thought it might sweeten the deal if I threw your dream home into the package.’
He shoots me a little smile, as if I’m supposed to find his attempt at a joke funny, but it’s heartbreaking. Horrifying that he thought he had to sell me on the prospect of him as my future.
‘Theo. I don’t need ahouse, for God’s sake. I just need you. Jesus—I don’t want anything else but you, you idiot.’ I lower my voice. ‘You’re the sweetest, sweetest deal there is already. Don’t try to bribe me.’
I try to swivel in his arms, but he holds me tightly in place against him and brushes his lips against my temple. I feel the warmth of his exhalation on my skin.
‘Well, that’s a huge relief, but I told you, sweetheart. I want you to have everything you dreamed of. Besides, I’ve fallen for this place too. And I put an offer in last week. It’s ours.’
Enormous tears spring from my eyes like I’m a cartoon character. I can’t help it. This man is killing me with his surprises and declarations and tenderness. I’m totally overwhelmed. It’s all way too much to take in.
I love you.
Boom.
I bought you your dream home.
Boom.
‘No,’ I say weakly, clutching at the wrist that’s wound around my front.
‘Yep. It was a bit hasty, I know, but I was hoping you wouldn’t turn me down. I saw it in the local paper last week when I was at the farm and called up the agent straight away. She’s over there, in her car, giving us space. I knew it was right for us as soon asI saw the photo. I had fucking goosebumps when I turned the page.’
‘But you don’t want to live in the countryside,’ I manage.
‘I’ll live anywhere with you.’ His lips go to my ear again. ‘Besides, I’ve fallen hard for it. It has a couple of features the flat just doesn’t offer.’
‘An AGA?’ I say hopefully, and he shakes with laughter against me.
‘It has an AGA. I made sure of that. But I was thinking more of naked swimming.’ His lips brush my earlobe. ‘And naked tennis. Two things I didn’t realise I needed in my life till I saw the grounds.’
I gasp sharply, as much at the visual Theo’s painting as at the sheer scope of this house and its grounds. My eyes take in the burnished beauty of the house’s facade in the afternoon sun. Perfect mounds of hydrangea bushes sit below the line of tall, low-silled windows. In front of each pillar stands an impeccable potted bay tree. Lawns slope off to one side, a wrought-iron gate tucked tantalisingly into an ancient wall.
‘It sounds like Disneyland,’ I marvel.
‘Naked Disneyland. Just for us,’ Theo drawls, and I laugh. It makes me feel much better that Theo has his own motivations for wanting this place, no matter how dirty they are.
‘Wanna see inside?’ he asks.
‘Hell, yes,’ I say, and he chuckles.
‘What about New York, though?’ His change of plan is bothering me immensely.
‘Easy.’ He takes my hand. ‘I’ve provided the vision. They can get someone else to execute. I’ll help oversee the reconfiguration, of course, if they want. But I’ve appealed to my brother’s greed on another front. I had a chat with Evelyn last week—you know, that mysterious coffee we had—and theydefinitely need investment. She’s itching to expand. At the very least, they should be doubling the amount of rooms they have.
‘Anyway, it’s very early days, but she’s open to having a strategic partner who provides a nice big chunk of cash, and Miles is champing at the bit to get a slice of their pie. So, if we can free up the money, we can make it work.’
‘And he’d let you run that side of things? Just like that?’
He laughs. ‘Much as he’d love to get his hands on it, he’s got the entire group to run. Sorrel Farm’s its own beast, its own opportunity. It needs someone dedicated to it. And let’s just say I got him at a good time. He’s a sentimental mess this week. I pitched it to him as part of my plan for you and I. I told him about this place, and your job offer. If you say the word, we’ve got ourselves a nice little future down here, with some juicy projects to sink our teeth into.’
I stare at him as he leads us along the driveway. ‘You have been a busy guy. I can’t believe this. But you’re a Londoner. You sure you want to ditch your social life so soon?’
He squeezes my hand. ‘We can keep the flat, if we want.’
‘Seriously? Won’t you have to sell it to afford this place? Because I’m telling you now, my savings won’t touch the sides here.’
He stops. ‘Sweetheart. Hey. It’s all sorted. I own the flat outright, and I’m buying this place outright, too. Okay?’
