Page 43 of Coulda

“You came home. I have a suspicion Colt bought the property adjacent to mine. I tried to buy the parcel of land closer to town, but it had already been claimed.”

“That would be such a coincidence,” she answered skeptically.

“Definitely. He hasn’t said anything about it. I’d suggest we let him share the news without mentioning my suspicion to Harper.”

“Okay,” she said with a shrug. A few seconds passed while they were each lost in their own thoughts.

“What are we doing today?” Amber asked, propping an arm across Rio’s broad chest.

“I’d like you to look at my house plans and see if there is anything you’d like to include or take out.”

“I don’t know how valid my opinion is. My architectural skills are limited. I always wanted a big outdoor space with a pizza oven,” she confessed.

“We can make that happen. I think we’ll need an entertainment space for your friends. They’ll all need a refuge to escape to.”

“And pizza!” she teased and then squealed as he reversed their positions to lie above her.

“Now I know the way to your heart. Dough, cheese, and sauce.” Rio leaned down to kiss her deeply.

“And hot pepper sprinkles,” she reminded him when he lifted his head. Unable to resist, she brushed her fingers through his sleep-tousled hair.

“Spice is important to life,” he answered.

“And limes?” she asked, catching a glimpse of Limey, who’d somehow ended up tucked between Rio’s pillow and the headboard.

“You boinked me over the head with Limey about two in the morning,” he informed her.

“Limey gets rambunctious sometimes. He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

“No, Ella. Limey and I are old friends.”

“I’ve loved him since you left him for me.”

“I’m glad. I wanted you to have something to hold on to as you left to go explore the world.”

“Did you mean what you said? That we could travel to Paris some day?”

“When do you report for work?”

“I gave myself two weeks to get settled and find some place to live before I start.”

“That item is already checked off your list,” he announced with a firm glance. “Let’s go tomorrow. We could spend a few days and return with time for you to unpack when your things arrive and be ready for work.”

“What am I going to do with all my furniture?” Amber blurted as she remembered her storage cube would come next week with all her belongings.

“We’ll put it in storage until you decide what you want to keep. This place came furnished.”

“You don’t have any furniture?” she asked as the beautiful room she’d napped in flashed into her mind.

“A few things. The original items that occupied space in your playroom are in the basement. Everything there now belongs to us,” he assured her.

“I’m glad. I seriously love that room. Did you mean what you said? We could go to Paris?”

“Do you have a passport with you?”

“In a file in my car. There were a few documents I thought I needed to keep with me.”

“Then I will arrange for tickets when we get up.”

---