Page 88 of One Touch

I shrugged. “Tootie wanted it.”

A warm smile spread across her face, and I was reminded that at times like this, it felt like making Kate happy was the easiest thing in the world.

I reached forward and swung the door open. What was once an oddly sized mudroom was now open, airy, and functional.

Just as I had planned, the Chicago brick added an earthy, rustic touch to an otherwise fully modernized space. Just inside the door was a painted bench that Tootie could sit on to remove her rubber boots after working in her gardens or tending to the chickens.

Tucked under cabinets that hid the cleaning supplies were a brand-new washer and dryer. Kate had picked out glass containers with labels on them to keep things organized, but in wanting to show her the final space, I hadn’t let her back there to stage it properly. She ran her hand across the smooth glass of the laundry cleaning supplies, each organized in the tall glass containers.

I smiled sheepishly. “I did my best. I figured you could rearrange this however you think looks nice.”

She grinned at me. “It’s great.”

Using old boards from the flooring project and some wrought iron hooks I had found at the local antique store, I had also created a row of hooks to hang jackets and other items Tootie would want to have organized in the space.

Ivy and other small plants were potted to decorate the otherwise bare, open shelves. I had arranged them haphazardly until the women who were far more adept at decorating than me could fix them.

“I love how everything is bright and open but not too big.” Kate sighed. “This is just perfect.”

I dragged a hand across the back of my neck and looked up at her with a grin. “I hate to admit it, but you were right about the walk-in pantry and making better use of this area. It makes a huge difference.”

Her mouth dropped open into an O. She stepped up into my space and wound her arms around my neck. “Beckett Miller. Can you say that again?”

I looked down at her, dragging my nose along the side of hers. “Say what?”

She kissed the corner of my mouth, and I felt the warmth of her embrace spread through my chest. “You know.”

I playfully rolled my eyes and pulled her closer, gently brushing my lips against the shell of her ear. “You were right, Princess.”

She leaned back to hold me at arm’s length and gave me a dazzling smile. “Mr. Miller, this is the best day ever!”

I shrugged off her arms and grabbed her hand in mine. “Come on. Let me show you the rest of it.”

I bent to open the enlarged trapdoor that revealed the newly renovated entrance to the speakeasy.

Still holding her hand, I carefully guided her down the freshly painted and reinforced stairs. After the electrical had been brought up to code, the crew had also installed new lighting to illuminate the once dark and dingy space. Sly also fashioned unique 1930s-era sconces to illuminate the bar area.

When we hit the bottom stair, Kate sucked in a shocked breath. “Beckett ...”

I stood behind her and kissed her shoulder. “Yes, Princess?”

I watched as my girl walked into the space—a space that had once been hidden, tucked away, but then brought to light in the twenty-first century.

The original oak bar was sanded, stained, and polished. I would bet damn good money it looked better than it had even when it was new. The mirror glass had been replaced, but I had managed to salvage the ornate antique frame that surrounded it.

Through the mirror, I watched Kate move around the space, and I was overwhelmed at how perfect she looked—how at home in this farmhouse she truly was.

Despite how hard I had fallen for her, I knew in my bones I could never take her away from here. From this place. From her family or the history of this town.

So many questions still swirled about the speakeasy—the ties it had to the Kings, and the items we had discovered in the small metal lockbox. I had no doubt that with time and attention Kate would pull on those threads and uncover the generations-long mystery between the Sullivans and the Kings.

Something she couldn’t do if I stole her away and hid her in my glass tower penthouse in Chicago.

Fuck.

That just wouldn’t do.

Kate ran a delicate hand across the table I had constructed to fit in the space. I tucked my hands into my front pockets. “There’s one more thing I need to show you.”

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