Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 87255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
“I see.”
“It’s a little uptight for me. But I needed a place to stay, and I liked the house, and it was close to my family. In retrospect, might’ve been a bad plan. It makes him feel like they have the right to be nosy.”
I smile at him.
“This is it,” he says, pulling into a long brick driveway.
“Wow. Renn.” I gulp. “This is your house?”
The front of the traditional-style home has wood siding and lots of stonework. There are ample windows that let in a lot of light. A cedar shake roof caps off the place with an upscale, beautiful touch.
“Do you like it?” He pulls the car around the side of the house. Three garage doors line the length of the building. “I have three acres here, which I love. It has a little more privacy than most homes in the area.”
One of the doors rolls open, and he pulls inside.
“I don’t even have words for this,” I say, dumbfounded. “This is … incredible.”
His face lights up. “Come on. Let me show you the rest.”
I unfasten my belt and climb out of the sportscar. Renn meets me at the front.
“There’s too much space here to be practical,” he says, opening a tall white door. “But it has a vibe I really love. It reminds me of Australia a little.”
We enter a long hallway with light wooden floors, the lightest gray cabinets, and white stone countertops.
“This becomes a catch-all,” he says, tossing his keys on the counter. “It’s a bad habit.”
“If that’s your worst habit, I think you’re doing just fine.”
He reaches back for my hand. I give it to him without thinking.
“Okay, this is the kitchen,” he says, bringing me into a gorgeous area.
The gray and white color scheme extends to this room. As predicted, the windows are black-framed, allowing the room to be flooded with light. The stainless appliances include an ice maker, wine chiller, and a built-in double-door refrigerator.
“I usually eat at the bar,” he says, pointing at a sitting area around the island. “But there’s a table by the windows and a proper dining room around the corner.”
“This is … unbelievable,” I say, taking it all in. “It’s beautiful, Renn.”
His smile softens. “I’m so glad you like it.”
“Show me the rest. Please.”
He leads me through a sunroom with plush chairs, a small table, a cozy family area, and a larger living space. We tour a den, a bonus room he’s yet to use, and an office full of trophies and plaques.
We pass three bedrooms with en suites and giant walk-in closets, and a powder room on each side of the house.
Renn stops to point out features like button-activated window coverings, natural materials, and light fixtures he had custom-made in Mexico. His attention to detail is exquisite.
“And now, to the room you’ve been waiting for,” he says as we walk down a long corridor and through a set of double doors. “This is our bedroom.”
Our bedroom.
My stomach somersaults as I step into the grandest, most luxurious bedroom I’ve ever seen.
Everything is oversized but still warm and homey.
The massive bed has dark wood and white bedding. Pillows are piled against the wooden headboard. The nightstands don’t match; both look like antiques. They’re a deep walnut color with intricate designs etched into the wood.
A sitting area is set up at the far end of the room with a sofa and lamp—and a fireplace with stone framing it. I move to the windows and peer across the property. A pool and hot tub have been built next to an outdoor grilling area. Beyond that is a lush, green lawn that ends at a tree line. I can imagine forest animals grazing in the backyard in the evenings. Now it’s going to be even harder to leave.
“I don’t know what to say, Renn, except your home is stunning.”
“Come see this.” He grins. “This is my favorite part.”
We pass through a doorway and into an expansive bathroom. All white stone and bright, I see what he means by it giving Australian vibes. It reminds me of the bathroom in the honeymoon house.
There is a closet the same size as the bathroom with a doorway on the other side of the makeup table.
Renn comes up behind me and pulls me into him. He rests his chin on the top of my head. I wrap my arms around his waist and nuzzle into his chest.
“I can imagine it’s hard for you to have me here with you,” I say softly. “You don’t trust easily—and I understand that. You couldn’t.”
He kisses my forehead, making me smile.
“It means a lot to me that you invited me here,” I say. “I know I said on the plane headed to Australia that you were being self-serving with this, but I didn’t really mean it. I know you’re trying to protect me, too.”