Page 127 of Wildest Dreams

“What kind of workout?” I mumble, looking up at him from under my lashes.

“You wanna know what kind of workout we’re gonna do this morning?” he asks, his voice all deep morning gravel. He walks backwards so that I follow him out of the room, fingers warm and strong as he squeezes my hands with his.

I frown up at him in reply, not dignifying that stupid question with an answer.

He laughs quietly and in the next second I’m squealing, as he hauls me against his chest, pressing kisses all over my cheeks.

“Weights,” he grunts, grinning as he bounces me in his arms. He gives my body an approving once-over before adding with a smirk, “A pretty tiny weight today though.”

It takes me a moment to realise what he’s really saying and when I do I’m giggling and trying to hide my smile.

Okay, that was cute.

I’mthe workout.

Tanner’s deep chuckle reverberates through my body and I cling onto him harder as he tries to find the room that he’s looking for.

“Where are you taking me?” I ask him, looking over my shoulder.

“To Heaven, hopefully,” he drawls, smirking as I roll my eyes. “Bathroom,” he says finally, and I point my finger toward the correct door.

“Didn’t you snoop around while I was trekking yesterday?” I ask him.

He sets me gently down on my feet as we reach the threshold.

“Hell no. Wouldn’t have felt right. Had to keep goin’ back and forth to the cabins when I needed to take a leak.”

I breathe out a surprised laugh because that’s… really thoughtful. In a kind of country boy way.

He herds me through the door but stops short the second that we’re inside.

I feel heat rise to my cheeks because this is the first time that anyone has seen the bathroom’s renovation.

“Jesus,” Tanner rumbles, shoving his hand through his hair. I peek up at him as he takes in the room, nerves twisting in my gut.

His eyes instantly drop to mine and I almost look away from the intensity of his stare.

“You did all this?” he asks, his voice deep as he gestures to the wall behind me. “You did all of this on your own? In, what, a matter of weeks?”

I search his eyes warily before glancing over my shoulder at my handiwork.

There was a lot of plumbing and electrical work that had to be checked out when I hired in the contractors, but after that it was a matter of working the room into my own design. The whole lake house is walled with rich medium-brown wood, bar the shower right in front of us which I spent days turning into black-tiled perfection. It’s sexy and intimate and exactly how I wanted it to be, and when I glance back up at Tanner I think that he might like it too.

I shake my hair out of my face and put on my most emotionless, business-like expression.

“What do you think?” I ask, my voice a little husky.

Tanner’s palms settle on my waist, drawing me against him as he walks me backwards, further into the room.

“It’s fucking beautiful, just like you.” He grips my chin in his palm, tilts my head back and kisses me. His free hand slides down to my behind, massaging me roughly as his tongue caresses mine.

When he pulls away his big chest is heaving.

“Your parents are gonna be so fuckin’ impressed.”

I breathe out a nervous laugh and press my hands against his abdomen.

“Maybe,” I laugh, “but this isn’t really their thing. Small towns, lake houses… that isn’t where the money is.”

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