Page 115 of Love By The Falls

Charlotte

The next day, Caleb ties a blindfold around the back of my head when we get into his car. “No peeking,” he warns.

“Where are we going?”

“That’s the surprise.”

I sit back and close my eyes since I can’t see anything, anyway. The engine roars beneath my seat and the sensation causes my core to tingle. I’m not sure if it’s the pregnancy hormones or the way Caleb made love to me again last night, but my whole body is on fire whenever he’s close to me.

As though he senses my need, his fingers brush up against my hand and he caresses my knuckles with his thumb. The strokes are slow but heavy and it reminds me of his lovemaking.

I remove my jacket as heat sweeps across my neck and face.

“Are you alright?”

“Fine. Just a little hot.”

“We’re almost there.”

Thank God.

A few minutes later, Caleb pulls the car over and unlocks my seat belt. “Okay, are you ready?”

“Yes! This blindfold is making me nauseous.”

He chuckles and unties the blindfold. I blink, looking around. “We’re on Sunset Ridge.”

“Yup.” He climbs out of the car and walks past the front of the hood to open my car door. I take his hand to help me up and stare out at Cedar Manor.

“I bought it,” he says.

“You what?”

He nods with a wide grin. “I got to thinking about what you said. How important this house is to the town, but no one has the funds to buy and fix it. But, I do.”

“You own this? It’s all yours?”

“Yes.”

It feels surreal walking up to the door of a house I’ve admired my entire life, knowing that Caleb now owns it. “And you’re going to fix it?”

“With your help.”

“Why would you want to buy property here?”

“Charlotte,” he says, a little annoyed. “What do you think?”

“I don’t know.”

“Because the baby will be here soon.”

“Oh.” I’m a little disappointed as I imagined him staying in my bed, but this makes more sense, of course. “That’s a good idea.”

He grabs my hand and turns me to face him. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I guess I’m just a little in shock.”

“So, you’ll help me?”

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