Page 38 of Forbidden Secrets
“The outdoor lights are on,” Gage said.Maybe he’d caught Melanie’s clutch of panic because his voice softened.“They’ll be safe.”
She gave a small nod.
Gage turned to Addy.“Stick to the upper driveway.If you bounce it high, Pancake’ll try to catch it.”
Melanie helped Addy on with her coat and Gage opened the door to let dog and child out.Melanie watched from the window as Addy did what Gage suggested.Pancake leaped into the air to snag the ball and Addy let out a peal of laughter.
“Coffee?Tea?”he asked.
“I didn’t mean to barge in on you after taking up your whole day.”
He raised a brow.“You and little miss sunshine showing up with cookies?I’m not complaining.”
“That’s gracious of you.Um, tea then.Thanks.”
He filled a kettle and set it on the range, then gestured toward an open cabinet filled with various tea boxes.“Pick what you want.”
She raised her brows.“I pegged you as strictly a coffee guy.”
“If I want to sleep, I switch to tea by midafternoon.”He shrugged.“Also Emery, Shane’s wife, drinks tea.I keep a couple boxes of what she likes on hand.”
She picked a bag and dropped it into a ceramic mug while Gage did the same.Outside, Addy and Pancake played in the spill of light from the back porch.
Gage popped the lid on the cookies and shoved a whole one in his mouth.He chewed slowly and swallowed.“Damn good cookies.C’mon.I’ll give you a tour.”
He pointed to stairs near the front door.“Basement’s down there.”
“You have a basement?In California?”
“Unusual, right?The space needs work.It’s currently a home gym.”
She nodded as she glanced at the window yet again.“They’re fine,” she said aloud, mostly to convince herself.
“We can bring them in if you’re worried.”
“No.I’m fighting the instinct to keep her glued to my side.I know that’s not good for either of us.”
“You’re doing great.”
“Show me the rest.”
The house was L-shaped with the kitchen forming the short leg and the living room and bedrooms the long.They moved into the spacious, minimally decorated living room.The showpiece was a picture window framing the western sky still holding a hint of lavender from the sunset.
The couch faced a fireplace and a big-screen TV.Gage opened a sliding door to a deck beyond.“I need to get furniture for the house, but I like sitting outside so I started here.”
Melanie stepped out onto the wide deck with cushioned seating and a metal fire pit.“This is nice, Gage.You’ve got an incredible view of the mountains by day, and the amazing night sky after dark.”
“Yeah.Being close to the outdoors sold me on this place.”He took her hand, leading her back inside, and slid the door shut.“And being up against the national forest means no neighbors behind me.Owen and Keeley have a similar setup not far from here.”
She liked the way his big hand wrapped around hers made her feel grounded at the same time her heart sped up from the contact.
“Bathroom, my bedroom with a master bath, guest rooms, my office.”He gestured as they went.“Nothing fancy, but it works for me.”
She peeked into the rooms as they passed.Sparse but clean.“You’ve got a good house, Gage.I like the open layout.”Personal touches were minimal.A few photos or prints would add warmth, but the bones were solid.“How long have you lived here?”
“A little over a year.I didn’t bring much from my apartment.Emery, Delaney, and Cam staged an intervention.I was told I couldn’t keep living out of boxes and needed a bed that wasn’t inflatable.I let them pick out furniture and outfit the kitchen.Best decision I ever made because I don’t have a clue there.”
“They care about you.”
