Page 25 of The Widow's Dom

“I want to see the rest of the rooms and then outside.”

Janessa was impressed. Val was very knowledgeable and could answer all of Nick’s questions.

When the tour was done, Nick shook Val’s hand, and they watched her drive away with the promise to get back to her if he wanted the property. Janessa looked around the farm. Everything needed work. The land would have to have grass planted if he wanted horses. Too many weeds had taken over. There were two dilapidated barns, and one looked ready to fall down. The house hadn’t been lived in for years, so they saw evidence of rodents inside. Every room would need to be updated or fixed just to be livable. It would be better to bulldoze the place and build a new house.

“What do you think?” she asked.

“It’s doable. It’s more work than I expected to deal with, so starting the ranch would take me longer, maybe a year. But I’ve got plenty of help, and I love the area. The view is great. I turn and just see trees or hills, flowers, and butterflies. It’s exactly what I want.”

An idea had been swirling through her head all day. She was terrified to speak, but it would help his situation, and she wouldn’t be alone. She looked down at the grass.

“You could buy it and then live with me while you work on it. If it doesn’t work out with us, you’ll have a place to live. If it does, you can fix the place, rent it out, and add the land to ours.”

She looked over the field, afraid to look at him because he was so quiet. “I’m sorry. It’s a stupid idea. I mean, we’ve only known each for a week or so.” She looked to find him smiling gently at her. Her shoulders relaxed.

He gripped her forearm. “It’s not a stupid idea. I hadn’t thought about it. I like the idea, but I want you to think about this overnight and talk to your boys. We’re not going to jump into anything until I know you’re all onboard.”

She exhaled and smiled at him. “I thought you’d think I was crazy.”

He pulled her into his arms and set his chin on her head. “Truthfully, I do think you’re a little crazy, but in a good way.”

She gasped and then used her fist to hit his side. His solid muscle wall hurt her hand, and he just laughed. It felt like she had hit a boulder.

“It’s a little before four. What do you need done on the farm?” he asked.

“I bought some feed for the horses and dog food. I have to take care of the horses, but that’s it. Why?”

“How about I follow you to your place and help you with that? Then you can take us around the area, show me everything, and then grab dinner on the way back to your place.”

She nodded. “I’d like that.”

“Okay. I’ll follow you.”

On the ride back, her mind thought over everything that could go wrong with Nick moving in with her, and she couldn’t think of one. If they didn’t get together, he could use one of the other bedrooms until his house was done. It might be a little uncomfortable, but at least she wouldn’t be alone in the house.

She pulled into her driveway, turned to back into the barn, and then parked. Nick met her at the back of her vehicle. They silently stacked the bags of feed in the tack room to keep critters out of it and checked on the horses. She only had four at the time, so there was more than enough space in the stable for him to bring his horses.

As much as she wanted this to happen, she was afraid something would ruin it, and she’d lose Nick before she really had him.

Chapter Thirteen

Nick stacked the last bag of feed, shut the door, and latched it. His mind was racing. He never expected her to offer him a place to stay. He was planning on bunking with one of the guys. A few had houses, and the other two condos, so they all had room for him and offered. None of them had any interest in living in the country as he did. It was something he’d dreamed about for a long time.

He’d never had a chance to live there, had always lived in a town, city, or desert with his unit. He’d not grown up with horses, but during a long term of his father’s at one station, they stayed in the same place for four years. They had lived next to a horse-breeding farm, and he’d spent every minute he could there. They’d taught him all he knew, and he felt confident he’d succeed with his ranch.

He lifted the dog food, followed her into the house, and sat in the pantry behind the back door.

“Do you want a drink before we go?” she asked.

“No. But thank you.”

He walked up behind her as she stood at the sink drinking a glass of water, boxed her in, and pressed his body against hers. He loved how she gasped and then shivered.

“Something I need you to think about is if I move in here, I won’t be sleeping on the sofa.”

She hummed when he pressed his face into her neck.

“Well, there are three empty bedrooms upstairs.” She grinned and leaned her head back against his shoulder as his hand started stroking her stomach.

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