Sweetest Heartbreak
Page 23
“Joan called me this morning. She’s been keeping an eye on this house for me, and, well, it just went on the market.”
I sit, silent and still.
“What do you think? It’s the house you’ve always wanted.” He wraps his hand around mine, his eyes smiling until he sees mine aren’t mirroring his. “I know we’ve only been married a few months and that you love your house—our house—but we don’t know when we’ll get this chance again, if ever.”
He wants this. I can see the hopefulness in his eyes. But I know my husband, and I know he wants this simply because he’s trying to make me happy.
I was hoping to do this tonight as I sat in his lap on the sofa, but here goes. “Your dad and I have been talking.”
He doesn’t bother to mask the concern on his face, so I move a comforting hand to his thigh.
“You know how he’s added a few new lawyers to the practice?”
He nods.
“And you mentioned he’s been coming in later and leaving earlier?”
Another nod.
I slide my hand back and forth in hopes of calming his growing anxiety. “He’s ready to retire and, well, wants to sell the house and downsize. But, before he does, he’d like to offer it to us first.”
Heath is now the one sitting silent and still.
“What do you think?”
He points out the window. “But you like this house. You’ve always said so.”
“You’re right. I do like this house. But there’s a difference between ‘like’ and ‘love,’ and what I love is the idea of raising our kids in the same home you grew up in. Watching you play basketball with them in the field house or singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to them in the same dining room.”
“What about your mom? If we lived here, we’d still be only a mile or so away from her.”
“There’s no denying how much I love my mom, but we’ve been living close to her these last two years. And a little bit of a drive means she won’t be able to make her usual ‘pop-in’ visits.” I tug teasingly on his hand. “Or have you already forgotten how she almost caught us the other day?”
He looks at the house and then back to me, ignoring my playfulness. “Are you sure that’s what you really want?”
“From the first day I walked through the door of your dad’s house, I saw it for what it was always intended for, family. When I picture our babies sleeping in your old room, or watching you read to them in front of the same fireplace, I’m more than sure.”
When his face softens, I know he wants all of that too.
“As long as they all look like you, I don’t care where we live.” He laughs, leaning over the armrest for a quick, hard kiss.
“Well, there are five bedrooms to fill,” I respond with a flirtatious smile.
“So, you’re saying we should get home and practice? I like the way you think, Princess.” He wraps a hand around the back of my head and pulls me in for a long, deep kiss.
I break away and motion to the gearshift. “What are we waiting for?”
He takes my not-so-subtle hint and throws the car into drive, my laughter bouncing between us as the force forward pushes me back in my seat. His voice grows excited as his thoughts spill out. “What did you have in mind? The living room floor? The laundry room is always fun. But the kitchen counter . . . or maybe we just spend the rest of the day in bed?”
“I want all of it. As long as it’s with you, Heath, I want it all.”
The End
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beautiful lies
I had just started this story when Carrie Fisher passed away. I never intended to name the heroine Leah (yes, the spelling change was intentional) or give her the nickname, but this was one of those celebrity deaths that stung. I very clearly remember six-year-old me watching her on the giant screen in total awe. It had nothing to do with her being a princess and everything to do with her being a sassy, fierce, intelligent woman. The big guns and killer hairdo didn’t hurt either. So, with that said, thank you, Carrie.
I am so thankful for my amazingly awesome betas—Erika, Kristie, Kirsten, Marieke, Cassie, Jessica, Arielle, Karen, Genie, Kayla, and Tiara. You have all been so generous with your time and feedback, and I’m beyond appreciative for each and every one of you.
Kristie and Emily, I can’t thank both of you enough for your friendship and support. I only hope I give you the same in return.
Heather, you are the ultimate beta, blogger, and friend. You didn’t just help me with the title; you also found Heath his very own song1!
Robin, your insane eye for detail is only surpassed by your kindness. I appreciate every minute (and the thousands of messages) you put into helping me make this story what it is.
To all of the kick-ass bloggers who have been so gracious in supporting a new author—THANK YOU. Your endless efforts are what put books into readers’ hands.
This book would be an ugly, jumbled mess if not for my cover designer, Sarah; my editor and formatter, Jovana (I’m still not over the mug debacle); and my proofreader, Marla. Thank you, ladies! You are all the best at what you do.
Sophie—aka Sophilicious, aka Cujo—thank you for warming my lap as I edited. You literally forced me to stay in my seat and get the work done. I think we need to make this a regular thing. Tell your mom I said so.
Speaking of, Christine, thanks, woman. You’re the BE to my ST and the FRI to my END. I’ve got the keychain to prove it.
To my hubby—Thanks, babe, for supporting me as I continue on this journey. And to my boys—Thanks for not burning the house down or causing each other severe bodily harm while I worked.
And I can’t leave yet without thanking YOU. If you’re like me, you have more books on your Kindle than you’ll ever admit to, but you chose to spend your time with this one, and for that, I am truly humbled. Thank you.
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1 “Alone” by I Prevail
Heather Bentley grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. Her first book was written at the age of nine on a flight to Florida that centered around her hopes that the DC-10 she was traveling on wouldn’t nosedive to the ground in a ball of flames. And, yes, it was even illustrated. She continues to reside in Illinois with her family and still loves flying about as much as she did back then. Today, she writes new adult and contemporary romance and is the author of Beautiful Lies and Sweetest Heartbreak.
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