“Yep!” I said, popping the p. “Look at this house! You can’t just have one tree!”
Nash chuckled. “I guess that’s true.”
“The tree that goes in here though is special because it’s the family tree. We always spent Christmas morning in here.”
“Why?”
I shrugged. “I think it was because it felt smaller, cozier. We felt close to each other. In the main living area, with the picture window, my mother puts up a beautiful ten-foot tree that is decorated with all silver. It’s stunning against the mountains. But it feels so. . . .”
“Cold?” Nash asked, sitting down on the sofa.
“Yes. Exactly,” I stated, sitting next to him and turning to face him. “The other trees are themed trees. The one on my father’s trophy room is woodland themed.”
“I really need to see that room.”
Smiling, I replied, “Okay. I’ll give you the grand tour today.”
He lifted a brow. “Can we bowl?”
“Sure. If you want.”
Nash leaned forward, a serious look on his face. “I have a very important question to ask.”
I swallowed hard. “O-okay.”
“Did I hear Millie right? Is there a billiards room? I can also kick your ass at pool.”
It took a moment for his words to register what he said.
“That so?” I asked. “Is that a challenge?”
He nodded. His smile faded some and he moved his gaze to the fireplace. Just like he had last night. This time, he didn’t leave it there, he focused back in on me.
“I’m sorry about last night, Kaelynn.”
“You don’t have anything to be sorry about.”
“Yes, I do. You got upset and I let you leave. That was a dick move.”
I shook my head and went to speak, but he locked his gaze on mine, causing me to go still as he continued to speak.
“I’m in love with you, Kaelynn, and I really don’t know what to do with that.”
My eyes widened in shock, and I must have opened and closed my mouth at least four times. When I was finally able to speak, it was a simple, “What did you say?”
Nash blew out a breath and focused on his hands for a moment before returning his attention back to me.
“I knew from the beginning you were hiding something. There were a million different times I could have asked you. There were a few times I think you were about to tell me and we were interrupted. That night you made me dinner. You were going to tell me then, weren’t you?”
Feeling my jaw shake, I knew words would not come, so I agreed with a head nod.
“For months after Lily and I broke up, I vowed I was done with ever getting serious with a woman again. I wouldn’t risk my heart being broken like that. Then I ran into you.”
My heart started to beat a little bit faster with each word he said. Nothing else in the world mattered to me in that moment than what Nash Barrett was about to say.
“And just like that, I was ready to move on. I had realized I had never really been in love with Lily. At least not the type of love that meant forever. At the time, I guess I thought it did, but the moment you looked up at me with those eyes of yours, I couldn’t remember anything about Lily. Or any other women before. You made me want to take the step, and I wanted to take it with you. And that scared me.”
Nash reached over and wiped a tear off my cheek.