Love At First Sight (Southern Bride 1)

“I could see that.”

“Come on. Let’s head upstairs.”

“How many bedrooms does it have?”

“Five.”

“Wow.”

When we reached the landing, I marveled at the space. I could already picture what it would look like with furniture placed about, wall hangings, the homey touch that a country farmhouse should have.

“So the two bedrooms in the front of the house could be gutted and made into one large master bedroom and bathroom.”

We walked into the room, and I sucked in a breath. Floor-to-ceiling windows sat in a large bay area to the front of the house. The view was stunning.

“It faces the west, so you could be on the porch watching the sunset, or up here, in the bedroom.”

I felt my cheeks blush as I thought of lying in a bed with Rip watching the sun sink in the sky.

“If we designed the bathroom right, the tub could look out the windows, as well.”

“We?” I asked.

Rip shrugged, then said, “I guess me and Jonathon.”

I tried not to let it show how that made my chest ache. For the briefest of moments, I thought he might have meant me and him. By the way he was looking at me, I think he wanted to say that as well, and was tiptoeing around the us in this scenario. Or maybe it was wishful thinking.

We walked into another room.

“The rooms all look to be in good shape. Just some cleaning and paint,” I said, walking to a large picture window. No matter what side of the house we were on, the views were stunning. There is nothing like a Texas hill country view.

“Yeah, the bedrooms will be the easiest to do.”

“What do you envision this room?” I asked.

He walked up next to me and leaned against the window frame. “What do you see it being?”

Turning to face him, our eyes caught as we stood there staring at one another.

I slowly lifted my shoulders before letting them drop. “I don’t know.”

He broke the connection and looked out the window. For a few seconds he seemed lost in thought before he finally spoke. “Guess I picture it as a nursery or something.”

My eyes were back on Rip as he continued to stare over the countryside. I had to place my hand on my lower stomach to settle the nerves that had suddenly appeared.

“A nursery?” I whispered.

Rip pushed himself from the window. “Yeah…or something.”

Swallowing hard, I replied, “It would make a beautiful nursery.”

He nodded, then lifted his hand and tucked a loose piece of hair behind my ear. “You have to know the reasons why I bought this house, Chloe.”

“Tell me,” I breathed, my mouth suddenly too dry.

Rip took a step closer, and my knees felt wobbly as my stomach fluttered. When I looked up at him, our eyes met once again. The dimples in his cheek were on full display for me.

“I bought it for you, Chloe.”

Whoosh. The air in my lungs vanished. Once I found my voice, I said, “Even though I was engage…”

I let my voice trail off.

“That day you looked back at this house, and you said you wanted it. I told you I would buy it for you.”

My body instantly heated. With a slight head shake, I replied, “Rip, we aren’t even together.”

His warm hands cupped my face, and he leaned down, his mouth inches from mine. It felt like the entire room was fixin’ to drop out from under my feet.

“I told you I’d wait forever for you, Chloe.”

His hot breath hit my face and made me dizzy. I needed him to kiss me, but a part of me wanted to stop him. As if he read my mind, he dropped his hands and took a step back. I felt the absence of his touch ripple through my entire body, leaving me feeling empty.

“The, um, the other bedrooms are about this big. They don’t have the large picture window, though.”

I blinked rapidly, trying to keep up with the way he changed subjects in a heartbeat.

“Do you want to see the barn?” he asked, walking around me and heading to the door.

“No.”

He stopped and looked back at me. “No?”

I let out a gruff laugh. “You’re just going to say all that to me, act like you’re going to kiss me, and then ask me if I want to see the barn?”

“You said you needed time. I’m trying not to push you.”

Burying my face in my hands, I let out a frustrated growl.

“Is that not what you said?”

My hands dropped to my sides, and I stared at him. “I did say that, but then you go off and do this.”

He frowned. “Do what?”

“Do what?” I asked, my eyes widening. “Do what! Rip, you bought the house I said I wanted when we were fourteen. You told me it was for me. You’re talking about a nursery, and all these plans and I’m… I’m…”