Trade It All(61)
She loved his easy chuckle. Then his expression turned serious. “What’s your idea of a perfect day at the Cape?”
It felt like the most natural thing in the world when he laced his hand with hers. “I’d like to see the area, but I’ve always loved quiet places like this. Lexi has our parents’ adventurous gene. I’m also happy with a hammock and a good book.”
“What do you like to read?”
A week ago she would have tried to think of an impressive title. She no longer felt the need to. The most amazing part of being with Lance was that he seemed to like her just the way she was. “Everything from romances to autobiographies. I’m a bit of a history junkie. If I see something in a movie or hear about it in a book I love to go back and research it.”
He looked at her warmly. “E-book or paperback?”
“E-book unless I read it more than once. Then I want it in paperback so I can own it. I have a small library of signed books from my favorite authors. I started collecting them when I was in college. Right now they’re boxed in a corner of my room, but one day I’d like to have a spare room I could make into a reading room with a library.” Willa stopped when she felt like she’d started rambling.
“What would your dream library look like?”
She’d dreamed of one since she was a child, so this was easy to answer. She described the dark wood, the ladder on wheels, even the comfortable furniture and the fireplace she’d cuddle up in front of. It wasn’t the first time she’d shared her fantasy library, but when her eyes met Lance’s she felt strange about sharing it with him. He was watching her intently. Suddenly self-conscious she shrugged. “Sorry to go on and on.”
“I’d love to design that library for you,” he said abruptly.
Unsure of how to respond, Willa made light of his comment. “If I ever get a place big enough to have a library, I’ll call you.”
His hand tightened on hers. “I could buy you a house.”
Willa pressed her lips together and held in her first answer. He thought he was being generous. He wouldn’t understand how that kind of comment could put an ugly spin on their time together. She and Lexi had been friends with Kenzi for well over a decade and had never taken a dime from her. I thought he knew me better than that.
He stood, then used their linked hands to pull her to stand before him. “Say it, Willa.”
She raised her eyes to his. “What?”
“I’ve sat back for years while you silently shot daggers at me with your eyes, and I always told myself it was better left alone. We’re beyond that. If you’re upset about something, say it.”
If you’re sure . . . “I’m offended. Just because I don’t have much money doesn’t mean I’m looking for a handout. I have a perfectly good life. Everyone dreams of having something special, but offering me a house made it sound like you thought I was your . . . it made me feel . . .”
He pulled her to his chest and hugged her. “I’m sorry.”
Willa tipped her head back. She’d expected him to defend himself or to try to convince her that she was being too sensitive. Her irritation and self-consciousness fell away. Was it that simple? With Lance it felt as if it could be. “Apology accepted. I just didn’t want you to think—”
“I don’t.” He took her face between his hands and kissed her tenderly. “What do you say to venturing out to find breakfast somewhere? We could walk around until it gets hot, come back and lounge in a hammock in the shade. I’m halfway through a mystery book.”
She looked around. “Are there hammocks here? I didn’t see any.”
His smile was confident without being cocky. “There will be a large one by the time we get back.”
And that’s the difference between you and me, Lance. You expect everything to work out the way you want it to because that’s the way it always has for you.
That’s not my experience.
Life can quickly get ugly, and there isn’t a damn thing you can do about it.
“But first we should shower,” Lance said, then swung her up and over his shoulder. “You’re coming with me, woman.”
Hanging upside down, Willa pushed her panic attack aside and laughed. “Seriously? Like a sack of potatoes?”
He gave her a playful swat on the rump and said, “More like a bounty I’m claiming. Let a man have his fantasy.”
Completely amused and more than a little turned on, Willa jokingly flailed against his back. “Oh, you big brute, put me down.”
“Never,” he growled as he carried her back into the house and started toward the bedroom with her. “You’re mine.”