In Your Heart - Smeltzer Micalea. Страница 40

It had four stories—the bottom story was a massive garage, but the other three still remained a mystery. The siding was a pale blue and it had windows everywhere. It was just starting to get dark, but the house glowed from within making it obvious someone had been there earlier to get it ready for our stay.

On the outside palm trees and an endless amount of sand surrounded it.

I breathed in the crisp, salty air.

This was exactly what I had needed.

Glancing over at Ezra as he finished unloading the car we’d rode in I couldn’t help thinking about how difficult this week would be for us.

While Maddox and Emma played in the water—meaning he dropped her in the ocean on purpose and she retaliated by dunking him—the rest of us carried our bags into the house.

“Oh my God,” Arden gasped.

My gasp echoed hers.

The house was stunning.

Actually, that was an understatement.

Magnificent was a more accurate description.

The walls and furniture were all white with pops of turquoise and hot pink in the form of pillows and vases. It was so simple, but beautiful.

But the view? That was to die for.

I dropped my purse by the set of stairs and walked straight ahead to gaze out the windows. The ocean glimmered in the last of the setting sun and below on the beach Emma ran away from Maddox. He caught her around the waist and spun her around. It was a picture perfect moment.

Ezra stepped up beside me, his arm brushing mine. Body heat radiated off of him and I found myself leaning closer to him. I itched to be wrapped in his arms, but I fought off that urge.

On my other side Arden stood with three-year-old Mia on her hip. “Wow,” she gasped, “it’s so beautiful it doesn’t seem real.”

I nodded in agreement.

“Thanks for inviting me.” She glanced at me with a smile. “All of you.” She glanced at the guys and Remy.

“Of course,” Hayes huffed, setting down a heavy bag by the stairs. His face was red and he looked like he was starting to sweat. “What was in that bag?” He addressed me. “Fess up fashion Queen. It’s yours right?”

“Not mine.” I shook my head.

Beside me Arden’s cheeks flamed red, making her freckles appear even more vividly. “Uh…it’s mine,” she admitted. Hayes began to laugh. “In my defense,” she held up a hand, halting whatever he was about to say, “that’s my only bag and it has all of mine and Mia’s stuff.”

Hayes’ eyes sparkled with barely contained laughter. “I guess I can forgive you for that.”

She smiled at him, tucking a piece of bright red hair behind her ear.

I eyed the two carefully, trying to hide my smile. I turned away and back out at the beautiful view.

“I’m starving,” Mathias declared, heading over to the kitchen. He swung open the stainless steel refrigerator doors and cursed. “Motherfucker.”

“Language!” Arden admonished, covering Mia’s ears once more.

“Oh, right. Sorry.”

Holy shit, Mathias Wade apologized. Somebody, put that down in the record books.

“The fu—idiot only has the refrigerator stocked with Diet Pepsi.”

Ezra snorted. “Why am I not surprised?”

“I’m going to run to the store to get some food and I’ll just pick up pizza for tonight or something.” Mathias swiped the car keys off a side table.

“I’ll go with you.” Remy piped up.

He shook his head and kissed her tenderly. “No, stay here and rest for a bit.”

She didn’t put up a fight, which led me to believe she did need to rest. Remy wasn’t one to listen to what she was told.

Mathias left just as Hayes returned with the last bag.

And by bag I meant cage.

Maddox and Emma brought their pet hedgehogs.

I wished I was joking.

Maddox and Emma ran up the beach and onto the deck steps.

Ezra unlocked the door to let them inside.

“You guys are soaking wet,” I said unnecessarily.

“It’s his fault.” Emma poked Maddox in the side.

“Mathias went to get food since someone only stocked us with Diet Pepsi.” Hayes muttered, strolling over with his arms crossed over his chest.

Maddox grinned crookedly and tossed an arm over Emma’s shoulder. “What else does a man need in life, besides the love of a good woman and Diet Pepsi?”

“A hedgehog,” Ezra chuckled.

“How could I forget?” Maddox mock winced.

Hayes sighed, but I knew he was secretly amused. “Why don’t we figure out the sleeping arrangement?” He suggested. “That way we can put all this shi—crap—away.” He pointed to the mountain of suitcases by the stairs and flashed Arden an apologetic smile.

“Sounds good.” Emma clapped her hands together.

We each grabbed a bag and started up the stairs. The same color scheme was carried throughout the large home.

On the second level—or I guess technically it was the third—there were five bedrooms, all with their own bathrooms. There was even a little nook with a chaise lounge and a bookshelf.

Everyone picked a room and that left me. “I guess I’ll take a room upstairs,” I mumbled, heading for the second set of steps.

“Uh,” Ezra interjected, “I will too. I don’t want you to be alone.”

Emma stopped outside a bedroom door with a hand on her hip and a calculating look in her eyes. “Or Sadie could take the extra room down here and you could go upstairs.”

“But then I’m alone,” he countered, “what if I get scared at night? Are you going to come hold my hand, Emma?”

Her lips pressed together as she held in laughter. “Does that mean Sadie is going to hold your hand?” She folded her arms over her chest. She was so on to us. She had been from the start.

“Of course.” He grinned, trying to play everything off as a joke.

Emma finally shrugged. “Whatever.”

The two of us headed up to the second level. There were only three bedrooms up here—and two bathrooms, one room had it’s own and the other was Jack and Jill style. The nook up here was larger and had a baby grand piano and art easel. This place was so incredibly peaceful that I knew I wouldn’t have any trouble unwinding.

The three bedrooms were similar in size, so I picked one based on the view of the beach and the fact that it had a balcony. Ezra chose the room across from me and set his bags inside before joining me in my bedroom.

I opened the French doors and stepped out onto the balcony. I leaned against the railing and he stepped up beside me with his hands shoved into the pockets of his khaki shorts.

“You realize I’ll be sleeping in here, right?” He winked.

I cracked a smile. After the night where he asked me to sleep with him without sex we’d continued the tradition.

“I expected so.”

“I’ve grown so used to the privacy we have at my house that being here with everyone is going to test the limits of my sanity.” He grabbed onto the railing, the last of the blazing sun haloing his body. I itched to lean forward and kiss him, but he wasn’t mine and I couldn’t risk someone catching us.

“I know what you mean,” I agreed.

Ever so slightly he brushed his pinky against mine, and then rested it overtop.

I closed my eyes, treasuring the brief touch.

“Hey, what are you guys doing?”

Maddox.

Ezra’s finger fell away from mine and he whipped around with a smile on his face. “Admiring the view,” he replied.

Maddox stepped outside with us and I noticed he’d changed his clothes to something dry, but his hair was still wet.

“Isn’t this place great?” He grinned. “I couldn’t believe I found it on such short notice.”

I had to admit I was surprised too. Plus, it was nice that the houses on either side were off in the distance. I doubted we’d have to worry about any crazy fans in this neighborhood, homes this big could only be owned by celebrities and CEOs.

“Anyway,” Maddox clapped his hand on Ezra’s shoulder, “I just came to tell you guys that Mathias is back already and I thought you might be hungry.”