by Ava Walsh
“Okay. It’s so close to Jane’s that I could walk,” Lauren said. Right now, Adam picked up Cole every day while Lauren used the truck. Cole took the truck only when he needed it, in which case Jane picked Lauren up in her car. Lauren didn’t see a need to have her own vehicle yet since it worked out perfectly.
“That’s my thought,” Cole agreed as she looked closer at the property in the brochure. It was a beautiful yellow house with a lot of windows and a big porch that they could sit on at night. Lauren envisioned a table and comfortable chairs and even a large bistro table that they could sit at with their friends.
“I like it,” Lauren said in admiration. Cole squeezed her hand. “I think that we could settle in there well.”
They made their way to the cottage and brought up the idea to their friends, who were all for it. They had seen the inside before, and Jane told them how spacious and gorgeous it was.
She and Lauren discussed turning one room into office for them while Cole argued for a small personal gym. He worked a lot of hours and didn’t have time to go to the gym, but the girls told him that his job was a workout in itself.
Cole then brought up the idea of rooms for their kids and Lauren blushed. “Talk to them about a bigger house. We’re not even married yet!” she told him as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
“We’re staying here for the time being,” Jane insisted. She looked around the living room fondly. “It’s three bedrooms, and unless we have triplets, we’ll be good for a while.”
“Don’t even say it,” Adam warned her and Jane laughed.
“It’s not in the genes, and we’re going natural,” Jane reminded him. “If we have trouble, I’m not going to do anything crazy. I don’t want multiples.”
“No trouble, sweetie,” Adam said. He sipped his beer and looked at Jane. They had talked for a bit longer before Cole took Lauren home for the night and they fell into bed with a long hungry kiss.
“So, you want to fill the rooms with babies?” Lauren asked him, straddling his naked body and taking him inside of her.
“Hell, yes. I want a football team,” Cole teased her, clutching her hips. “I want some girls that look like you and boys that look like me to protect them.”
“Neanderthal,” Lauren moaned as she rode him harder to find her release. “Oh, Cole. You feel so good.”
“So close,” Cole groaned as he lifted his hips and drove himself inside of her. They came together as Lauren stilled and let him jerk his body inside of her before he dropped to the mattress and moaned. Lauren fell beside him and smiled as they rested together. “I love you.”
“I love you.”
They fell asleep with the cat curled up behind Lauren, sleeping deeply until the alarm went off. Cole kissed her and got up to shower before he dressed in his worn jeans and shirt. He kissed Lauren again and reminded her that they were going to look at the house later that day. She mumbled something and curled back up.
An hour later, Lauren woke up with a start. She’d been dreaming of her dad. She got up and made some coffee before dressing to go to Jane’s house. Blue knew by now that he went with her and waited by the door. Most people didn’t have the kind of cats that they could tote around with them, but Blue was different. Plus, he loved Rocky.
They sat and worked at the table and Lauren occasionally looked over to the yellow house. Two years ago, if someone had told her that she’d be in a relationship and shopping for a home today, Lauren would’ve laughed at them. She would say that she’d stay with her daddy until the day she met Mr. Right, which was never going to happen in her mind even back then.
How things change.
They made a roasted chicken for lunch since the showing was at dinnertime. Jane and Adam were going to come with them because Jane was so excited about the prospect of them living within walking distance. She’d gone on and on about it, already decorating the house in her mind, not realizing that Lauren hadn’t even seen the house yet.
Cole walked in to eat and kissed Lauren first thing before sitting down at the table. Adam did the same to his wife. The guys were rebuilding a part of a barn that the wind had torn down and they looked tired as they sipped their tea and took slow bites of the food. “Are you up for the showing tonight?” Lauren asked Cole. He nodded. “Yeah, a few guys are out today so we’re doing most of the work is all. I’m excited about seeing the house. It works well with our numbers.” Lauren had told him about the small amount of money that her father left her, wanting to use it as a down payment if they found something that they liked. With that amount, they’d have an easy payment and could keep working like they were right now. She was even willing to take on more clients for her freelance work if needed.
The guys went back to work as the girls returned to the table to work. Lauren kept looking at the house, and Jane noticed with a smile. “Excited?”
“Very. I never thought I’d have a future like this, Jane. I have so much hope for everything, and it outweighs the fear by far,” Lauren admitted.
“I understand,” Jane agreed with her. “I was scared when I moved in with Adam, especially when we decided to get married.” She laughed. “I think I had cold feet for a second, but it’s all good. We’re great and planning a future.”
“We both are,” Lauren agreed. They smiled at each other and laughed.
Chapter Twelve
The guys got home just in time for the showing. They secured the animals and went over to meet the realtor, Bridget. She was a friendly woman with blonde hair and bright green eyes. She shook hands with everyone and told them to go in inside, saying she’d meet them in a bit. Lauren expected her to follow along and try to sell the home with talk of kitchens and powder rooms. This was so much better. She grabbed Cole’s hand and tugged him inside.
The house didn’t need selling. It had a big living room, which was attached to a chef’s kitchen that could easily hold the group and have room left over. Tons of windows offered a lot of light and Lauren smiled as she looked around the empty rooms. It was already perfect.
The bedrooms were all located off the main room down two hallways and felt private. The master bedroom was big with a great bathroom that offered a shower as well as a bath. The other rooms were sizable enough to work with.
Everything was tastefully updated just as advertised, with granite counter tops in the kitchen and freshly painted walls throughout the house. The colors were pretty without being gaudy, brightening the home immensely.
They all looked at each other with bright eyes. Bridget walked inside, smiling at them and clicking across the hardwood floors on her black heels. “What did you think of it?” she asked.
Lauren’s eyes scanned Cole’s face, trying to read it. Please love it.
“I think it’s great,” Cole said, and Lauren walked over to hug him tightly. “For the price, we can’t get much better, and it’s ready to move in. Baby, I take it you agree?” He held Lauren tightly, and she laughed, nodding at him.
“I think it’s beautiful!” Lauren said, and Bridget giggled. “Can we buy it, Cole?”
“I told you that my place was small and that I’d give you something better, Lauren. Of course, we can.” Cole kissed her, and Bridget excused herself to go to the car to get the paperwork.
“Oh my God. I’m so excited!” Jane exclaimed and she hugged them. “This is going to be yours!”
“Assuming the offer goes through,” Cole reminded her. He pulled back to look at his girlfriend. “It’s priced well. Should we offer that, baby?”
“I don’t know too much about that, Cole. Do you?” Lauren asked, staring up at him with startled eyes.
“I think this house is a fantastic price for what it offers. I like that idea, Cole,” Bridget said from the door, making all of them jump. “I always tell people to offer low these days, but this house will be snatched up if you don’t fight. It’s too pretty not to.”
While Cole and Bridget figured out the offer, Lauren walked into the generous b
ackyard. It had room for a lot of growth. It also offered a view of the rolling hills that she’d grown to love. She turned to look at the house behind her and crossed her arms over her chest, smiling.
This was real.
She walked back inside where Bridget stood smiling at the counter, looking over the paperwork. “I hope to have good news for you kids soon. This is a firm offer, and I think that it will get accepted.”
“Sounds good, ma’am. Thank you,” Cole shook her hand firmly, and hugged Lauren as everyone laughed. They left the house and Lauren felt the warmth spreading through her body. Could Dad see her here, making such a big choice for her future with the man she loved?
They went back to the cottage and made a salad for dinner. They looked at each other across the table. “I think you’ll get it. I feel it,” Jane said, breaking the silence in the room. Lauren laughed nervously.
“I think I do, too. I just don’t want to get too excited,” Lauren admitted, sipping her water. She’d seen those home shows where the dreams of homeowners were crushed by an offer that was either denied or lower than another one. It was a tough game to play, but she could do this with Cole. They’d find something that worked for them.
They went home with Blue in tow and Cole unlocked the door to lead them inside. He looked around and smiled. “I have lived here for years, but it never felt like a home until you were here with me. I’m ready to build another home with you now, Lauren.” He turned to look at her. She set Blue down and rushed into his arms.
“Do you love me enough to do this?” Her voice was shaking. He stroked her back and ran a hand through her hair.
“Hell, yes. I love you more than anything,” Cole assured her, staring down at her. “What do you need me to say so that you’ll believe it?”
“Just kiss me,” Lauren pleaded. She lifted her lips to his. Cole claimed her mouth with his. He held her tightly and pressed his body against hers. They made their way back to the bedroom where he undressed her roughly and pushed her onto the bed to stare at her. “Don’t stop,” she managed to say.
Cole made love to her slow and hard. Lauren cried in his arms, kissing him in between gasps. He came right before she did and Lauren tightened around him as she followed suite with a scream of his name.
At that moment, just before she dozed off, Lauren didn’t care if they got the yellow house. She’d live in a cardboard box with Cole, not that he’d ever let that happen. They had everything they needed here, and she could stay here until their future fell into place.
Chapter Thirteen
A month later, escrow was finally closing on the yellow house thanks to some red tape at the bank. Cole and Lauren had packed slowly and been okay with it, because they knew the house was going to be theirs. They would be all moved in just in time to decorate for Halloween and Thanksgiving. Lauren and Jane shopped for the holidays every week. Apart from that, they worked hard on their projects and kept earning money that they put in the bank.
Lauren and Cole’s new house had prompted Jane to start wondering about her own future, not that she’d move away from Lauren so quickly. They’d wait until something went up for sale in the same neighborhood and until that time would stay in their cottage.
Jane and Adam helped Lauren and Cole move the things that they were keeping and shop for what they planned on buying. The house was considerably bigger than their old one and would need a few new pieces. Since Cole was living on old kitchen supplies when Lauren met him, they would also need new pots and pans. The girls took it a little further and got some new appliances too. Cole knew how hard Lauren worked and spending a few extra bucks on the house wasn’t a big deal.
The weekend they moved in was a big one. A few of the guys from the ranch helped, and the house was set up within a day, at least for the most part. The men moved the furniture and Lauren and Jane unpacked the boxes.
The work lasted late into the night. When it was finally time for bed, Cole and Lauren released Blue from the master bath to wander his new home and they collapsed on the bed. The bed was made and ready, and felt so good after their hard work. Lauren closed her eyes and pressed against Cole. “We’re in our house,” she murmured, smiling against his bare chest.
“I knew this was ours when we walked in the door,” Cole replied. He inhaled her scent and moved closer. “Are you happy, Lauren?”
“I’m exhausted, but thrilled beyond belief,” Lauren replied. They heard a cat meowing somewhere in the living room. “Oh, Blue. Sounds like he loves it here, too. There’s so much more space here, isn’t there?” There were just over fifteen hundred more square feet here, and it might take the cat some time to adjust. It would take them all time to get accustomed to things.
Sunday was spent cleaning up and ordering pizza. They ate outside and started planning out the backyard. Cole managed to get to bed early while Lauren finished organizing the kitchen before bed.
She walked down the hallway to climb into bed with him, finding him awake and ready for her. “Hey. What are you doing awake?” she asked him, pressing a kiss to his lips.
“Waiting for you, baby. I’m scared all alone in this big house,” Cole teased her. He found her lips with his. They moved together so he was pressed between her thighs. He kissed down her neck and chest and told her that he loved her. He took her with one slow thrust as Lauren arched her back and closed her eyes.
This was home. This was perfection.
They settled in over the next few weeks, able to host Thanksgiving at their place for Cole’s family. Jane and Adam also stopped by in their rush of visits to family. It was a beautiful day, and while Lauren missed her father, she knew that he was watching over her.
She went to sleep that night happy, safely in Cole’s arms.
December came around quickly, and Jane and Lauren got busy decorating both houses around their schedules. They kept the guys sane in between all of the green and red that surrounded them and that tormented the animals. Someone was always telling Blue to get out of the tree and Rocky to stop eating whatever was on the floor, but they learned a lot about how to deal with pets during the holiday season in the process.
Cole even brought a puppy home for Lauren just before the holiday, a big Burmese mountain dog that made her cry when she hugged it. They had a secure fence in the backyard, and there was no way Midori would get out of it, so she had a lot of room to run. Despite being far bigger than Blue, the two got along well and even slept together sometimes on one of the big dog beds in the house. Rocky was also a welcome part of the family, and the friends kept up the habit of going from house to house with them so they could play.
Christmas Eve was spent going to see Christmas lights around town, bundled up warmly with coffee while they took in the bright, colorful decorations. Lauren held Cole’s hand and noticed that Jane and Adam were close all night and adorably cute. They went back to the yellow house afterwards. They made fresh coffee and ate cookies as they sat around the fireplace in the living room. Adam smiled at Jane and held her hand as he looked at their friends. “We’re not going to tell anyone else for a few weeks yet, but we found out that Jane is pregnant. It’s early, just weeks in but she needed to tell someone.”
“Oh my God!” Lauren crossed the room to hug her friend and they danced around the room. “Are you even supposed to do that? Jane, I’m so excited!”
“At this stage in the game, it’s a gimme. I am just going to live as I would and take each day as it comes. There’s no history in my or Adam’s family of miscarriage, so I think it will be fine.” She grinned. “We might start looking for a house too in the new year. We’ll need you guys more than ever.”
Cole locked the door after they left and looked at Lauren. She shook her head and cried. “I’m sorry. I’m just so happy for them.”
“Me too, baby.” Cole pressed his lips together and stepped towards the tree that Blue had managed to leave alone after a lot of yelling. It was the only light now in the living room, and he extended his hand to her
as he looked at her. “Come here.”
“Sure. Are you okay?” Lauren asked. She walked over and took his hand in hers.
“I’m perfect,” Cole told her. He paused by the tree for a moment, then dropped slowly to one knee. He stared up at Lauren and she covered her mouth, gasping. “I have taken a lot of steps with you, Lauren. I have fallen more in love with you every day and now that we’re in this house, our house, I am not going to wait any longer. Will you marry me?”
“Cole, you know how to make an amazing night even better,” she chided him, wiping tears from her eyes and smiling. “Yes. You know I will. You’re all I want.”
Lauren moved to join him on the floor and they kissed for several moments. Once they came up for air, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a dark velvet box. Lauren watched breathlessly. Cole pulled out a lovely band of diamonds with a small but beautiful stone set in the center and slid it on her left hand. Lauren started to cry all over again. “I love you.”
“I love you,” she replied and grabbed him to kiss him again.
After they had made love that night, Lauren went to use the bathroom and glanced out of the high window. She dried her hands off, careful with her ring. A star shot across the clear sky and Lauren felt tears in her eyes, feeling her father ‘s presence fill the room. He knew everything, and she felt his approval.
Chapter Fourteen
The following morning, Lauren and Cole went over to Jane and Adam’s for a Christmas brunch and announced their news. It met with tears from Jane and hugs from Adam. Then they went over to Cole’s family and told his parents and brother. Lauren’s mother-in-law Janice asked her what kind of wedding she wanted.
“I liked Jane and Adam’s at the barn. It had everyone there, not that I know all of those people myself but it felt big and intimate at the same time,” Lauren replied cautiously, glancing at Cole.
“I don’t want anything big, just our friends and family,” Cole told them, holding her hand on the couch. He had a few aunts and uncles that he was close to but his grandparents had been gone for a few years now. Lauren had Jane and Adam and now, Cole’s family.