Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 88060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88060 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
I slowly shook my head. “Do you have the designs for the kitchen?”
His cheeks turned pink. “I was kind of hoping to get your input on it.”
Surprised, I asked, “Mine?”
He nodded. “Aurora, I know we’ve only been dating a few months, but when I look at this house, I see us. You. Me. Winnie. And if we’re lucky, maybe another baby or two.”
Tears stung at the back of my eyes. “Oh, Liam.”
Leaning down, he brushed his lips against mine. “There’s more on the second floor.”
Laughing, I wiped a tear away. “More?”
“This area over here was a small eat-in kitchen, and if you go through here another living room and a room that can be a guest room or an office.”
We walked up the grand staircase and I marveled at the beautiful original oak banister.
“There are four bedrooms and four bathrooms up here. One is only a half bathroom.”
He stopped. “Close your eyes, this is your surprise.”
A bubble of excited laughter came out. “I thought the house was my surprise.”
The feel of his warm breath against my ear caused my body to shiver. “I have a few surprises for you.”
I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. Squeezing my eyes shut, I said, “Show me the next one!”
Liam guided me into a room. My boots alerted me to the wood floors.
“Open your eyes, Aurora.”
I slowly peeked open and felt my body sway as I took in the massive room with its floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.
“Oh my gosh!” I covered my mouth with my hands and turned in a circle. Each wall was covered in bookshelves, except the back wall, which also featured a beautiful floor-to-ceiling window with a view of Moose Lake.
“There are ladders?” I said, my voice cracking from my attempt to hold back the tears.
“The wood is red oak. The books came with the house, and I told everyone to leave them alone until I showed you the room. My father said that some of them might be worth something, and that each book should be carefully reviewed. He remodeled a house once, and the previous owners stuffed money between the pages.”
I turned and looked at him, laughing. “Are you serious?”
“Dead serious. The new owners ended up with enough money to completely have the bookcases refinished and restored to how they were when they were first put into the house.”
With a slow shake of my head, I walked up and read some of the titles. “This is amazing, Liam. All of these books.”
“I wasn’t sure if you knew anyone who would be willing to go through them and at least make sure there weren’t any that might be of any value.”
Turning, I smiled at him. “That would be me!”
When he smiled in return, I wanted to run and jump into his arms. I wasn’t sure he knew how giving me a room full of books was the best gift I’d ever received. But couple it with ladders and I was so in love with this man.
“We can explore the library later; I want to show you the rest of the house, and there is something out back as well.”
After showing me the bedrooms and bathrooms, we made our way up to the third floor. It was huge.
“I thought maybe a play area for Winnie, and over on this side we can make an office for you.”
I spun and faced him. “For me?”
He shrugged. “Yeah. For you.”
Making my way over to him, I wrapped my arms around his neck and looked up into those deep brown eyes of his. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy. Well, not since I became the owner of The Book Nook anyway.”
He winked. “One more surprise.”
Taking my hand in his, we made our way back down the steps and through the back door. Liam was practically pulling my arm out of its socket, and he clearly hadn’t remembered it was cold outside because he hadn’t even give me time to grab my coat.
“Wow!” I said as we walked out the back door and into a large open area of the backyard. Before me was a beautiful gazebo. It was decorated with swags of greenery that swept down all the way around. A chandelier hung down from the middle, and standing there were Winnie and my parents.
Confused, I looked at Liam. “How did…where is…what is going on?”
He squeezed my hand, and we made our way down a sidewalk that had been recently shoveled.
“I was hoping you would be so enthralled with the house you wouldn’t look out any of the windows,” Liam said with a nervous laugh.
I stepped up into the gazebo and hugged my mother, then my father. “I thought you guys were skiing!”
They both laughed. “A little white lie.”
“How did you get Winnie when Jake and Opal came for her?” I asked, bending down and hugging her tightly as I looked up at my parents and Liam. “I’m so confused right now.”