Chasing Charli - Kat Mizera Page 0,56

will.”

“Thank you. I’m very grateful.”

“Our goal is for this team to be a family,” Laurel said. “And that’s what you do for family.”

A bunch of weird emotions ripped through Charli as she listened.

Family.

Her own experiences were mostly negative. She’d been an only child and her parents had been overprotective and extremely religious. It was like no fun was ever allowed; everything was about chastity and rules and antiquated traditions. Life had been so drab, so strict, she’d fallen hard for the kid from the wrong side of the tracks who lived in a foster home.

He’d been good to her, though. Even now, after the way he’d dumped her, she had fond memories. They’d been young and hormonal, but he’d never pushed her for sex and had bent over backwards to win over her parents, though they’d always hated him. He got a part-time job when he turned sixteen so he could buy a car and start saving some money. His foster family hadn’t cared about him at all, only interested in the money they got from the state every month, so as his eighteenth birthday approached, Charli had been the one encouraging him to join the military.

How different would her life have been had she had a supportive family? Becoming a mom at seventeen wouldn’t have been ideal, but with her parents’ help, she could have done it. Finished college. Become a teacher as planned. Had a life and her little boy too.

For the first time, she felt like she truly had a chance to start over. Even in college she’d never fully trusted Sean and she hadn’t even been surprised when he’d left her at graduation. It was different with Miikka. He was strong and reliable, not the kind of man who’d cut and run when things got tough. Maybe even the kind of man who’d be okay with not having kids or maybe just fostering one. Maybe.

The school year came to a close and Charli had taken a leap of faith—the first in her adult life—by turning down the offer to teach summer school. She didn’t want to be away from Miikka and spending time with him in Finland sounded like fun. Tara wasn’t ready to go back yet, so they weren’t leaving for a few more weeks, but that gave Charli time to pack up her classroom and spend time with Miikka.

They’d finished the master bathroom, completely redoing it, from the tile on the floor to new cabinets and even having a garden-style bathtub installed. It was so pretty, she wanted to sink into the tub all day every day, and Miikka seemed to get a kick out of watching her enjoy it.

“Next we do the kitchen,” he said. “I think new appliances to match the dishwasher, new floors and cabinets, and your favorite—new paint.”

She laughed. “I think you enjoy this renovation stuff more than I do.”

“Yes. I grew up like this, with my father, and it’s fun.”

“So…you’re moving in? Officially?”

“If you want me. It’s like I live here already and Ryder is ready to take my place at the house if you’re sure this is what you want.”

She nodded. “I am. I want you here with me.”

“I want to be here too.” He pulled her close as they stood in the kitchen. Her back was to his front and he kept one arm around her waist as he pointed to the different elements in the room he wanted to change. “I think we should have someone draw up designs to change the kitchen completely so we can have a large refrigerator and ovens in the wall. Maybe even two.”

“Double ovens?” She sighed happily. “You have no idea how much I’ve always wanted them.”

“Yes, I think I have an idea.” He looked up. “Maybe some…upotettu valaistus?”

“Whatever you just said, I don’t think you gave me any flash cards with those words.”

He chuckled. “Lights in ceiling?”

“Oh, recessed lighting? Yes, that would look pretty.”

“What color do you want the walls?”

“Something cheerful… Peach or maybe a pale turquoise?”

He nodded. “And wine rack built into cabinets?”

“Glass doors on the cabinets?” she asked, biting her lip with excitement.

“Yes.”

They talked and planned, making notes in a notebook and looking up a few ideas on her laptop. It was nice having someone to share these things with, to make decisions with, and to enjoy the process with. She’d been on her own so long she hadn’t realized how nice it would be to have someone in her life. In her home. Their home.

“I was