hand in his. I half expect him to drag me into the master bedroom for a quickie before dinner. Instead, he leads me downstairs and out to the back porch that’s now a welcoming space for entertaining, complete with wet bar and built-in gas grill.
“Where are we going?” I ask as he tugs me down the steps and along the dirt path lined with pebbles.
“I told you. You’ll find out soon.” He beams down at me as we meander around the lake, making our way out to the old horse pasture. A breeze picks up, the chilly fall air refreshing as I inhale a deep breath.
Finally, we come to a stop outside the stables. Wes turns to me, his hand on the door handle. “Ready for your surprise?”
“I’m not sure. I have no idea what this could be.”
“Trust me. You’ll love it.” He places a kiss on my temple, then pushes the door open. A light automatically flicks on, illuminating the huge space.
What was once home to a dozen horse stalls is now one large area, all evidence it was once a stable nowhere to be found. In its place is what I can only describe as a workshop on steroids. The walls are lined with storage cabinets similar to the ones I had installed in the kitchen, the countertops of poured cement in front of a pegboard backsplash.
“I had no idea what kind of stuff you’d want here, so I asked Nash to construct the type of workshop that would give him wet dreams, and he rolled with it.”
“Pretty sure this is the workshop of my wet dreams, too.” I choke out a laugh through my amazement, still taken aback by my surroundings.
This place is easily ten times the size of my current workspace in my garage. I can only imagine the kind of restorations I’ll be able to do now that I’ll no longer be limited by space.
“I don’t think I know what half these saws do, but I can’t wait to find out.”
“You’re a brilliant woman.” He pulls me into his embrace. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”
I shake my head, peering into his vivid azure eyes that are alight with excitement as he studies my reaction. “How did you do this? When did you do this?”
“It was easier than I thought, actually. You know that week you were busy doing that kitchen remodel back in the city?”
I nod.
“We did it then. You were distracted working on that, so you didn’t even notice when we didn’t get together for coffee or lunch. Do you like it?”
“Like it?” I clutch his cheeks in my hands. “I love it.” I cover his mouth with mine, that same charge shooting through me that did the very first time I felt his lips. One I have a feeling I’ll always experience whenever we kiss.
“I love you,” he murmurs. “So much.”
“So much,” I repeat as he steers me back against one of the large workbenches in the middle of the space. When he grabs my ass and places me on the surface in one swift move, I gasp. “And what do you think you’re doing, Mr. Bradford?” I ask coyly, batting my lashes.
His eyes flame as he reaches for my blouse, slowly unbuttoning it. “What I’ve fantasized about since Nash told me this workbench could take a beating and still be standing. I guess I want to test out his claim. You know. Strictly for research purposes.”
“Is that right?” I chew on my lower lip as my blouse falls open, exposing the white, lacy bra underneath. Wes inhales a sharp breath.
“Oh, honeybee.” He traces a line along my face, causing my teeth to chatter. Then he treats me to a soft kiss that leaves me desperate for more. “That’s so right. You are so right.”
He hooks an arm around my waist, lowering my back flush against the workbench. With a devilish glint in his eyes, he unzips each of my knee-high boots and tosses them onto the floor before reaching for the button on my jeans. My breathing increases as he unfastens it, then lowers the zipper, inching them down my legs.
“Now for something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time.” He reaches into the back pocket of his jeans, withdrawing the black eye mask I’d used as a blindfold on him earlier. My gaze widens as I stare at it, my pulse skyrocketing. “If you’re okay with it.”
After what I went through all those years ago, I didn’t think