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“I thought you wanted more than one permanent building?”
“I did, initially, but we’re making the main building two-story and there will be enough space for a couple of tiny studio apartments on the second level. I decided I want to keep the Airstream as my office, separate from everything else. I can always change my mind later, with all the extra space here.” I gestured around. My property extended beyond what we could see here, because a lot of it was covered with woods, not that it was a large property whatsoever.
Keegan visualized everything, then asked, “What do you think about a sort of a solarium and combined greenhouse?”
I perked up. “Oh, tell me more.”
We started to walk toward the back of the property while he explained his idea. “You want more chill spaces, right? So why not build a central solarium but one where maybe there’s a fire pit on one side or right outside it with a seating area, but then a more cozy spot for whatever working or reading someone might want to do, right? And then we could put in all kinds of plants there, maybe even something edible, but we could just have an extension to it that would look similar, but act as a greenhouse. That way it wouldn’t be too humid or hot in the solarium, but it’d all be cohesive and more multipurpose kind of building.”
I tried to imagine it in my head, and could see what he meant. “That was one of my concerns, actually. Obviously there’s going to be a common area in the recording studio and a couple of those private spaces for anyone who wants to stay over, but what if someone doesn’t want to say, work on writing songs in their room and the living room is occupied.”
Kee grinned. “That was what I was thinking! And a fire pit is a prime jamming together setting, but maybe we don’t want it indoors, although I can totally make that happen too in a way that doesn’t bother any plants.”
“You know money isn’t an issue, so what do you think about a black framed building? Kind of a Victorian style one? Not as elaborate, of course, but a round central space with a high ceiling?”
“I really like that!” He took some notes on his phone and added almost absently, “I’m pretty sure I just saw a website a while back of some company that makes those….” He lifted his head and asked, “Right here? It’s the flattest and kind of in the middle of the empty space?”
“Yeah, but I had this other idea. So, I’ve been thinking about what we’ve talked about the local flora and stuff. Since there’s so much space left whatever I do, even if I expand the paddock on that side or hell, build a small stable if that’s needed down the line, there’s still all that space back there.” I gestured toward the edge of the woods in the very back. “If we get Judson to check everything out, do you think that’d be a good spot for a big flower field?”
Keegan let out a delighted laugh and hugged me from the side. “That would work perfectly. That’s a great idea!”
“Pollinators, I remember,” I said, sticking my tongue out at him, because he’d gotten a bit ranty about the subject once. As a plant guy, I couldn’t blame him. “I bet Fern would love to use some of the flowers for decoration too,” I added.
“Absolutely! We’ll figure that out for next summer for sure. It will take a couple of years to really establish something good, but we can find some local plants that will thrive here, and she can even market that as a selling point for any centerpieces and such.”
“I mean there were some wildflowers around here before it got cold, so I’m sure with proper help, we can make a lot happen.” I clapped my hands. “Excellent.” I wanted to do as much as I could for the Harringtons. They were my family.
As if echoing my thought, Kee said, “Bodhi really needs to marry you. We’re so keeping you either way, but someone needs to lock you down.”
I threw back my head and laughed. “Well, Gemma did offer, you know.”
“As if Bodhi would let that happen.” He smiled at me. “I’m happy for you both, by the way. Judson and I both are. Just in case that needed saying.”
It didn’t, really, because everyone had just settled into this new reality with us like it had always been coming, but I still appreciated it.
“Thank you. It’s… a little unbelievable still.”
He smiled. “You better believe it, superstar.”
I snorted and pushed him, and then his phone rang and he said he needed to take it, so I wandered back to the ponies with Nyx in tow.
Jenn had told me that Aria especially was curious about them, but that the four oldest boys—which didn’t mean much, when the twins were toddlers—were getting interested, too. I wouldn’t be surprised if one day she’d appear with a van full of kids to see them.
There still was no news of where they might’ve come from, but I hadn’t expected much anyway. For now, they looked happy, and once they were out of quarantine, they’d be the ranch’s problem and not mine.
No matter what their past was, they’d lucked the fuck out, just like I had once upon a time.
“The Harringtons will take care of y’all,” I murmured as I scratched the top of Nyx’s head.
Chapter 21
Bodhi
Waking up with Wren in my arms for the past two mornings had been everything I’d expected. I knew he was a cuddler by nature, he’d always been affectionate and touchy, but I hadn’t really thought he’d go full on octopus. He’d settled best when I was wrapped around him, but every time I moved, he’d adjusted too, so that we were always touching.
Needless to say I loved every second of it.
But even more than that, was now, us together on my couch binge watching a new show as the night wore on, him draped over me as though he was comfortable to be there. As though he himself felt he belonged there. This is what I wanted every night for the rest of our lives, and I was bound and determined to have it.
