Chapter 16

CHAPTER16

“Ilove this house,” Morgan mumbled sadly, only to follow that up with a heartfelt sigh as she pressed her forehead against the window and-

Was that a pond? Morgan found herself wondering as she took in the large backyard below. She was a sucker for a big backyard, Morgan thought with a whimper as she took in the trees below, the old tire swing hanging from the large oak tree next to the barn, a small picket fence that was falling apart surrounding what looked like an old garden, and a fire pit near the large pond bordered by beautiful maple trees and a brief glimpse of that beautiful river that they drove over on the way here.

God, it was so beautiful, Morgan thought as she stood there, taking in every detail, only to go still when she felt Eric’s soft breath teasing the back of her neck seconds before he whispered in her ear, “What are you doing?”

“Making a tactical error by allowing myself to get distracted,” she said, only to force herself to bite back the moan that threatened to break free when his soft chuckle sent goosebumps racing down her spine.

“What do you think?” Eric asked as he moved to lean against the wall next to her, once again making it possible for her to think straight.

“I love it more than life itself,” Morgan whispered reverently as she continued staring out the window, unable to look away from the beautiful sight below.

“Enough to stay here and help me renovate it?” Eric asked, making her bite back a sigh as she reluctantly stepped away from the window and faced the man that was making it really difficult to say no.

“I can’t,” Morgan mumbled hollowly as she stood there, struggling to ignore the horrible paint job, the fact that someone thought it was a good idea to rip out the patio doors that led out onto the balcony right outside this room and replaced it with a construction-grade window, the really horrible gray carpet, and reminded herself that she had a new life waiting for her in Florida.

When she found herself glancing back at the closet door and noting the fact that someone decided to use primer to paint it white, Morgan had to remind herself that she had a job waiting for her, one that she’d already pushed back a week, and-

“You’re really going to leave me during my time of need after everything I’ve been through?” Eric asked as he did his best to look pathetic.

“You must be really upset,” Morgan said, watching as his eyes narrowed on her.

“I’m heartbroken,” Eric drawled.

“I can see that,” Morgan murmured as she pushed her glasses back up her nose.

“You’re not buying this, are you?” Eric asked, watching her curiously.

“I’m really not,” Morgan said with a heartfelt sigh and a sad shake of her head as she looked back out the window and-

Was that a gazebo?

“We don’t have anything on the schedule for a month…” Eric said, letting his words trail off as she struggled to remember why this was a bad idea.

“I can’t,” Morgan mumbled sadly as she allowed herself one last glance at the beautiful backyard that held so much potential before shifting her attention back to the large master bedroom and-

Was that a bathroom?

Yes, it was, Morgan thought, swallowing hard as she found herself trying to get a better look at what promised to be one of her favorite rooms in the house and-

“I’m going to need you to focus,” Eric said, sighing heavily as he picked her up and carried her past the bed that had been set up against the wall and placed her on the edge of the bureau, only to sigh heavily and mutter, “You really are a pain in the ass,” when her gaze found its way back towards the bathroom and what appeared to be the end of a clawfoot bathtub.

“Was that a porcelain sink?” Morgan asked, licking her lips as she leaned to the side to get a better look, only to feel her shoulders drop in defeat when Eric stepped away with a long-suffering sigh and closed the bathroom door.

“Probably,” Eric said, not really sounding all that concerned that she needed a better look as he placed his hands on the bureau on either side of her hips as he moved to stand between her legs. “Now, you were telling me why you can’t stay?”

“I have a lot to do,” Morgan mumbled absently, even as her gaze once again shifted towards that bathroom and found herself wondering if that had been linoleum on the floor.

“So you keep saying,” Eric murmured as she sat there, willing the bathroom door to open so that she could get one more look at that floor and-

Found herself wondering why Eric was suddenly stepping away from her with a forlorn sigh and a sad shake of his head. “Then, I guess we should get going,” he said with a helpless shrug as he made his way back to the bed and grabbed her suitcases that someone, most likely Uncle Jared, had dropped off for her.

“It’s probably for the best,” Morgan murmured in agreement, thankful that he wasn’t making this harder than it had to be as she reluctantly climbed off the bureau and took one last look around, allowing herself a moment to mourn what could have been before she started making her way to the bedroom door.

“Probably,” Eric murmured in agreement as he followed her into the hallway.

“There will be other houses,” Morgan said, even though she knew that there would never be another house like this, not for them and definitely not for her.

“You’re probably right,” came the murmured agreement as Morgan slowly made her way back to the stairs, taking in every detail from the really ugly gray carpet that had to go to the horrible wood paneling that lined the walls and everything in between.

“You could get started on Baker House when we get back,” Morgan suggested as she forced herself to walk past several rooms that she didn’t have the chance to check out earlier.

“That will probably keep me busy for a while,” Eric murmured in agreement as she absently nodded as her attention shifted to the other end of the hallway and to all those doors calling her name and-

This was for the best.

“I’m sure Uncle Jared will be able to find someone else to work on this house,” Morgan said, even though it killed her to say those words, knowing that it should have been them.

“I’m sure he’ll have no problem finding someone else,” Eric murmured in agreement.

“Probably Trevor,” Morgan found herself mumbling sadly as she allowed herself one last look down the hallway before she forced herself to look away and make her way down the stairs, unable to help but notice that the banister needed to be replaced as she focused on all the things that were waiting for her in Florida.

She had a new life waiting for her.

A new job and-

“It would have been nice to work on this house together, but I guess now’s not a good time,” Eric said as they made their way downstairs.

“No, it’s not,” Morgan murmured weakly as she found herself glancing over her shoulder at the small hallway that probably led to-

It didn’t matter where it led, Morgan told herself with a firm nod because she couldn’t stay. She couldn’t. She’d already pushed everything back a week and she couldn’t afford to miss any more time. She had several projects waiting for her in Florida, a new apartment that her very considerate boss had been kind enough to rent to her, and the life that she’d always wanted.

She couldn’t wait to leave, Morgan told herself as she forced herself to head towards the front door and kept reminding herself of all the reasons that she couldn’t stay until finally, she had her hand on the doorknob and, after releasing a shaky breath, nodded to herself, and swallowed hard as she struggled not to look back, she turned the doorknob and-

“It would have been nice to restore the house, but I guess some things just aren’t meant to be,” Eric said, sighing heavily as she found herself nodding numbly as she forced herself to open the door, knowing that this was for the best.

She-

“I was hoping to find that secret room,” Eric said as she forced herself to do what needed to be done.