Needing You Close (Tyler & Gemma duet Book 2) Read online

  “Exactly.” I nod as we go to her car.

  After we buckle in, Katie hands me a piece of paper with several addresses written down. I notice one’s a block down from my house. “Oh, I recognize this one. I think an older couple used to live there, and after their kids grew up, they moved to Alaska or something.”

  “Really? So it’s not haunted. Noted.” She snickers as she drives us across town.

  “So how’s the single life?” Last week, I told her all the details of Robert’s and my breakup and how I have zero plans to work it out with him.

  I hold back a grin but fail miserably.

  “Oh, excuse me,” she says all dramatically. “What I should’ve asked was how are you and Tyler?”

  “Good. Actually great, if I’m being honest. We’ve been inseparable, and while we haven’t put a label on it, it feels official. I can’t stop kissing and touching him anytime he’s near. It’s never felt like this with anyone but him.”

  Katie glances at me. “Happiness fits you, Gemma. Have y’all…you know?”

  “No,” I hurry and reply. “Not yet. We’re taking things one day at a time. I appreciate how patient he is, though I’m ready to jump his bones,” I admit, and Katie chuckles.

  “Don’t blame you a bit.” She drives to the end of the cul-de-sac and turns off the car.

  The street is packed with vehicles, and other people are taking the sidewalk that leads to the perfectly landscaped yard. The suburban neighborhood is cute, and I could picture Katie living here.

  “If you’re already like this and you haven’t banged it out, I can only imagine how you’ll be when you finally do.” She waggles her brows, and I snort.

  “If…we do,” I correct, but I know it’s just a matter of time.

  “You might be able to pull that on someone else, but it’s more than obvious how you both feel. Always has been.” We go to the front door and are escorted in by a real estate agent. While the outside of the house is brick with picture-perfect shutters, the inside is a living time capsule. Brown shag carpet and flowered wallpaper are in the main rooms. Katie and I give ourselves a tour, and when we enter the bathroom, the Pepto pink fixtures and tile nearly blinds us.

  She turns to me, her mouth in a firm line. “Okay, this is where I draw the line.”

  “But you can remodel and make it however you want,” I remind her, snickering, but she’s not convinced. The rooms are large, but the ceilings are low, and it all needs work. While I think she could handle it, this place would be a huge undertaking. Before we go, the real estate agent hands her a card.

  “Thank you,” Katie says. “How’s the neighborhood? Are there a lot of children?”

  The woman contemplates as though searching for the correct answer. “Not really. Lots of older people.” She pauses with a smile. “But it’s very quiet, and the crime rate is low,” she adds.

  “Great. Thanks so much,” Katie politely says before we leave. “No, but hell no,” she mumbles when we’re out of the door.

  “We still have four others to see. That’s just the first,” I remind her.

  She nods and laughs. “Hopefully, it gets better. Too bad I don’t have Chip and Joanna with me. They’d be able to help me find a good buy.”

  “Who?” I ask as she cranks the car, then takes off.

  “The Gaines. Fixer Upper! They had a show on HGTV.” She glares at me as though I’ve committed a crime.

  “I don’t watch much cable,” I explain. “Just movies and Hallmark.”

  “There are tons of reruns you can watch. They’re amazing and gave me a lot of inspiration for what I want. I highly recommend it if you have any spare time.” We make our way into an older neighborhood with trees so large they shade the streets. Once she parks, Katie turns to me. “Is this the right address?”

  “Yep, this is it,” I look at the paper and confirm.

  “This house looks creepy, doesn’t it?” She stares at the two-story mansion that hasn’t been touched in decades, the paint chipping and flaking on all the boards. It seems like the kind of house where a villain in Scooby Doo would hide, and I’m kinda scared to go inside.

  “Welp, let’s go find the skeletons in the closet,” I suggest, trying to lighten the mood. I love Halloween, but I’m actually a wussy when it comes to things like this.

  “I’m good.” She nervously laughs. “Totally not that desperate. I’ve watched way too many horror films.”

  I shrug and snort. “Just know, I would’ve walked in and gotten possessed for you.”

  “You’re a true friend.” She snorts. “But I’m too chicken.” Katie sighs, and we continue down the list. The next is on the outskirts of town, so it takes us fifteen minutes to get there. It’s cute and needs a lot of love, but it has potential. An older lady’s selling it and she walks around with us, nearly explaining her life story and why she’s moving. Apparently, her husband passed away and she wants to move closer to her sister in Texas.

  “Not in the house, right?” Katie asks, and my eyeballs nearly bug out of my head.

  “No, but that would’ve been something.” The woman smiles, keeping the conversation lighthearted. “Gonna be real honest with you, honey. This house is adorable, but it’s a damn money pit.”

  “I appreciate the honesty. I’m trying to find a forever home for my son and me. I’m a single mom and want to give him the best life I can,” Katie admits.

  The older woman’s demeanor softens, and I wonder if she’s aware of Katie’s story. Lawton Ridge is small, and news travels fast, but it happened so long ago that many people have forgotten.

  “You’re gonna need to install new plumbing and have gas lines run again. There’s an electrical issue in one of the bedrooms that I’ve never been able to have sorted out. I’m sure it will eventually cause a house fire or at least that’s what my late husband always said, bless his soul. If you’re willing to spend a lot of money, but I wouldn’t feel right letting you buy it without understanding the full picture. My conscience would kill me, and I still have a few good years left in me,” she says, placing her hand on Katie’s shoulder.

  “Thank you,” Katie tells her. “But you’re never gonna sell this house if you keep explaining to people why they shouldn’t buy it.”

  “Oh, I know. Eventually, someone will offer me a price I can’t refuse, then doze it down and rebuild on the lot.” The old woman frowns. “But that’s not here nor there.”

  I give her a sad smile.

  “If you want the house, I’m sure it will still be here,” the woman assures her.

  Katie and I thank her again on our way out.

  “She was really nice.” Katie gives me a half-smile.

  “She was,” I admit. “And honest.”

  “No kidding. Cross that one off. I’m okay with spending money to fix whatever I can, but big issues like that scare me. Electrical. Plumbing. Gas. Those are all huge things. Plus, it needs to be leveled too. She’s right, it’s a money pit, and I appreciate her telling me because I thought it was cute. So, you’ve seen Tyler every night this week?” She quickly changes the subject.

  Just hearing his name gives me heart palpitations. “Yep, since last week. He’s been so helpful and actually listens when I talk. Prepares the most delicious dinners ever. I swear I’ll finally be able to gain that twenty pounds I’ve always wanted if he keeps this up. We talk about everything and don’t hold back on anything. Last weekend, we went to visit Noah, and it was like a dream.”

  Katie snaps her eyes to mine and I swallow hard. “Wait, he saw Noah?”

  I hate that I stupidly slipped and mentioned him. “Yeah, we did. I only asked Tyler to join me because Robert always refused. I wanted Tyler to talk to him about life after prison, so Noah could have some idea what to expect, “I explain, and the mood turns sour. “I’m sorry, Katie.”

  “It’s okay. I’d go with you, but your brother is such an asshole, he refuses to let me visit. It’s ridiculous. Fuck him.” She grabs the steering wheel
tighter and exhales. “But I’m glad Tyler went with you. That’s really nice of him. We talked about Noah at the bar that night after the double date. I explained everything, how Noah refused to see me, and the way it all made me feel. Tyler actually made me understand the situation from Noah’s perspective a little more, but I’m still pissed. If your brother knows what’s good for him, he better never ever, ever reach out to me. Not after how he cut me off when I needed him the most.”

  “I’m not sure if I should warn him or just allow him to get his ass kicked by you if he gets brave. And I completely understand.”

  Katie clenches her jaw. “He deserves it after what he did to me and the way he made me feel. While he might be behind bars, the loneliness I’ve experienced is more like being in prison than anything he’s experienced.”

  I go quiet, not really sure what to say, so I quickly change the subject. “So...only two more on the list.”

  “Yep! I kinda get why everyone has warned me away from a fixer-upper. But I’m determined,” she says with a smile, and we turn down a gravel road. The houses are spread far apart, and the lots are acres large. We continue driving until we come up on a large brick house.

  “Better get a tractor for this one,” I say, noticing the vastness.

  “Geez, you’re right. I didn’t realize this was a whole farm.” She glances around, and I see a wooden barn in the back. I start laughing and can’t seem to stop, and when Katie joins in, we’re like silly teenagers again tickled to death over nothing. A guy in overalls shows us around, and I can tell Katie doesn’t care for the layout. Considering she’s already got enough on her plate with working full-time and raising Owen, I don’t see her adding farmer to her list of things to do in life anytime soon.

  “Okay, last one.” She lets out a long sigh once we thank the guy and head out. “I hope this one doesn’t suck, or I’ll be renting for forever.”

  “Well, considering it’s down the street from me, it’s already promising,” I try to encourage her. “And as I said, there are a ton of kids Owen’s age in the neighborhood. I see them riding their bikes and fishing in the creek. They seem friendly and always wave when I pass them. Plus, Dad has them decorating a scarecrow for the Harvest Festival or something. And they’ll mow your grass for twenty bucks.”

  “That’s awesome!” Her tone is hopeful.

  “They’re good kids,” I assure.

  It doesn’t take long before we’re slowing in front of the two-story farmhouse. The outside needs some updating but has potential, and it doesn’t look haunted either.

  “Ready?” I ask, reaching for the handle, and she nods.

  We take the wooden steps that lead to the wraparound porch. The door is open, so we let ourselves inside.

  “Hello?” Katie studies the tall ceilings. There’s a formal dining area and a gigantic living room with huge windows that oversee the fenced-in backyard. Some of the floorboards are soft, so those will need to be replaced.

  “Just up here,” a woman shouts. Katie and I take the stairs and find the seller. She’s in her mid-fifties with strands of gray mixed in with her jet black hair.

  “Hi,” she offers, holding out her hand. “I’m Aurora. Welcome. Feel free to wander around. Also, I’m accepting any and all offers.”

  Katie thanks her, and we take our time walking through every room on the top floor. “The closets are huge!” Katie’s voice is a tone higher, and I can tell she likes the place. Not one of the others had her so jazzed.

  “There are enough rooms in this house to give Owen a few brothers and sisters,” I say, waggling my eyebrows.

  “Artificial insemination is becoming more popular. Otherwise, it might be an immaculate conception.” She shrugs.

  We go downstairs and check out the kitchen, which is bigger than my entire cottage. The counter space alone is enough to prepare a feast for twenty on. The walls need painted and flooring redone, along with the appliances and bathroom fixtures being replaced too. But other than that, it seems like a solid house. With some TLC and elbow grease, it would be stunning.

  “I really like this place.” Katie looks at me and smiles wide. “It does need a lot of work, though.”

  “That’s true, but this might be your forever home, remember? You just have to decide if you love it enough to live here forever. After it’s fixed up, it will be gorgeous,” I admit, seeing why Katie would adore it. “Like something out of a magazine.”

  “Yeah, totally!” I can sense the excitement in her tone.

  “Sleep on it for a few days. Make sure not to jump into anything you might regret. Meanwhile, do some research on the property,” I suggest, loving how happy she is.

  “Yes!” She grabs her phone from her back pocket and snaps a few shots of the downstairs area. Aurora meets us at the edge of the staircase and gives Katie her personal number to call if she has any questions.

  “Have you had any offers yet?” Katie bravely asks.

  “Not yet! But I don’t think it will last too long. There have been a few people who seemed interested, but we’ll see.” She tucks her hair behind her ears. “Thanks for checking it out.”

  “Yeah, it’s a great house,” Katie admits, taking one last look before we go outside. She’s nearly giddy when we drive away. “This one gives me a good vibe.”

  “I felt it too!” I say. “Plus, you’d be close to the cottage. It would be fun!”

  She agrees. “Wanna do lunch?”

  “Sure! I could go for a turkey wrap from the cafe.”

  A few minutes later, we’re parking on the street in town. Belinda greets us with a big laugh when we enter. “Come in, sit, sit,” she says, then she looks at me. “The usual?”

  “Yes ma’am.” I nod.

  “And I’ll have what she’s having,” Katie adds.

  Moments later, Belinda returns with two sweet teas.

  Katie’s giddy about the last house. It’s going to be a lot of work, but if anyone can handle it, she can.

  It takes less than five minutes before our wraps are delivered, which is good because I’m starving.

  “Did any of the other places really speak to you?” I ask, taking a bite.

  “Not really. I need to keep my eyes open for more in the area, just to make sure.”

  “Absolutely, there’s no need to rush. And honestly, that house has been there for a while, so I don’t think it’s going anywhere fast. You’ve got time.”

  This seems to please her. “Gotta lot of thinking to do.”

  “That’s for sure. But you’ll make the right decision for you and Noah. Though I selfishly want you close, I know something better might pop up.”

  “Thanks, Gemma. I appreciate you joining me today,” she says as we finish eating. “I would’ve been a nervous wreck going alone.”

  “If you would’ve invited anyone else, I’d have been mad at you. I love this kind of stuff,” I admit. We pay, leaving Belinda a fat tip, then head back to Katie’s house. We exchange hugs and say our goodbyes.

  On the way to the cottage, I can’t help but think of how much of an asshole Robert is. He’s known Katie was searching for a while and refused to help because he was too busy. Though I know Katie’s extremely independent and would probably rather handle this herself without the help of a man. That’s just how she is or rather, how she’s learned to be over the years.

  I can’t believe it’s already the middle of the week. It seems like I blink and the time just passes me by. Though I can’t complain because the view of Tyler is a nice one to have. All it takes is a single glance and a smirk and I’m putty in his hands. It’s more than infatuation and never in my life did I think this is where we’d be. I honestly thought it was over between us.

  Sometimes, it takes the long road for people to get together, and destiny doesn’t allow love like we have to be wasted. Even though it was a beautiful mess to get here, it’s a journey I don’t regret.

  After lunch, the florist delivers a pot mixed with purple and pink morni
ng glories. My eyes go wide and my hand shakes when I open the note attached.

  Because they’re your favorite and you’re my favorite.

  -Tyler

  My heart melts as I read the letter, and I want to burst through the garage doors and wrap my arms around his neck and kiss the hell out of him, but I refrain. I’m sure my dad doesn’t want a show. My emotions tend to get the best of me, though, and I push it to the side.

  An hour passes and Tyler comes in and hands me a pair of keys. His fingers brush against mine, and butterflies flutter in my stomach. As he leans against the counter, he smirks.

  “Flowers?” He laughs, pretending like they’re not from him.

  “Thank you,” I whisper. “I love them so much. And I love how thoughtful you were to get me my favorite. Plus, they won’t die. I’ll plant them in my mother’s flower garden.” I recall the moment Tyler walked into my bedroom to see the painting he remembered from my letters. These look identical to the art my mother created.

  He swallows hard when tears brim on the edge of my eyes. Tyler reaches out and grabs my hand and squeezes it, being so damn gentle with me. Something I’m not used to after being with Robert. Instead of being pushed to the side, Tyler puts me first, which is a huge change that I’m adjusting to.

  “What are your plans tonight?” Tyler asks.

  “Spending time with you,” I whisper.

  “That’s the correct answer,” he quips with a wink, then goes outside. He’s trying not to spend too much time with me during our shifts so my dad doesn’t get suspicious. I haven’t told him about me and Tyler yet, and I’d like to keep it to myself for a little while longer.

  After my day is over and Dad tells me goodbye, Tyler comes to me, pressing his body and lips against mine. I’m desperate and needy for him, though we still haven’t crossed that line yet. When we finally break apart, I’m breathless, and my head is swimming, drunk from him. I’m convinced Tyler feels it too.

  “I need to go home and take a shower first,” he mumbles.