“Just a ways up.”

   She sat forward in her seat, anxious for the first look at Cole’s childhood home. “Seeing this,” she said, “I understand why you didn’t want a penthouse in the city. All the space. You don’t even have very many neighbors.”

   There were a few small houses scattered here and there, but nothing particularly close to the estate they were pulling up to. Cole turned a curve and a massive dwelling came into view.

   “Oh wow.” She had no other words. Nothing to describe her amazement at what she saw. “House” didn’t do the structure justice. It was much larger than anything she had imagined.

   “I remember it being much bigger,” Cole said.

   “Are you serious? Bigger than that?”

   “I was a child the last time I saw it and looked at it with a child’s point of view.”

   “I guess that makes sense.” She observed him, watching for any emotion. He never spoke much about his childhood. She’d only heard bits and pieces from him.

   He caught her staring. “Why are you looking at me like that, little one?”

   “I’m not sure if you’re happy or sad to be here.”

   They’d made it to the front of the house, and even though she couldn’t wait to get out and explore the house and grounds, at the moment she was concerned only with the man at her side.

   He parked the car, turned in his seat, and took her hand. “You’re with me, which automatically means I’m happy. The location doesn’t matter.”

   “Just wanting to know if I should be prepared to slay dragons for you this week.”

   “Little one. Don’t you know?” He brought her hand to his lips for a quick kiss. “You already have.”

Chapter Three

   The next afternoon, Sasha stared out the window in the morning room. She thought that was a silly name, morning room. Did that mean you couldn’t use it after lunch? Why wasn’t there an afternoon room or an evening room? English people were funny.

   “What’s the smile for, little one?”

   She jumped at the sound of Cole’s voice. He strolled into the room, hands in his pockets, looking at her with that look. The one that said without words that he wanted to tie her up and do wicked, wicked things to her.

   She dropped to her knees. “I was thinking about how impractical it is to have a room you use only in the morning.”

   He dug his fingers into her hair and she moaned at how good his touch felt. “I suppose it is a bit impractical. Stand up and walk with me outside.”

   She scurried to her feet. She’d been looking forward to exploring the grounds of his childhood home. He held out a hand and, with their fingers entwined, they made their way out the door.

   They’d explored the inside yesterday and everyone else was scheduled to arrive tomorrow. Even though she was excited to see her friends, she was glad to have a couple of days alone with Cole.

   They made their way past the rose garden and maze to a large expanse of open field.

   “When I was a boy, there were sheep here,” he said. “I was a bloody terror, running around, playing viking warrior.”

   Sasha looked over the field and in her mind’s eye, she could picture it: a four- or five-year-old Cole. He would have run across the grassy meadow, short, stocky legs pumping as hard as they could while he charged at the sheep. And in her mind, he held a stick as a sword. The image made her smile.

   “Looking back now, it’s easy to see why my parents only had me. I was a handful and a half.”

   “I can picture bits of it in my head, but honestly, I have a hard time seeing you as a child.”

   He grinned at her and put his arm around her shoulders. “I’ll have to see if Mum has pictures.”

   “Is she coming?” She’d yet to meet his mother. Of course, he hadn’t met her parents, either, but they had invited her brother over for dinner once.

   “Here? No, I think she’s in Italy now.”

   She nodded. From all accounts, it didn’t sound like she stayed in one place for very long.

   “She’s never been very content.” He frowned. “With anything.”

   His expression made her sad. She wanted to ask his mother what the hell her problem was. How could she not be content? She remembered his statement about people trying to change him. Was his mother one of the people who had always tried to change him? If that was the case, it was no wonder he never felt as if he could satisfy anyone.

   “That’s a sad life. Never being content. Always traveling and never setting down roots.” She brushed his hand. “For what it’s worth, I think I’ll be content as long as I’m with you. No matter where we are.”

   “There’s no one else I want to set down roots with,” he whispered. “But I want to do it in Wilmington. I’m glad I was able to purchase this place, but just being here has proven to me that home is in the States.”

   “I’d move here if you wanted to.”

   “Thank you, little one. You don’t know how much that means to me.”

   She turned and put her arms around him, just wanting to show support. To simply be there for him. He sighed and kissed the top of her head.

   They stayed wrapped in each other’s arms for several long minutes. He gave her a squeeze and pulled back. “Right, so enough of melancholy. Why don’t I show you where I had my first kiss?”

   ***

   Cole couldn’t hold back his grin at Sasha’s dropped jaw.

   “What?” she asked.

   “I had my first kiss, right down there.” He pointed to the old barn. “Come on, I’ll show you.”