Page 54 of Sticks and Stones
“I’m not interested in playing house with your daughter, June.” Gunnar brushed a kiss across Gianna’s cheek. “This time I want the chance to go all in.”
June frowned. “What does that mean, exactly?”
“I want to marry her.” Gunnar’s gaze zeroed in on Gianna’s parted lips. “I want, more than anything, to make this woman my wife. But not until I’ve earned her trust. That’s why I won’t be living here with her and the girls.”
“You won’t be?” Gianna asked, thinking how difficult it would be for them to build a relationship with Gunnar living halfway across the country.
“Then you’re going back to L.A.?” June asked, frowning. “I don’t see how that differs from you being out on tour. If you’re not here, you’re not here. It doesn’t matter where you are.”
“I will be here,” Gunnar said, smiling at Gianna. “Right across the lake, in fact.”
“You will?” Gianna could barely contain her excitement. “You mean you took a room at Rush’s Inn?”
“No, I wanted something a little more permanent.”
“I don’t understand,” Gianna said, thinking it didn’t make sense for him to want a home of his own if he hoped they would one day be a family again.
“I bought a little cottage by the lake. It’s not much, but I’d like to fix it up, make it my own.”
“Oh.” Gianna’s shoulders slumped a little, but she forced a smile. “I’m glad you’ll be here, in Vista Falls.” She knew she should be grateful he’d left everything behind for them, but she couldn’t help wondering why he’d made a long-term commitment, like a home of his own.
“The view inspired me.”
Gianna pointed out the French doors leading to her patio. “The view would be pretty similar to mine. Wasn’t that inspiration enough?”
He chuckled. “Babe, I haven’t forgotten what it’s like to live with teenage girls. Sometimes you need a quiet place to retreat to if you have a hope in hell of getting any work done.”
That made her feel marginally better. “So, the cottage would be like your studio?” she asked. “If you… I mean, if we…?”
“Got back together?” He smiled tenderly, letting her know without words how very much he wanted that. “Yeah, that’s what I was thinking. It’s pretty run-down and it’s going to be a hell of a lot of work to revive it, but I’m up for the challenge. It’s been a long time since I’ve worked with my hands, but I don’t think I forgot how.”
Gunnar worked for a contractor for five years before he got his record deal. Gianna didn’t know him then, but she wished she had. She couldn’t imagine anyone looking sexier in a hardhat and steel-toed boots.
“Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out,” she said, linking her hand through his.
“Are you okay with all this?” he asked, sounding genuinely concerned. “I know I’m kind of springing it on you. We probably should have talked about it first, but…” He tore his eyes from hers and lowered his head. “I just wanted it so bad and I was afraid you’d list all the reasons it was a bad idea.”
“You didn’t think I’d want you here?” Gianna asked, unable to believe he’d think she’d try to talk him out of making Vista Falls his permanent residence. She wanted nothing more than the opportunity to see him every day, to rebuild their relationship, and hopefully plan for the kind of future she’d always wanted with him.
“I didn’t know what you wanted. After our, uh, talk on the phone the other night, I thought maybe you were having second thoughts about us.”
“I thought you were.”
He looked stunned as his gaze collided with hers. “Never.”
She knew this was a conversation they should be having in private, especially since her lips tingled for the kiss she craved. “Why don’t you come with us to the airport? We can stop for lunch and—”
“Actually, I was hoping you’d let me drive your mom to the airport.” He glanced at June. “If that’s okay with you?” When she didn’t respond, he said, “There are a few more things I’d like to tell you if you’ll give me the chance.”
“Okay,” she said, hesitantly. “If that’s okay with you, Gianna?”
Gianna knew it couldn’t be easy for Gunnar to try to forge a new relationship with her mother, but the fact that he was willing to try at all proved how much he cared about her. “It’s fine.” She brushed her lips across Gunnar’s cheek. “I’ll just get Mom’s suitcase.”
***
Gunnar had taken June to the restaurant at Vista Fall’s only inn, which was a stone’s throw from his new cottage. They were sitting across from each other, after ordering lunch, when he reached for his water glass.
“There were things I didn’t want to say in front of Gianna.”
