Page 100 of Take Me Home

Blair and I both shed tears as we say goodbye. My move to Montana will mark the first time we’ve been apart for more than a month’s time.

Two weeks into my new life at Whispering Pines Ranch, Lincoln comes to find me in the mare barn where I’m feeding Oakley an apple after her jump training with Tripp. She’s settled in nicely with the other mares and works great with Tripp. I already have three more students lined up to start in January.

Lincoln steps inside the barn, and his heated gaze causes my stomach to dip. He crosses the space between us and wraps his arms around my waist. I melt against him. Most days, I can’t believe this is my life.

He kisses me soft and slow, then looks at me. “Hank and Otto instructed me to blindfold you for a surprise. They have something to show you.”

I roll my lips together, trying and failing to contain my smile. I’m not sure exactly what those two have up their sleeves, but Owen’s been here daily with his team renovating the guest cabin…so my guess is it has something to do with that. I frequently catch the two of them whispering to each other excitedly. It’s adorable.

Lincoln removes a handkerchief from his back pocket and motions for me to turn around. He ties the cloth around my eyes, then takes my hands and guides me through the barn, and…up some stairs?

“Um, where are we going?”

“If I told you, I’d ruin the surprise.” His tone is so dry, it makes me laugh.

“Okay, fine.” I relax, following his lead until we finally come to a stop and his roughened hands gently untie my blindfold.

I keep my eyes squeezed tightly shut, until I hear Hank’s voice, “okay, open!”

Fluttering my eyes open, I drink in a gorgeous space with vaulted ceilings, rustic wood beams, and large windows. I’m standing inside the prettiest apartment I’ve ever seen.

“Well,” Hank says. “What do you think?”

I turn in a full circle, then look at Hank and Otto, who are watching me with wide-eyed anticipation.

“Where are we?” I ask. We didn’t walk very far, not far enough to get to the guest cabin.

Lincoln chuckles. “We’re still in the mare barn, technically.”

Rushing toward the nearest window, I glance out. Sure enough, I’m in the upper story of the barn, looking out at the main cabin. With my mouth agape, I look around the space once more. I’m standing in a small kitchen with custom wooden cabinets that match the distressed wood flooring and beams. White marble counter tops give the room a polished finish, and there’s a living room on the other side of a small island. A pale pink sofa rests against the wall, and a framed TV hangs on the wall across from it. A faux cow-skin rug lines the floor under a round coffee table, and tasteful western photography hangs in a gallery style on one wall.

“This is gorgeous,” I finally say. “I thought you were fixing up the guest cabin.”

“Well, we’re updating the guest cabin too,” Hank admits, sticking his hands in his pockets. “But we wanted you to have a place all for yourself. We wanted you to feel at home here…even if you were just visiting.”

I close the distance between me and my dad and wrap my arms around his waist. He hugs me back, resting his chin on top of my head.

“I love it. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” I can hear the smile in his voice.

“You missed the best part,” Otto says with a chuckle.

I pull back. “There’s more?”

Otto tilts his head toward an alcove I hadn’t noticed. I rush that direction, opening a door with a rounded top and stepping into a bedroom that’s straight out of my dreams. A queen-sized bed with a tufted headboard and footboard sits in the center of the room. It’s made up with fluffy white bedding and throw pillows. They nestled my suitcases against the foot of the bed, ready for me to make myself at home here. They decorated the walls with equine elements and photography.

Another door leads into a bathroom and a walk-in closet. The bathroom has a pretty vanity and a clawfoot bathtub.

“Owen must be quite the designer,” I muse, noticing all the feminine touches. “Seriously, he has impeccable taste.”

Lincoln snorts. “Owen is an excellent contractor, but he can’t decorate for shit.”

“Blair helped with all the design details from afar,” Hank says.

Looking around the space, tears fill my eyes. There are elements all throughout the room that scream Blair, and my heart aches with missing her.

I swallow back my tears, focusing my attention on Hank and Otto. “It’s beautiful. I can’t believe I have my very own apartment.”