“Goodnight, sweet Princess. I’ll see you soon, I promise,” I whispered to her. She kissed me on my cheek.

“I think I’m going to have to call Mike tonight before we leave,” Ryan said to Cal. He rubbed his forehead. I knew it bothered him to think about calling for personal security.

I placed my hand on his arm. “Why don’t we just do a drive-by to see how bad it is first? If the crowd is too large I’m calling the police. We have laws about loitering and I’m far from happy that my place was vandalized.”

“I heard about that,” Cal said. “Sorry to hear your window was broken.”

“Thanks. Fortunately I was able to get the window replaced immediately. The logo will be added back on the glass this week. One thing is for sure, no matter where I live my house is going to have a security system. Just knowing I have that makes it easier to sleep at night.”

“Oh, yes, it’s a must,” Cal stated. “We have an intricate system wired in our new place in Malibu. Motion sensors and yard sensors; we have so many sensors that I don’t even know what half of them do. Ryan, you’re going to need that and a bunch of mean rottweilers around your house.”

“I have to get the house first,” Ryan admitted. “I’ve been living out of a suitcase for so long now, I don’t know what it’s like to be home.”

“You should think about getting a place. You’re not going to be on the go forever,” Cal advised.

I noticed Ryan’s eyes flicker up to me and then he looked back at the coloring book, spinning it under his fingers. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot, but I’m not sure where I want to settle just yet.”

“By a lake,” I murmured, putting the crayons back into the box.

“With a boat dock.” He smiled to himself.

“Surrounded by woods,” I added.

“Maybe grow some grapes.” I felt his foot tap mine under the table.

“Watch the leaves change colors from the deck.” I tapped him back.

“Big farm house… or maybe a really cool log home?” he mused, raising an eyebrow at me.

I shrugged. Either style suited me. “Stone fireplace in the living room.” I slid the coloring book out from under his fingers and paged through it like a magazine.

“Maybe one in the master bedroom too?” he questioned, chewing on his thumb. “By the enormous tiled shower?”

“With the non-slip bathroom countertop?” I couldn’t hide my smile any longer.

Ryan grinned from ear to ear. “Big glass doors that open to the patio.”

“With another fireplace?”

“Right next to the gas grill outdoor kitchen,” he affirmed.

Cal looked like he was watching a tennis match. “Sounds like you two have all the details worked out. Now you just need to pick the colors and the location!” He laughed.

“Cami is in bed.” Kelly sat back down at the table; her eyes glanced over all our faces. “Why is everyone smiling?”

“Ryan and Taryn just designed their dream home, I think. And it sounds like they have most of the details covered, which is good.” He tapped Ryan in the arm. “It will save you a lot of arguments down the line, believe me.”

“What was that supposed to mean? We didn’t argue that much when we built our house.”

Cal countered her comment with a few eye rolls.

As much as I wanted to fantasize about it, in reality Ryan and I didn’t know each other long enough to talk about this kind of stuff. The last thing I wanted to do was get my hopes up. Protect self, my subconscious told me. Think about something else… but what? Need a new topic. Please someone think of something else to say.

I started to count backwards from one hundred in my mind, hoping that would help. Visions of waking up in Ryan’s arms every morning in our beautiful lakeside home broke right through my number counting.

I felt the chain of my new necklace catch on my hair, sending a pinch of pain down my neck. I adjusted the chain to untangle it, ripping a few hairs from my head in the process. I picked the pendant up in my hand and looked at it again; two beautiful hearts twined into one.

“That’s a very beautiful necklace you’re wearing,” Kelly stated.

“Thank you!” My smile quickly flashed over to Ryan.

“Are those real diamonds?” she asked upon closer inspection.

I looked at Ryan, perplexed. I never asked if they were diamonds; I just assumed.

Kelly noticed my gaze over at Ryan. A smile cracked on her face. “A gift?”

Ryan’s lips twitched and he nodded in confirmation.

“You have very good taste, Ryan!”

“Thank you. I was glad she liked it.”

“I love it!” I corrected.

“I got her diamond earrings too, but she won’t wear them.”

I sighed. “One very expensive present was more than enough.” My eyes locked on the coloring book; I wasn’t used to having a man buy me jewelry, or anything else for that matter.

I heard Ryan scoff. “Get used to it,” he stated directly.

Kelly patted me on the arm. I think for a moment she understood.

“No, I’ll never get used to it,” I whispered out. “I will always appreciate your kindness and generosity, and never take it for granted.” I hoped he could see the truth of my words in my eyes.

“Do you have a sister, Taryn? Because I have a brother that’s single,” Cal joked.

“No, I’m sorry Cal, I don’t.” I didn’t understand why he said that. Were all women perceived as gold diggers?

I jumped slightly when I felt someone touch my rear. I looked behind me to see Cami in her pajamas with a stuffed bunny under her arm.

“I thought you were sleeping?” I said to her, pulling her onto my lap.

“Cami! It’s bedtime, young lady!” Kelly was upset.

“Tawyn, you weed to me?” She rubbed her eye with her little hand. Her soft plea warmed my heart.

“Sure.” I stood up but Kelly tried to relieve me of her. “It’s okay. Can I put her to bed?”

Although she was four, she was so light to carry - such a petite little thing. I could see why she had a hard time staying asleep; her bedroom was obviously not her bedroom. There were nets, shells, and seahorses hanging from the corner. This was nothing more than a strange guest room in a rental beach house, not a room for a little princess.

I read The Little Mermaid book under the soft light of her nightlight, using my best voices to pretend to be the different characters. She liked my Ariel voice the best. I watched as her little mouth formed into gentle O’s when she yawned. Her big blue eyes were getting heavy. I closed the book and softly stroked her long, blond ringlets while quietly singing a few lullabies.