“The same. Incredible.”
“Do I even want to know how much?”
“I don’t want to tell you.”
“Tell me anyway.”
“Fifteen million.” I gasp and he snags my hand, walking me to him. “It’s just a number.”
“A huge number.”
“Forget the number,” he says. “We’ve been instructed to go upstairs for your possible studio but let’s walk the rest of the place first.”
“Nick, that price—”
He cups my face and kisses me. “I’ve wanted to do that since the moment I saw you in your office. You do know the place we have now is almost as expensive, right? And that I’ll sell it?”
“Yes but-”
“Money doesn’t matter,” Faith.. A place we love does.” He strokes my hair. “Okay?”
“I can’t say okay.”
“I will then. I’ve worked my ass off to be in a position to pick a home with the woman I love, and not worry about how much it costs.” He kisses my forehead and then joins our hands again. “Let’s explore.”
A few minutes later, we’ve seen five bedrooms, a den, an indoor pool, and an incredible kitchen with a white marbled island with black finished cabinets. And finally, an outdoor space that stretches far and wide, with ivy covered walls and brick steps. We finally head upstairs and I step into a room with arched stained-glass windows at each end, and the same floor-to-ceiling windows lining the entire front wall. And above me is a skylight, a view certain to be moon and stars at night.
Nick steps behind me, his hand on my belly, lips at my ear. “What do you think?” he asks.“Could this be your studio?”
“Oh yes. I love this place. I love it so much. There’s inspiration everywhere. The sky and the ocean.”
“And an office already built in. I can work while you paint.”
I rotate to look at him. “Have I told you that I can’t paint when I’m being watched?”
“I watch you all the time.”
“You’re the only one that I can let watch me, Nick.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re you. It’s the only answer I have.”
“Do you want to live here with me, Faith?”
“Yes,” I say. “I do, but the impact of this is hitting me. This is big. Buying a new place to be with me is big. Are you—”
“In love with you? Yes. Obsessed with you? Yes. I am. Shamelessly.”
“Obsession is—”
“Dangerous. Yeah. I know. Sign me up for more.” He kisses me. “Let’s go drink champagne on the plane and celebrate our new home and your show.”
“We don’t have a new home yet, and I’m feeling really nervous about my show. Let’s celebrate after it’s done.”
“You’re going to shine sweetheart. And we’ll have a home by the time we get to the airport. I’m pulling this place off the market.”
He drapes his arm around my shoulder, and we start walking, but I twist around to look at the space one more time. “I really love it.”