Finding Home in Redemption

Chapter Thirty-Two

Since Brennan lived closer to the zoo than I did, it took us less time to arrive at his home. His driveway was long and on one side sat a large, two-story home, while the other was fenced in. Three horses were running alongside the car, and he rolled down my window to yell greetings at them.

Once we reached the house, he opened the garage door to pull in beside his police cruiser and a four-wheeler. There was still space for another vehicle, but it wasn't filled, and I wondered who usually parked there.

"You ready to take the tour?" he asked. I smiled and nodded in response.

We got out and walked up the few stairs that led to his door, and he opened it for me, allowing me to walk in first.

He took me through the entire house; all three floors. There were bedrooms everywhere.

"Wow, you are planning on having a whole lot of kids aren't you?" I asked.

"I wasn't lying to you."

We made our way back to the living room, and he opened his DVD cabinet, showing hundreds of different movies.

"I've got my supply of your man's movies for you, stocked and ready for a marathon."

I laughed and walked over to him. He took me in his arms and squeezed like he'd never let go.

"Brennan, this home is gorgeous," I said.

"I'm glad you like it."

"How much of this do you own? The land, I mean."

"A few years ago, I bought out the neighboring field so now I have three hundred acres."

"Oh, just three hundred?" I laughed. "You're so casual about that."

"I rent almost all of it out to a local farmer. Other than the few acres the house sits on there's about fifty surrounding us that's all trees. I use that."

"Maybe this is inappropriate, but how in the world do you afford this?"

"I found out that this would be mine one day when I was sixteen, so, any money I made from odd jobs I came across went toward my house fund. Then, when I turned eighteen, I started college, but kept saving. By the time I was ready to build, I had a big chunk of the money I needed."

"I need to find some of these odd jobs," I laughed.

"My dad helped a lot. You have to remember, I've been working for fifteen years."

"That makes you sound incredibly old. Not as old as my future husband, but old." When he gave me a weird look, I smiled. "My favorite actor; I'm still holding onto hope he notices me."

"I think I'm exactly the same age as your future husband," he said. He leaned forward to kiss me and when his meaning sunk in, I blushed.

"So," I cleared my throat. "What's the plan for the evening?"

It was getting late and our day walking around in the heat had left me exhausted.

"I figured we could just watch a movie and go to bed. I invited my parents over for lunch tomorrow."

"Oh, my gosh, way to make me want to throw up!"

"Listen, if I can face your dad after everything that's happened over the past eighteen years of my life, then you can meet my parents."

"Oh, whatever! You're scared to death of him."

"With good reason! He could probably choke me out with one hand tied behind his back." I laughed and sat on the sofa while he popped in a movie.