Chapter Twenty

Even after helping complete more than a dozen home renovations in five months, Bailey was still left breathless each time she stepped back to view the finished product. There was something magical about seeing her designs come to life. It was like someone had stepped inside her head and created a real-life replica of her dreams.

“I can’t believe how perfectly this came together.”

There was something about the way a fresh coat of paint—and completely overhauling the previous floor plan by opening up walls—gave an old home new energy. The kitchen was one of the best she’d ever seen. The carpenter was bringing the sit-in breakfast nook and bench tomorrow, but then they’d be all done.

This was their last reveal, aside from the project house. With the end in spitting distance, she was trying to savor every moment of joy in this one.

Like the way a glint of candlelight caught in the chandelier, sending a thousand sparkles dancing on the dining table. There was the cool smoothness of the granite against her skin when she slid a hand across the counter. The way Wilder’s arm curved around her waist as he pulled her against his chest.

It wasn’t just anyone who’d made her dream a reality. It was him. In more ways than she could say.

And right now, her dream-maker was nuzzling behind her ear, sending shivers down her spine. She leaned back and nearly sighed when his bristly chin rested against the crown of her head.

“We did good.”

“Mmm.” She snuggled in deeper. “It’s our best work.”

“You say that every time.”

“I mean it every time.”

He chuckled lightly, his warm breath tickling her ear. “I know you do, babe. It’s why each house you’ve touched has turned into a masterpiece.”

Her stomach did a little somersault. “Well, we have a good crew.”

“We do.”

“And their boss—”

“What about him?” Wilder rocked them gently from side to side. Like they were moving to a melody only he could hear. “Felix tells me he’s an overly demanding pain in the ass who should stick to filming bits for TV and leave the work to the true professionals.”

She winced a little. Felix had been in rare form that morning. When Wilder had asked him to adjust the height on the chair rail in the great room, you would have thought he’d told him to tear out the cabinets and start from scratch. Wilder had let him throw his tantrum, then calmly told him to get it done.

Later, he’d privately told her that Felix was experiencing some extra stress in his personal life. Which was weird because Paige hadn’t mentioned any drama on that front.

“I wouldn’t call him a pain in the ass. He just expects perfection from everyone on his team, including himself. Besides,” she hugged his arms with hers, “careful what you say about him around me. I kind of like him.”

“I hear he kind of likes you, too.”

God, they were dumb. Months together, and they were still talking like high schoolers.

“What happens next?”

“Well . . .” He kissed the side of her neck. “I figure we finish up this house. Then we film the reveal and the one at the project house. Then, I have to spend a few days in New York to do some publicity, but you should come along. The network people want to meet you and Felix. We’ll have to stay in a hotel, because my apartment has tenants, but that could be fun.”

A gust of excitement fluttered through her. “Seriously?”

“The execs are impressed with what you guys have done. They’d like to meet the faces while we’re there filming our promos.”

New York. She’d only been once when she’d gone to visit her dad. The same dad who still sent her unanswered texts and left messages on her phone once a week. She kept meaning to reply. It was the grown-up thing to do. Yet any time she tried to come up with a reply, she came up with nothing. Instead of being grown-up, she reverted back to that little girl who couldn’t quite understand why her dad hadn’t wanted her around. She shook off the sadness that wanted to resurface at the memory. No. She wasn’t going to be sad because of him for even a second.

“Then maybe you and I should take a nice long vacation.” Wilder rested his chin against the side of her head. “We’ve worked hard enough this season. We’ve earned it. I have a timeshare down in Mexico. Or we can go to one of those islands in the South Pacific. Get a little sun, since we’ve missed most of our summer.”

Her heart pounded, and it was suddenly a struggle to breathe.

“You can come see my place in Toronto.” The one he’d bought just down the street from Waverly and their business. “Then we can come back here to work on the new house while we wait to find out if there’s another season. If there is, maybe you’d like to stay on with our crew. We’ve never had a design assistant as good as you. I, for one, would like to see what other schemes you have in that head of yours.” He squeezed her gently. “At least, that’s what I’d like to see happen. What about you?”

She moistened her lips and took a shaky breath. She liked everything he’d said. It also gave her heart a jolt of fear. It was way more than she’d expected. Way more than she could have imagined.

Wilder had always appreciated the truth, so she gave it. “I meant what happens next, like do you want to grab some dinner? Or maybe we do one more walk-through of the house.”

She couldn’t see his face, but she felt him tense. He cleared his throat. “Dinner sounds good. What would you like?”

Though he tried to play it off, she could tell he was disappointed. She couldn’t fault him for that. He’d put down all of his cards, ones she didn’t even know he was holding. And she was talking about burgers or pizza.

“All of it.”

“Are you talking about food or. . .”

She turned around and linked her arms around his neck. “Everything you said—it sounds good. I want to go to all of those places with you. I just wonder . . . is it even possible?”

“We can make it possible.”

“What about Waverly and Virginia and the show and—”

He kissed her forehead. “We’ll figure it out.”

“Okay.” She wasn’t sure how. There was so much at stake, but for now, she wanted to believe it would work out. That they could be together. She wanted it even more than she’d wanted the white finish on the cupboards. She’d never thought it would be possible—wanting someone like this. It was still hard to believe, but she did.

“Now to answer your original question . . . about what we should do.” He gave her a quick hug, then stepped back, reaching into his pocket. He scrolled through his phone and clicked a couple of buttons. A jazzy tune filled the air and he set the phone on the counter. Grabbing her by the hand, he pulled her toward the empty space where the nook would soon stand. “Dance with me.”

He wrapped an arm around her waist and held the other in the air. She couldn’t help gaping. “Seriously?”

“Sure, why not?” He shifted her hand to his shoulder, then swayed again. “It would be a shame not to take advantage of the space while we can.”

His cheek rested against her temple, and they moved together again, this time to real music. She closed her eyes and leaned into him.

***

The wallpaper in the bathroom had to go. Bailey had never understood why anyone would put wallpaper in a space that collected so much moisture. It was a recipe for hidden mold. They needed to do something about the kitchen. The dark red walls made the tiny space look even smaller. It was like being trapped in a box with only a tiny window overlooking an overgrown bush as the only way out. Knocking down the walls to the dining area and living room would be the best way to maximize the space. At the very least, a lighter color would help.

She didn’t want to know where the ultra-kitschy painting on Paige’s mantle had come from. It was a little red barn painted on a piece of limestone. Her sister didn’t even like barns. At least, not as long as she’d known her. Maybe it was a gift from a student. Or it had been an impulse buy at a craft fair or some vintage market. Paige’s sense of style had always been . . . a bit wanting.

Bailey was glad she’d been called in at last. There was still hope to save this little condo. Plus, now that she was almost, maybe, unemployed, she needed a new project. And if she had to stare at the wood paneling in the living room for another year, she’d probably lose it.

“It isn’t that bad,” Paige said. “I think it’s kind of cute and retro.”

“It is that bad.” So bad Bailey was doing this redecorating for only the cost of materials. Paige wasn’t getting a deal just because they were sisters. No, this was pro bono work for the betterment of humanity. If it wasn’t for humanity, well, at least it would be less of an eyesore for whoever spent time there.

“We’ll start after filming wraps.” In the meantime, she could work on some sketches and do a little shopping. She’d do it alone. Paige would rather rewrite the state of Texas’s entire elementary school curriculum single-handedly than spend an hour in a hardware store.

“Aren’t you and Wilder going on vacation after the show wraps?”

“Maybe.” Bailey chewed on her lip. “I’m not sure any of those plans are going to pan out. He’s not really the master of his own destiny.”

“But Felix told me Wilder has already checked out flights and called to make sure someone would have his condo ready to go in a few weeks.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “He might even have a couple of special surprises up his plaid sleeves. I may have heard something about a candlelight dinner on the terrace.”

Bailey’s stomach flipped. For a man who had said there wouldn’t be flowers or romantic dinners, he’d sure changed his tune.

“We can start work on the house after that.”

Even if sneaking away to Mexico panned out, Bailey wasn’t holding out any hope for the rest of his plans. Waverly still hadn’t come out and said what she wanted to do next. Bailey also didn’t entirely buy that Wilder was ready to walk away from everything he’d built.

But Paige seemed so excited by the possibility of Wilder and Bailey’s romance having a longer shelf life, Bailey didn’t want to bring up her concerns now.

Instead, she turned the subject back to the house. “So what finally changed your mind about fixing up the place?”

“Well . . . Felix and I have been talking, and he’s going to move in before winter.”

Bailey dropped her pencil. “Excuse me? Did I hear you say that you’ve asked a man to move in here with you?”

“That’s right.”

“You’ve given up your . . . extracurricular activities?” Bailey couldn’t imagine Felix wanting to take this step if she still planned on having other men over when he was out.

“What can I say? I’m a woman in love.”

It would seem that after decades of feeling unwanted and undeserving, the Meredith sisters had found a pair of lucky suckers who’d changed all of that.

Bailey threw her arms around Paige. “I’m happy for you.”

“Thank you.” She squeezed back. “It’s time we opened ourselves up to the possibility that our lives can turn out the way we want.”

***

The wheels of the airplane touched down at La Guardia, and Wilder couldn’t be happier. For one thing, Virginia had pitched a fit midflight, insisting she needed to sit by him and not her nanny. Though she was usually mild-mannered, when his daughter decided to pitch a fit, she pitched it. He also couldn’t wait to share the city with Bailey, who’d graciously swapped seats with Virginia to keep the peace. She’d been a little nervous during takeoff—she hadn’t been on a plane since she was a kid—but after he’d talked her through the noises and bumps, she’d completely relaxed.

Then again, it was hard not to be relaxed when you were flying private. The Playing House crew didn’t usually travel with such style, but given the size of their entourage, the network had splurged. They were traveling deep. In addition to the usual suspects, his parents were along for the ride.

He wanted his parents to see what this part of his life was like. He had to admit he also wanted them to get to know Bailey. They’d interacted with her briefly during their visits the past few months, but it wasn’t much. While he hadn’t told his parents the full truth, they’d figured it out. Even though he and Bailey had been on their best, most professional behavior, his parents had exchanged more than a few looks, and they’d had knowing glints in their eyes.

They loved her. It was impossible not to love her.

That had certainly been the case for him.

She’d had his heart from day one. He could see that now—the way she’d instantly gripped him. There was no denying what she meant to him. Even if he couldn’t say it out loud. Not yet. He cast a glance across the plane to where Bailey was chatting with the nanny while they taxied. He couldn’t hear what they were saying, but the contented smile on her face had his heart swelling. Seeming to sense his gaze, she glanced up and the smile became his.

He couldn’t say he loved her out loud yet, but he could admit it to himself.

The excitement didn’t diminish as they made their way to the waiting cars sent from the studio. He slid into the same SUV as her, which earned him a slightly disgruntled look from Waverly, but he didn’t care. In all seriousness, the only part of this trip that mattered to him was getting to share it with the people who mattered most. Waverly’s annoyance disappeared when he volunteered to take Virginia for the afternoon, which freed up her schedule.

She was in her own car and probably halfway to Devon’s apartment on the Upper West Side before his entourage was packed up and situated into their vehicle. He was just fine with that. Correction: he was better than fine with that. Happily seated between Bailey and Virginia in the back, with his parents in the middle and the nanny up front, Wilder couldn’t think of any other way he’d rather experience New York.

Their journey from the airport to the hotel took almost an hour. Virginia’s midflight fit had left her exhausted, and she’d zonked out early in the drive. His parents were pointing out the window and chatting to each other while the nanny played around on her phone.

With no one paying attention—and not really caring if they did at this point—Wilder clasped Bailey’s hand in his and watched her take in the city.

“It’s really something,” she whispered. “I mean, you get the idea of it on movies and TV shows. But it’s a totally different experience being here.”

“Haven’t you already been here?”

“Once.” The grin slipped and a hint of sadness flashed across her face before she forced that mask of neutrality again. “But I really don’t remember much.”

“What do you remember?”

“Just little pieces. Tidbits here and there. Most of it about my dad.”

He willed her to elaborate, to say more about what she remembered of her father. Had there been any moments of happiness? Or was the man who had left them behind really nothing more than a heartless cad?

“Has he been in touch with you lately?”

She shook her head and pulled her lips together tighter. “No. I’m sure he’s found out I’m in town. But I hope he’ll have the decency to avoid any of the places we’ll be.”

“I don’t imagine he’ll have access to the itinerary,” Wilder assured her, pressing her fingers, silently offering her some of his strength. “The DN runs on contracts and lawyers, but they don’t usually get called in on the day-to-day tasks like these.”

“Here’s hoping.” She went back to watching the New York City sights pass her by. This time with less of the excitement from before.

Wanting to restore some of that, if possible, Wilder gestured to an old warehouse. “See that?”

She nodded.

“That was one of the first projects I worked on when I moved here.”

“Really?”

“Yep. It used to be a textile shop. Then they made widgets of some kind. Then it was probably a hospital—everything in New York used to be something else.”

“Naturally.” Her lips twitched. “So, what is it now? High-end lofts?”

“Naturally. Isn’t that the exact kind of yuppified thing you’d expect in New York?”

“You and Felix must have shaken them up when you came to town,” Bailey mused. “With your good ol’ Texas boy ways and your laid-back attitudes. I bet they didn’t know what to think of you.”

“If someone took that bet, you’d make a fair amount of money. Half the time these Yankees still don’t know what to make of me—and I’ve been one of them for years.”

This time she laughed and his shoulders relaxed. He wanted this trip to be only good for Bailey. He wanted her to enjoy every minute—or as much of it as possible—while it happened. When it was over, he wanted her to realize they could make it work. Even if they didn’t have a clear blueprint, they could figure out the overall design of a life together.

He’d start by showing her New York. Then, he’d make it his life’s work to show her how good their life could be, if she’d just give him—and them—a chance.

He held out his phone. “Hey, lean in.”

Her eyebrows drew together, but she obliged, as he slipped an arm around her shoulder. She smiled brightly, and he snapped picture after picture. He held his lips to her temple and snapped the last one.

“What was that for?”

“Posterity.”

“The drive from the airport to the hotel is worthy of documentation?”

“Bailey Honey, every moment I’m with you is noteworthy.”

It sounded even cheesier out loud than it had in his head. But when her eyes softened, and she rested her cheek against his shoulder, he decided being cheesy wasn’t a bad thing.