Page 33 of Drive Me Crazy

A week later…

The gates close behind us, and I search the tree-lined drive for any sign of a structure. Emerson's eyes dart at me and back to her task at hand. I'm not sure if she's waiting for my reaction or wants to ask me something.

As the house comes in to view, I sit with my mouth hanging. It's an enormous beach house with a farmhouse vibe. The light blue exterior has a huge wrap-around porch.

Dormers sit on opposite sides with a double garage on the end. The porch is littered with swings and rockers. Emerson hits a remote in her hand and the doors rise to the garage.

I get a sneak peek of the backyard filled with trees in the distance. It's as if Ridge has lived in my dreams all of these years, I can't imagine he'd remember this after all of this time.

"Hang on," Em watches the door slide down behind us. "I want to lock it before we get out." She jumps from the SUV and hurries to the back.

A door opens to the right of the room, a large blond man smiles as he gazes toward the doors. The driver's side opens again, and Emerson grins.

"Welcome home." She yanks her purse from between the seats and makes her way over to the man standing between us and the house. I ease mine open to be happily greeted.

"It's good to meet you, Harper." He jutes his hand out at me. "It feels as though I've already met you."

I tilt my face away from him, embarrassment creeping over me. "Hello, it's nice to meet you."

Emerson steps down, hooking my arm with hers. "This is my husband, Aksel. I talk about you all the time, I've missed you. Sweetie, grab her bag while I show her the place."

"Husband? I haven't been gone that long!"

Emerson winces. "Little bit."

"I gotcha!" He steps around us as Emerson pulls me up the steps and through the door.

The interior is massive. Beach tones and hardwood. Again, he's read my mind. "Wow. It's so open and yet, cozy. It's beautiful."

"Wait until daylight, you can see for several acres." Emerson beams with pride.

Aksel sets my bag down beside me. "The backyard is killer! The pool itself is to die for but the fact he dug it out, so the place won't flood during hurricanes but still looks like a farmhouse in the front. He thought of every detail."

"I can see that," I gaze around the room. "he's still working on it?"

"Yeah, he took his time. He doesn't live here, so he works on it when he can." Emerson tugs my arm, encouraging me to walk further into the place.

Aksel walks around to the kitchen, standing by the island. "He was hoping to be finished by now, but his businesses are booming so time is limited."

"Businesses? I was under the impression he worked with Mackenzie and lived over her garage." My head bounces from Emerson to Aksel and back. There's a silent conversation going on between them and I need to know what it's about. "What is it?"

"Let me show you around." Emerson giggles and starts walking toward the stairs. "Seriously? This is the main floor, living room, dining, kitchen, and laundry. Second floor, bedrooms, and his office. Third is the master suite, I'm assuming he wants you there, but he didn't specify."

"The entire third floor?" I gape.

She loops our arms, snickering. "Yeah, he went a little extra."

"Ya think?" I giggle with her. "I don't remember him being so high maintenance."

"He's still a dork though."

I roll my eyes. "Aren't they all?"

"Truth!" Our laughing bounces from wall to wall until I cough and pain shoots through my body, doubling me over and taking my breath. "Oh, no! Aksel!" Emerson yells and he's there before my second gasp.

"I gotcha." He scoops me up, whisking me into the master bedroom. Aksel lays me down carefully. Emerson opens a small cabinet beside the bed, reaching in to hand me a bottle of water.

"Here you go, Harper." I carefully sit up and willingly take it, forcing myself to hydrate and calm down. After a few sips, my body reacts as though I might die after all. "Better?"