Page 41 of Just One Chance

But that didn't feel right either. "Something like that."

"What do you want to do next? Should we check out Clara's shop?"

"If you want a memento to take back to Miami, that would be a good place to stop." I could let her go. I just had to remember that she was leaving sooner rather than later. And she wouldn't look back at this time in her life. Why would she? Her life in Miami was full. She had friends, a new condo, and the beach.

I should build that cabin I'd always wanted next to the workshop. It was time. I couldn't keep living in this weird limbo where I wasn't building my business or my home.

Kennedy dug into her second taco. "What are you thinking about?"

"That I need to build my cabin."

Her brows raised. "I didn't realize you were doing that so soon."

"I was content with my place above the workshop. I don't have to go outside to work. It's convenient and comfortable. But it's also small and not ideal if I want to expand one day and move on to the next stage in my life."

"Which is?"

I let out a breath. "I might like to settle down, meet someone like Beck or Rowan did, and have a few kids. I think I'd like to teach them how to work with wood or how to play a sport. I don't know."

"Is this the first time you thought about that?"

"I was always focused on my family. But with my sister and brother meeting their significant others and getting engaged, I'm thinking it's time."

"Wow. That's great, Boone." She reached across the table and touched my hand. "I'm happy for you."

"I haven't done anything yet. I'll need to decide on plans and hire a contractor. It won't be quick or easy. But the best things in life rarely are." This thing with Kennedy had been quick. Did that mean she wasn't a long-term possibility for me?

"I think that's amazing though. You love being close to family, and you'll have the workshop next door."

"It's not a view of the ocean," I said to see how she'd respond.

She rolled her eyes. "Honestly? I love it, but it feels like a dream. Like I really didn't work hard enough to earn it. Or that I'll lose it at a moment's notice. What if everything I worked for falls apart?"

"You'd rebuild it. You did it once; you can do it again," I said with more confidence than I would have had for myself.

"You think so?"

"You already know how to do it. Even if the industry changes or no one needs a hotel designer anymore, you'll figure it out."

"It's nice to have that kind of confidence. I've always been worried about it, that one mistake will derail years of hard work."

"You've built your reputation, and you've proved that you're a hard worker."

"I hope you're right. I travel to neat places and then come home to Miami. I don't have a boss, and I take whatever jobs I want."

"I want that. Not the travel part so much, but I'd rather pick my jobs than wait for someone to pick me."

"You'll get there."

"Thanks, Kennedy." I cleaned up our trash. "You ready to continue the tour."

"Absolutely," she said.

I threw out the trash.

We started walking toward Clara's shop.

"I think I'm getting used to the cold."