Heading into the kitchen, a new image formed. Her tossing a salad, while Brodie came up from behind and wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling her neck. She could picture a little girl or boy sitting at the table, talking quietly with Uncle Lachlan about the treasures he’d pulled from his rucksack.

But her happiness hit a snag. Would Brodie want children? From the start, he’d told her he couldn’t imagine having any. That he was better suited to be an uncle.

In the kitchen, she got a strong whiff of lyantha. She closed her eyes to breathe it in. “I can’t believe it.” When she opened them, Brodie was grinning. “I get to smell this every June. It’ll fill the whole house.”

“Exactly why I chose this spot.”

“It’s perfect. I love everything about it.” She still couldn’t believe she got to have this life, this man. They were building a high-tech lab right in their backyard, their store would open tomorrow in the hotel lobby, and she was surrounded by this big, loving family that accepted her for exactly who she was.

“Let’s look at the bedrooms. I want to swing an idea by you.” Taking her hand, he led her across the wide-open living area. When they turned down a hallway, he gestured to the first room on the right. “I’m thinking about changing the dimensions of this one, making it bigger. Figured, if we give one of the rooms to Ruby, we’re going to need to share an office.”

“I can use my lab for that.” Once he heard her news, he might want to hang onto that privacy after all.

“We got twenty-seven inches of snow in January. I want to make sure you have office space in the house.”

She got up on her toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek, loving the way he cared about her. “I can use my laptop anywhere.”

“What’re you saying? Why don’t you want to share an office with me?”

“I just think you’re going to need a space of your own.”

“I don’t want my own space.” He studied her expression, and his petulant tone made her smile. “I want to share everything with you.”

She believed him, and she loved the way this serious, intense man had opened himself to her so completely. “We do. And that’s my point. We’re going to be sharing so much, we’re going to need our own private spaces.”

“Hmph.” He led her to the end of the hall. On the left, was a large master suite with a huge patio and Jacuzzi. On the right was a smaller room with a view to the mountains. “I was thinking we could give this one to Ruby. Let her decorate it however she wants. That way, when she visits, we can hear her if she needs us at night.”