Free Count on Me (Petal, Georgia) by Lauren Dane

and media center on the other.
    “It smells really good in here.”
    “I’m a pretty good cook. I’m roasting a chicken. I have a barter going on with some of the other organic operations in the area. The chicken is free range, fed organic feed. It’s fresh, which makes such a difference. I didn’t make the bread though. Picked that up at the Honey Bear.”
    She grinned. “I’m addicted to their sourdough twists. Also did you know they had cinnamon rolls without the raisins if you ask?”
    He barked a laugh. “I’m going to have to introduce you to Lily Murphy. Nathan’s wife. She hates raisins but ordered the rolls with the raisins and picked them out because they had more frosting on them. Now William makes the raisin-free ones with just as much icing.”
    “Clearly she’s got good taste.” In men too, because Nathan Murphy was gorgeous. “Raisins are a blight. Gross. They’re an offense to grapes, which are wonderful.”
    “Note to self, no raisins in anything I make for Caroline. I like raisins. I eat them by the handful.”
    “Ew. Well, I knew you had flaws. You were too perfect otherwise. The plus is, now I can get trail mix and pick around the raisins and not feel bad. You can have all mine.”
    He sidled closer. “Too perfect, huh?”
    He made her laugh. It had been a long time since a new romance had made her so giddy. “Stop that. You know what you look like. Plus this house? Wow.”
    “I built it. Well, not all of it. That’s when Trey and Jacob lived here. Jacob and his older brother helped me with the plumbing. Trey did a lot of the electrical along with another friend of ours. I knew what I wanted. This piece of land had a house on it, but it was small and didn’t have much of a view. It was a waste. So I lived there while we built this one.”
    “How long did it take? I can’t imagine. I mean, I like to be active, but painting a room is as DIY as I’ve ever managed to get. I’m super impressed. This place is fantastic.”
    “All told, from start to finish, it took three years. I’m still not completely done. Some of the bedrooms upstairs don’t have furniture yet. I fill spots as I can afford it and when I find the perfect pieces.”
    She strolled to the French doors leading to the back porch, which was a little wider than the front. There was patio furniture out there and a huge gas grill as well.
    “I’m still working on the landscaping. We razed the old house so I’m pulling that land into a large garden. I’ve been hitting garden shows to get ideas.”
    She’d underestimated him.
    Oh sure she’d thought he was smart and funny and handsome. The way he’d told her about the organic operation had impressed her. But there was a whole other side to Royal she hadn’t even suspected. Creative. Artistic. He was the kind of person who got an idea and then made it happen.
    That was amazing.
    “Just for your information, I love gardening. I mean, I’m no landscaper, but I had a big back garden in Seattle with raised beds for my veggies. If you ever need help or company to go to a garden show, I’m totally up for it.”
    Surprise flitted over his features and then he smiled. “I’ll be taking you up on that, Caro. You can bet.” He pulled out a chair. “I’m going to pull the chicken out of the oven to rest a bit. Want a beer or some wine?”
    “Why don’t I get that? I’ll set the table while you deal with the food? A fair distribution of labor.”
    He pointed. “Plates are in the cabinet there. Silverware in that drawer.”
    “You want wine or beer?”
    “There’s a nice bottle of red over there on the sideboard. Glasses on the rack.”
    They worked to get the food ready and it was an easy, natural flow. They had a good rhythm, and she found the space natural for entertaining and having multiple people moving around at once.
    He was also a really good cook. All the more reason to keep him around.
    He clinked his glass to hers. “To new beginnings.”
    She heartily