*Eric*
Under the shade of a sturdy oak tree, a cool breeze rushes over my forehead. It draws my attention away from applying the final coat of wax to my dining room table. I use the moment to admire the house I’ve been building for so long, and then my thoughts drift to Hattie.
I can almost feel the heat of her presence, that wild energy radiating from her. Hattie’s red hair—bold and untamed. It’s flame-like in the way it catches the light, and makes me want to run my fingers through it, and see how it tangles between them.
I imagine the way she looks when she laughs, head thrown back, eyes sparkling with mischief and something deeper, something I’m not sure I can name. Something otherworldly.
Her skin is warm under my touch, smooth, and I picture the intensity in her eyes when she g
