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So much for that pep talk

"So, what rooms do you want to work on?" I ask to distract myself

"I’ll show you," he replies as we both finish our food We grab our coffees and walk into a series of small, aard rooms on the first floor They’ve been closed up, so they s--that needs to come up "I have no idea what to do with these three roo a circle

"The kitchen"

I turnthe kitchen and survey the s to the back and side yards "These were probably butlers' quarters back in the day," I mutter and chew my lip as I think "Do you have much of a pantry in the kitchen?"

"Just a small closet," he replies

"Okay, here’s what I would do I would take this third room and wall it up, put in a door with access fro pantry Then I’d open these other two roo wall a half-wall of s Then--" I turn around and point at the s "--I wouldthis space into a sun room" I can even picture hoould decorate it in my head, and oh my God, it’s so pretty

"That’s a lot of work," Declan replies, rubbing his chin in thought

"It’s mostly demo," I reply "We’ll have talls to take out, but it’ll open the space up and make the whole floor feel really open"

"Okay," he says and claps his hands together "Let’s do it"

"Right now?"

"Right now"

"Don’t you have a contractor?" I ask and prop my hands on my hips

"I do, yes, but we can do the deo too"

"Without a doubt," I agree and cringe at what could be living in this carpet "I’inal hardwood under here"

"There was in the other roo around "This is a great idea I have a couple of sledgehammers In the mood to knock down a couple walls?"

"Hell yes I am! Demo is my favorite part of the job"

"Helps you release soreat workout" I pull a box cutter out of my back pocket as Declan leaves to find the hammers and crouch in a corner, cut the carpet and peel it back, revealing exactly what I thought: gorgeous wood floors They need to be sanded and refinished, but they’re beautiful

"You came prepared," Declan mur at htest