When she crossed to him, he slipped his hand in hers and stood up, tossing the little ball over his shoulder onto the bed before leaving the room with her. "Definitely the best surprise," he said lightly, bringing their joined hands up to brush his lips against her knuckles.
The walk up to the main house wasn't terrible long. After five minutes, they rounded a bend and the house came into view. It was far enough away that his cottage felt separate, and he truly had made it his own. Instead of taking her to the main entrance, Thad led Dagny around the porch and up the steps to the side entrance that led directly into the kitchen. The room was rich in a variety of smells, his dad putting the last of the brunch on platters to take to the table. Not the larger one in the formal dining room, but the smaller round table for casual eating in the kitchen.
"Hey dad," Thad greeted Theo, leaning one forearm on the island counter and tugging his girlfriend's hand to bring her close. "This is my girlfriend, Dagny." He looked at her then. "And my dad, Theo."
Plucking up a dish towel, Theo wiped his hands before holding one out to the young woman. "A pleasure to meet you," the older man said genially.