Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 54852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Finn gave a rough laugh. “Pretty sure I was the one supposed to be thanking you. You’re pretty damn remarkable. I didn’t expect…”
“Me either.” I knew what he meant. I hadn’t expected him. Or this thing, which had never truly been as casual as we’d tried to pretend, but now seemed to have a life of its own, winding tendrils through me, binding us together, even despite my better judgment.
“But I’ll take it.” Finn nodded decisively like he’d been studying one of my spreadsheets, verified the math, and come to some key conclusion.
“You will?” My eyes went wider, his face still a little blurry around the edges without my glasses. I’d half expected him to pull back, not sound like he was going all in.
“I’m not going to turn something this good down.”
“Yeah,” I quietly agreed, fickle heart pounding with equal parts elation and terror. Now that I had this, I didn’t want to let it go, but I wasn’t convinced the universe would let me keep something so special.
Chapter Twenty
Finn
“Today, we turn your mother into a chicken farmer.” Laughing, I followed Harrison into his mother’s backyard. I’d parked the truck at her back gate, so we could unload all the materials I’d brought with me. I’d been meaning to get to this project for weeks now, but it had been one thing after another on the farm.
“I’m still not convinced this is a good idea.” Harrison sounded much less enthusiastic than me, and not nearly excited enough to be away from the bookstore on a weekday afternoon.
“Oh, let her have her fun.” I patted his back. “I told you, I’ll take the birds back if she loses interest.”
Actually, I hadn’t brought any birds with me, not wanting them exposed to the late July heat until we had a proper shelter for them. And I didn’t mind the idea of a second trip to town to deliver them for Audrey. I was coming into town a lot more frequently these days, and I didn’t regret that one bit. However, judging by Harrison’s frown, he wasn’t convinced.
“Yes, but I just feel bad, taking up your time.” He adjusted his glasses.
“Hey, I get to spend it with you.” I slung my arm around his shoulders, gratified at the way he moved into my embrace. “That’s a good thing.”
“It is.” Tilting his head up, he invited a soft kiss, one that almost made me forget that we were outdoors, in his mother’s yard, and probably in full view of several sets of neighbors. Reluctantly, I let him go.
“And we got you away from the bookstore and out into the sun. That’s another bonus.” I opened the back of the truck and took out a roll of chicken wire.
“I suppose I have been a bit all work lately.” Harrison helped himself to an armload of wood without me directing him.
“We both have.”
I wasn’t kidding. I’d had one urgent thing after another on the farm, plus the usual July craziness as crops started coming in and the farm stand did booming business. Meanwhile, Harrison had been busy preparing for the launch of the wine bar, training employees, and handling business at the bookstore. We’d snuck in several late-night suppers together, but there had also been a number of rain checks and sleepy phone conversations when neither of us felt up to driving. I missed him every day I didn’t see him, not that it was something I’d admit to.
“And good news!” I told him. “As long as Rachel or the interns don’t run into trouble, I should be yours for dinner too.”
“I like the sound of that.” He gave me a warm look as he carefully stacked the lumber.
I raked my gaze over him as I licked my lips. “We can eat in.”
“Yes, we can.” He audibly swallowed before motioning at the boards. “Now, show me how to help you.”
“Yes, bossy,” I teased. We both knew I was the bossy one when it counted. “First we have to bury the support posts in the cement footings I prepped a couple days ago. They’ll have set by now.”
“Bury the posts.” Harrison’s laugh was the best, always slightly startled and rusty, like he’d taken himself by surprise, an element of pure delight not everyone had. “Sounds like a fun party game.”
“Only with you, Harry.” I winked at him.
“Oh?” He raised an eyebrow as I sorted out the posts from the rest of the supplies I’d brought. The speculation in his eyes made me pause. “Is it an exclusive game?”
Huh. The question wasn’t entirely unwarranted. We’d been seeing each other for weeks now, and I’d all but told him on the Fourth that this wasn’t casual for me anymore. “Exactly when am I supposed to have time for anyone else?”
“Point taken, and same here.” Giving an elegant shrug, Harrison kept his tone guarded. “But I don’t like to presume.”