I tried to smile, but I couldn’t shake my looming anxiety. Dan must have sensed it because he placed his palms on my shoulders, enveloping me in warmth.
“Plus, I’ve had the privilege of watching you make this town your home, and I know there isn’t a more perfect person to take care of this place.” I smiled as he folded me in his arms. “And I’m a very smart person.”
“And modest.”
Dan chuckled before kissing me breathless.
My impromptu day trip to Atlanta was now a week ago, and it felt like a giant weight had been lifted off my shoulders. On the drive back to the farm, I didn’t feel like I was running away from my life. I felt like I was running toward it. I wasn’t quite sure where Dan fit into that equation, but I wasn’t leaving Atlanta because of him. My answer to Teddy’s parting question was completely honest. For once in my life, I was putting myself first.
Dan and I grew closer every day. Once everything was out in the open, we fell into an easy routine. Life went back to normal on the farm for him, since he didn’t have to keep such a watchful eye on me, which meant long hours of working and no time for impromptu sleepovers. That didn’t mean we didn’t sneak kisses every chance we got, though.
While Dan was working, my days were spent in town getting to know as many people as I could and gaining a deeper understanding of what my grandparents and their farm meant to everyone. Erica even gave me a couple of shifts at the diner since I spent so muchtime there. In the afternoons after Dan would shoo me out of the greenhouse, I would spend long hours outside working on the small garden Dan helped me start in the front yard. My favorite plant was the small rosebush he’d given me. With my care and attention, it had bloomed after only a few weeks, which Dan told me was rare. It had given me a small burst of pride since pre-farm Emma couldn’t keep a cactus alive.
The days grew chillier as summer began to fade, and after a few weeks on the farm I finally felt like I was where I belonged. It didn’t happen all at once, and I can’t exactly explain when I knew, but one day I was sitting in my grandfather’s study, trying to take Dan’s bishop with the most impact. We’d played many games with the different chess sets around the house, and though I lost count of the number of games we’d played, I knew that Dan had only beaten me once (he’d spent the afternoon distracting me in his bed, and I’d lost focus). For reasons that were becoming more and more clear with each moment we spent together, we’d been drawing out the game we played on my grandfather’s antique set, both of us unwilling to let the game end.
I’d been daydreaming about Dan’s delicious distractions, which inspired me to do something I’d been putting off for weeks. After grabbing my phone, I dug through my purse until I found Preston Smith’s business card.
“Miss Walters,” he said with a fake chuckle that made my stomach turn, “your ears must have been ringing because I was just talking to the partners about you. Are you ready to change your life for the better?”
His question made me roll my eyes because he assumed that my life wasn’t already good and that the only thing that could make itbetter was selling out an entire town of people that I’d grown to care about. However, unbeknownst to Preston Smith, the answer to his question was yes. I was definitely ready to change my life.
“It’s funny you should ask because that’s the reason I’m calling.”
“Excellent. I knew you’d come around. When can I have the boys in legal draw up the paperwork? We’d love to get moving on this deal before tourist season next year.”
“Actually, there won’t be anything for the boys in legal to draw up because I decided not to sell.”
“You what?” His jovial demeanor had dissipated. “Did you get another offer? Because we’ll match it. Shit, we’ll beat it.”
“No, I’ve decided to keep the farm.”
He let out an incredulous laugh.
“Keep it and do what? Grow corn? Come on, Emma. Think about this. Think about what this money could do for you. Think about what it could do for your boyfriend’s senate run.”
I felt like I’d been slapped.
“Excuse me?”
“C’mon, Ms. Walters. You think I didn’t do my research? You’re soon to be engaged to Teddy Baker, and it’s a well-known secret that he’s planning to make a run for the senate. Senate races are expensive, and—”
“Let me cut you off there. My personal relationships are none of your business. This is my farm, and all decisions regarding its ownership are made by me. I’ve decided that I’m not selling it to anyone, and that’s final.” I huffed out a deep breath. “Goodbye, Mr. Smith.”
“Ms. Walters, listen, I can—” I ended the call.
“All right, Emma?” Dan was leaning on the doorframe to the study. I was rolling Dan’s captured bishop between my fingertips when I looked up to meet his gaze.
“I just had an infuriating call with Preston Smith.” I got up from the desk and walked toward him.
“Oh, yeah? Do you want me to kick his arse?” he joked and wrapped his arms around my waist.
“When I’m done with him.” I planted a peck on his lips.
“Well, what did he want?”
“I called him, actually,” I said. Dan’s eyebrows shot up his forehead. “I told him that I wasn’t selling the farm.”
“When did you decide this?” His expression was unreadable. I couldn’t tell if he was in disbelief or excited, or anything, really.
