“What are you smiling about?” she asked as I moved up against her under the blankets, soaking in her warmth.
“Just happy to see you,” I said. “So tell me about your week. Busy one?”
“Not overly busy. I’ve only booked one new event, the one for Earthly Charm. I have a feeling I’ve hit that point in the season where I won’t book anything else until the new year.”
“You don’t think you’ll get some last-minute holiday parties?”
She shook her head. “Most of those are corporate, and they start preparing months in advance.”
“I had an idea,” I said. “I’ve had a couple inquiries for holiday parties in the barn.”
“That’s amazing, Luke. Congratulations.”
“Thanks. I had to tell them it won’t be ready in time this year, but what I was thinking is, what if I had a policy where people need to contract with you to plan their event if they want to use the barn?”
“So you’d force them to hire me?” she asked, frowning.
“That’s sort of harsh phrasing, but we could work a deal.”
She was shaking her head before I could say more.
“No?” I asked. “It might get you more bookings.”
She propped herself up on her elbow, and I fought to keep my eyes on her face instead of her gorgeous breasts. “You’re sweet, but I need to get business myself, Luke. I can do this.”
“I never said you couldn’t,” I said quickly. “I was just trying to help you solve a problem.”
She smiled and kissed me, and I got the impression that was her way of dismissing my idea.
“We could make it work both ways,” I said in one last try. “Reciprocal agreement kind of thing.”
She shook her head. “People don’t want to be forced to work with certain businesses. Especially me in some cases.”
“But if they come to me and I recommend you?—”
“Luke.” She kissed me again. “I appreciate the sentiment, but I need to make my own way. And I’m doing it. Every month my revenue increases. I’ve got this.”
“Okay, okay. I wasn’t saying you can’t do it. I know you can. You’re amazing.”
“Oh, yeah?” she said, her voice going flirty. “Tell me more.”
Somewhere in the apartment, her phone sounded with a notification. Magnolia glanced toward the love seat, where it looked like she’d been sitting before I got here, based on the half-full cup of water on the table and a planner and her phone on the cushion.
“I’ll see who it is later,” she said, snuggling back into me.
The phone sounded again, two times in quick succession. She sat up and sent me a puzzled look, as if I would have any idea who it was. I shrugged.
“Go check it,” I suggested.
“I’ve got this hot farmer in my bed,” she purred, tracing my lower lip with her finger. “Do I look stupid?”
Shaking my head, I grinned and growled, “You look gooooood.” I leaned in to kiss her.
Another notification came from her phone, then two more in rapid succession before we could say more.
“I hope nothing’s wrong,” she said, sitting up again and breaking out of the sexy haze we’d both been falling into. She climbed out from under the blankets and walked over to the love seat.
I was immediately sidetracked by the view even as there was another alert. There wasn’t much that would prove worthy of pulling my attention from her exquisite body.
