I peeked around his shoulders and Valerie was practically vibrating with anger as she spotted me. “So you can go off with her?”
“That’s none of your business. You’re dismissed.”
Valerie’s blue eyes flashed with temper, but she stomped off.
“I’m sorry about that.” He looked down at me, then brought my hand up to his mouth. “She is becoming a problem.”
I arched a brow at him. “Becoming? That girl has plans and I am not a part of them.”
“Well, neither am I. I don’t know how to convey it without pissing her off.”
“Might not have a choice.”
He drew me down the path toward his house. “You gonna save me?”
I laughed. “I have been known to be a hard-ass in some circles.”
I didn’t bother to deny that I was going to follow him home. I paused as we crossed the bottom of the property where the trailer was. He stood behind me, drawing me against him as he pointed at the mini village taking shape.
“All the retail spaces are here. It’s starting to actually come together.”
“It really is. I can actually see your vision with the little houses set up now.”
“They’re actually sheds. You know the kind that have become all the rage for separate work or craft spaces?”
I glanced up at him. “A bunch of she-sheds?”
He laughed. “Kind of.”
“It’s pretty genius.”
“Thanks.” He took my hand again and led me to his gate. “Don’t tell me no.”
I shook my head. “I can’t.”
He narrowed his eyes.
“I don’t want to.”
His face cleared. “Better.”
Instead of going to the front, he walked around the side of the house to a deck with massive furniture built for a man like Tate. Thick cushions were made for outdoor relaxing. There was even an outdoor heater tucked against the side of the house. Instead of a pool or Jacuzzi, Tate had made an oasis for himself and maybe a partner. It wasn’t made for partying, it was more intimate in design. A continuation of his bedroom that suited him.
He kicked off his muddy boots at the back door before drawing me inside his large bedroom. “I’m going to shower off this stink and grime.”
“Want me to make us some food?”
“That would be great.”
Part of me wanted to follow him into that shower, but I needed a second to get myself together. Missing him was annoying. I couldn’t deny that the days and nights of the last week had been endless. I’d thrown myself into baking with my mother and boardgames with both of them after dinner. Anything to avoid the empty room where I stared at the damn ceiling.
I’d even been avoiding the music room.
The only words trapped inside of me were full of yearning and I didn’t even want to own up to those either.
In the end, this was where I wanted to be.
Fighting it was impossible. Especially when I really didn’t want to fight it. How funny that this man was so much braver than I was.
