“I’m going to miss having my Intruder.”
“Sweetheart, I’ll intrude on you whenever and however you want.”
“God, you’re a freak.”
“Can you blame me? You taste sweeter than the honey your family supplies to all corners of the world. I’m addicted.” Patrick’s damn voice drops an octave on those last few words and I can tell my face is redder than a tomato and I have to stop walking, my knees quickly becoming jelly.
“You can’t say stuff like that out in the open.” I go to slap his chest but he’s faster, grabbing my hand as soon as it makes contact. He presses against my hand so I can feel the warmth of his skin and the beating of his heart. It’s steady and strong, like him.
“I’ll keep my dirty words behind closed doors but you’ll have to cut my tongue out before I stop telling the world how gone I am for you.”
I love you.
The words bounce on my tongue, ready to jump past my lips and change everything but I can’t let them out. It’s too soon and I just started working on my insecurities. Two heart to hearts does not fix 29 years of belief that I’m too grumpy, too foul-mouthed, too big to be worthy of the love I know Patrick would offer me.
So, instead I lift up on my toes and pour my feelings into a kiss, hoping he can feel everything I’m too scared to say.
Chapter Fifty-Six
PATRICK
Iam officially completely moved into my new building. Tours don’t start until next week. After I give a short walk through to Elle and Mabel, I have nothing else to do. It may have been because I’ve hopped from job to job so consistently but I can’t bring myself to be nervous or to run through everything I need to do again.
Elle is busy working on all the paperwork that piled up while she was sick and even though I’d be happy as a clam to sit and watch her do her thing for the next few hours, I don’t want to be a distraction.
An opportunity to keep me busy comes when Paul texts me.
Paul: Hey, are you busy?
Me: Not particularly, what’s up?
Paul: I may have overestimated the combined strength of Bennett and myself. Any chance you could drive downtown and help us unload something?
Me: No problem. Send me your address, be there soon.
Paul: Thanks. It’s about that time, we can grab a bite to eat after. My treat.
I’m tempted to text him back and let him know that’s not necessary but I know Paul well enough now that I know it would fall onto deaf ears…or blind eyes? Whatever. He won’t take no for an answer. Plus, it would be nice to hang out with him and Bennett again.
I leave Elle to her papers and make the quick drive to downtown Honeyville. Paul was helping with a renovation at the only salon in town and the last item on his list was to move in the reception desk. The three of us made quick work of it but it was indeed a heavy son of a gun.
I was more than happy to sit down at the little cafe a block away after getting it situated. After placing our orders, Paul focuses his attention on me with a cheshire grin. “While I’ve got you here, Rick. I think it’s time I do my brotherly duties and ask what your intentions are with my sister?” My ears start to burn and Bennett, who was taking a drink, starts to choke. “Warn a guy before you drop a bomb like that!” Paul barks out a laugh and I delay my answer allowing Bennett to gain control of his trachea. “My intentions are to treat her right for as long as she’ll let me.” I push out the words as quickly as possible, grabbing my own drink and bringing it to my mouth. “Wait, are you being serious right now? Which sister? Since when? Where have I been?” I could kiss Bennett for the rapid fire questions.
Paul gives me a look that clearly broadcasts that my answer, while correct, is not enough to satisfy. “Our dear ol’ Rick has been trying to woo our sweet Elle.” Bennett seems surprised butslaps me on the shoulder. “Damn, dude, and she hasn’t killed you? I thought the only person Elle liked was Henry.”
Paul and I just offer simultaneous nods because it is true. Elle would do anything for that kid.
“Seems Rick wore her down.”
Tours have been going for about a month now and I couldn’t be happier with how they’ve been turning out. I’m doing at least one tour per weekday. I’m happy with the progress now but I know the goal is two or three a day and plans to hire another tour guide.
Working out the kinks and doing everything I can to make sure I’m offering the best tour possible for Warren Farms takes up a lot of my day. I don’t want to just focus on fixing the problems of today. My goal is to address the problems, find solutions, and build up the foundation for growth.
I’m not arrogant enough to think the Farm would live or die based on the number of tours we provide, the Farm has been in business for 3 generations of Warrens, but I don’t want to causeany additional stress for Lola or Jude. Lola put her trust in me to be in charge of this new venture and I don’t want to let her down or make her regret taking a chance on my less than impressive resume.
The only downside to how things have been going is that Elle and I are almost too busy to see each other during business hours. Once a week, we have a sit down and go through all the paperwork related to signing up tours but that is all business. I’ve tried to make sure the meeting is scheduled as near to lunch as possible so we can squeeze in a couple extra minutes together.
We have returned back to our regularly scheduled date nights. We rotate between our places and even though we are seeing less of each other, I’ve never felt closer to her.
