“Thank you,” I say. “You two should come out and visit. We have a barn on the property that’s really romantic, perfect for a little weekend getaway. The sunflowers aredying off for the season, but sometimes I think that makes it better. Fewer people around so you get a little more privacy.”
“That would be wonderful,” Rohan says, his eyes locked in on me. “Sana has been working entirely too hard recently—she needs a break.”
I glance at Ryder, and he only grimaces. “I gave you the go-ahead to hire an assistant!”
Sana rolls her eyes. “He’s just mad I beat him to the executive suite,” she says, nudging Rohan.
“No, I’mproudof you,” he says, throwing an arm around her shoulders and kissing her cheek. “I just want to hang out more.”
She laughs, patting his chest. “We can go to Sunflower Hill whenever you’d like.”
Rohan turns to me, a grin on his face. “When’s your next vacancy?”
I can’t help my laugh. “Well, it’s vacant this weekend.”
“Perfect!” he says. “We’ll see you then.”
When Sana and Rohan take their leave with promises to see us soon at the table, I turn back to Ryder. “We should probably head inside and find our seats too.”
He shrugs. “I get to be a lot closer to you when we’re squished together at the bar.”
And just as I press another kiss to his chin in that place that usually has him curling into me, someone behind us stops to greet him. He kisses my cheek quickly, never one to leave a kiss unreturned, and drops his hands to my hips, spinning me so I’m part of the conversation.
“Ryder, nice to see you,” the man says. He has a few years on us, salt and pepper around his temple and smile lines adorning his eyes. He wears a suit, hand in hand with a blonde woman behind him who seems to be stuck finishing up another conversation.
“Nice to see you too, Ray. Surprised, though. Thought you had a lot of travel coming up recently.”
Ray shakes his head. “The hurricane threw a wrench in that plan. Our flight to Maldives was canceled, so unfortunately we’re stuck in New York for the next few weeks,” he says, as the blonde woman finally extricates herself and joins our conversation. “My wife Angela,” he says to the group.
“Evie,” Ryder says, “who is also only here because of the hurricane.”
“Oh, are you a big traveler?” Ray asks. “We run a small company calledTravelers Weeklyso we’re normally off exploring somewhere, but we love getting other perspectives. I always say the best way to find your next favorite destination is asking your neighbor.”
My brain breaks.
Travelers Weekly.
I swallow, and Ryder gently nudges me. When I glance at him, his eyes are wide like he’s internally screaming at me to talk up the sunflower farm.
“No, not a big traveler myself. I actually own the sunflower farm in Sunflower Hill, if you’ve heard of it. We rent out a barn to stay on the property, but the whole town is a tourist destination. Very historic, quaint small town.”
“Oh my gosh,” Angela says. “Yes, of course we know Sunflower Hill! And the sunflower farm, obviously. I grew up in Lavender Springs. My parents used to take me there all the time when they got sick of being bombarded by lavender.”
I laugh. “I know the feeling. I’m all sunflowers, all the time. Every once in a while, I head to Lavender Springs to escape it.”
Ryder lowers his voice to say in my ear, “I have to run to the bathroom. You okay here?”
I pat his chest, giving him a small smile. “Yeah, you go. I’ll either be here or I’ll go find Sana.”
He nods, excusing himself politely.
And I turn back to Ray and Angela, deciding to talk up Sunflower Hill while I have the opportunity.
35
RYDER
By the time Evie and I head home from the party, she’s schmoozed four couples into booking the barn, three of which have first dibs on the spring schedule, and one of which—Sana and Rohan—will be following us home to stay next weekend.
