He cut off his thoughts, which could derail so easily when it came to Farrah.No, he told himself.She’ll come to you when she’s ready to deal with you.
He hated that he was “something to be dealt with.” The timer went off on the batch of cookies, and Darren gripped the hot pad to get the tray out of the oven. Maybe she’d already come to him. She’d left that invitation on his windshield. Was that an invitation to her party? Or back into her life?
Confused and exhausted with his mental war, he took a deep breath. “It’s almost Christmas,” he said aloud to the house. “Can’t I get a moment of peace on Christmas?” He tipped his head toward the ceiling and added, “Please?”
Nothing much happened, other than some of the tension drained from Darren’s shoulders. He sighed and picked up a freshly baked cookie. The melted chocolate and crisp edges made him moan. He could definitely take these to Rae’s for dinner and not be embarrassed.
He could run by Sherwin Mayfair’s to deliver his gift. Darren hadn’t known what to get the man who’d been essentially running the farm. Sherwin took care of the livestock, the schedule for planting, the equipment, all of it. Jim had been focused on the orchards, and he had spent most of his time there.
Darren had relied on Sherwin to learn the ropes of this farm, and he’d asked the man if they could meet after the new year to properly rename the farm.
Sherwin lived in town, and he’d started dating Audra a couple of months ago. At a loss for what he might like, Darren had written him a note and added some cash to the envelope. He’d never been a boss before, and he wasn’t sure what protocol was. He wasn’t sure he cared what protocol was.
While the cookies cooled, he took his gifts out to his truck. He’d stop by Sherwin’s and Audra’s, Callie’s and Carlson’s. That was his whole staff—don’t forget about Farrah—and they all seemed to get along great.
And how could he forget about Farrah? Her box mocked him, still sitting on the end table he’d finished last week. Should he put it with the others? Stop by her place as he was out?
Surely she wouldn’t be there. She’d probably gone to her parents’ house, especially now that they lived in the same town.
“One way to find out,” he said, marching over to the box and picking it up. He put it with the others in the truck and returned to the house for the cookies. With three paper plates stacked with still-warm cookies, he headed out the front door one more time.
“Oh!” a woman cried out as he barreled straight into her.
He fumbled, grunted, couldn’t find a handhold. The cookies tumbled to the ground. He held his hands out to his sides as he stared in disbelief at the mess on the porch. Slowly, he lifted his eyes to the woman.
“Farrah?” he asked.
“I’m so sorry.” She dropped to her knees and started swiping cookies off the ground. “These are still warm.”
Darren stared at her for a few seconds before his brain kicked back into gear. He bent to retrieve the cookies too. Theygathered them all, slight wisps of steam from the cookies lifting into the chilly air.
She held one plate while he balanced two. After wiping a lock of her hair off her forehead, she looked at him.
Darren’s chest ached with the beautiful lines of her face. The softness he found in her eyes. So much about her had changed, and yet everything was still the same.
“What are you doin’ here?” he asked.
chapter
twenty-two
Farrah liked the throaty,hoarse quality of Darren’s voice. The dark, warm depths of his eyes. The way he sat by his brother at church. His determination and hard-working spirit.
She wasn’t sure how close to whole she was, but she knew she liked herself more each day. She knew she wanted Darren in her life again. By the soft, adoring look in his eyes, maybe he’d forgive her. Take her back. Maybe they could work through their problems and find a way to be together.
With those heavy thoughts in her mind, she cleared her throat. “It’s almost Christmas,” she said, backing up a step. “I didn’t want—well, I came to check on the new mushrooms, and I saw your truck here, and I didn’t want…you to be alone…today.” For some reason she couldn’t name.
Coolness entered those eyes. “I’m going to Ben’s for dinner. They asked me to bring the dessert.” He indicated the cookies.
“When did you learn how to bake?”
“’Bout the time I started livin’ on my own.”
His tone cut through her, and Farrah gave a few quick bursts of a nod. “Okay, well, I’m glad to know you won’t be alone.” She handed him the paper plate. “Merry Christmas, Darren.”
She’d taken three steps when he said, “Wait.”
Farrah’s insides quivered with hope. She turned and tucked her hair behind her ear. She wasn’t sure if the damage she’d done to Darren could ever be repaired. She had spoken true when she said she’d come to check the mushrooms and seen his truck. And she didn’t want him to be alone.
