She’s constantly surprised when I do the bare minimum, and it’s humbling. I’ll be more than goddamn thoughtful. I’ll set the bar so high no other guy has a chance of reaching it. “I got all the meat you want.”
She rolls her eyes and smirks, but digs through the items I brought, picking out a flank steak. “Don’t you miss your house when you can’t be there?”
I’m about to say no, but she’ll know I’m lying. Earning her trust isn’t a one-and-done thing, and I’d like for us to be long term. I want Elodie to be it. I’ve never met anyone like her.
I have to start opening up more, delving deeper into things I’ve never talked about. “That house is everything I never thought I’d have. Even after I worked for the Baileys, that’s all I thought I’d be doing. It was a huge step up, so I was happywith it. To go from that to building my own home? On my own piece of property? I enjoy my house. I’m proud of it. Yeah, I miss it, but when things calm down, we can take turns with our overnights.”
A shadow crosses her face. “Things never calm down, but that’s a good thing.” She lines up an array of supplies on the island. Some sort of pasta, leafy greens, cream. She digs spices out of a cupboard. “Can you grab the saucepan from the other side of the island?”
“The way it’s going, I’m sure you’ll be able to hire the help you need in no time.”
Her lips thin, but she begins seasoning the meat. “It should be soon. I have some... payments to finish before I’ll have the funds.”
“Mortgage?”
“That’s one of them, yeah.” She waves to the fridge. “Can you grab the butter?”
As much as I enjoy being her dutiful servant, I don’t want to drop the subject of help. There’s something she’s not telling me about her financial strain, and it’s none of my damn business, but that doesn’t stop the hurt from worming its way under my ribs. Doesn’t she trust me? Surely there’s someone she can turn to. Does her sister know, or is there someone else she’s talking to?
I retrieve the butter and try to table my concerns. A few orgasms don’t mean she has to spill her guts. I’ve never been in this deep with a girl before, so what do I know about sharing secrets and concerns? I’m thirty-three and just learning how to be a good boyfriend.
What do good boyfriends do anyway?
Take her on dates. We’ve only gone on one real one. I prop my butt on the counter next to her. She’s got a couple of pans on the burners. “Can I take you out again?”
She starts to smile, then freezes. “I have so much to do to prep for the street fair.”
“I can help.”
“You’ve been doing too much. Any more, and I’ll have to offer you a benefits package.”
I lean over to check out her ass. “I’ve got some benefits in mind.”
She laughs and uses the back of her hand to push up her glasses. “Yes, to a date, but I don’t know when.”
I peer out the window. The sun is setting, but I can’t see much sky out of the back window. She was up before the sun, worked all day, and she’s in the kitchen again. “Sunday. I’m going to abduct you. We’ll go to the creek on my property and have a picnic—that I’m preparing—and I’ll come back here with you and be an extra set of hands on Monday.”
The butter in the pan is sizzling, but she ignores it and glances out the window. A stark look of longing etches into her features for mere seconds before she looks away and it’s gone. “Yes, I’d like that.”
“Then it’s a date.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Elodie
I finish pulling weeds in my parents’ garden and stand up, stretching my back. I’m worn out from a day of work. Saturdays are always so busy, and I’ll have more to do at the bakery tonight, but at least I get to be outside. Sighing, I tilt my face to the sun.
Montana summers were something I missed when I was away from home, but since I’ve returned, they slip by. The page of the calendar changes each month, but my days stay the same. I was almost to the point of hiring permanent staff. Now I feel like I just opened all over again and I’m hustling for a customer base.
I need a break. The knowledge is more acute the more I’m with Cruz.
I’m stupidly excited for a picnic tomorrow.
My exhale is more contented than before. I turn around and Clem is watching me, her arms crossed. “Something’s different about you.” She narrows her eyes and stabs a finger in my direction. “You got laid.”
I choke on an answer. “N-no.” Wait. Why am I lying about sleeping with Cruz? “Yes, actually. Several times.”
She squeals and claps her hands. “Mom and Dad have not stopped talking about him since he was over.”
