“Bree-bear, I missed you.” Between my amped-up schedule through the playoffs and finals and Bree finishing the renovations and scheduling the venue’s first events, we haven’t seen each other in almost two months.
She nuzzles her face into the crook of my neck. “I missed you, too.”
When she lifts her head, I do what I’ve been itching to do since I left Sarabella—I kiss her like a man starved of water.
I spin her around, pinning her against the truck door so I can hold her head and take this kiss to a whole new level. She lets out a soft moan that ignites the longing I’ve held in check for weeks.
“In case you forgot, this is a family-friendly place.” A woman’s voice I don’t recognize brings me back to awareness.
Bree smiles against my lips. “That would be Georgia.”
“TheGeorgia?” I let go of my hold on Bree so she can slide down.
She grins up at me. “The one and only.”
Known locally for her bees and honey, Georgia Manning used to work for a PR company in New York before she retired early and landed in Creeks Bend. But bees didn’t keep her busy enough, so when Bree reached out, wanting to work with Georgia and her honey, Georgia proposed a different kind of partnership.
Now she’s Bree’s partner, which couldn’t have worked out better than any of us envisioned. Where Bree is the one who brings new and original ideas to the table, Georgia has the experience and skills to bring them to life.
Bree holds her hand out. “Georgia, this is Wade.”
Dressed in boots, jeans, and a T-shirt, the middle-aged woman looks right at home here. Never would have imagined she spent most of her life in Manhattan.
“Pleased to finally meet you, Wade.” She shakes my hand, smiling. Her keen observation glides over both of us. “I have some paperwork to handle. I’m sure Bree can give you the tour and show you what we’ve done so far.”
My gaze automatically drifts to Bree, catching her blush as she tugs that freckled part of her lip between her teeth.
“I love that idea.” I study her, waiting to see if she catches what I’m really implying, that I love her, everything about her,and especially being part of this next chapter of our lives. Together. But more importantly, I’ve missed her beyond belief and want to show her.
Her eyes glitter in the sun, telling me she did and more.
“Okay, I’m going inside before you two completely lose it for each other.” Georgia’s throaty laugh drifts back as she scales the steps, and the soft bang of the screen door tells us we’re alone again.
I twine my fingers into Bree’s. “You heard the woman. Give me a tour.”
First, Bree drags me into the barn, dragging me up the stairs to the second level that used to be a wide open space for hay and storage. Now, a cozy sitting area fills the middle, flanked on three sides by doors leading to guest suites, each one sporting a sign on the door with a specific name.
Bree opens the door labeled ‘Heart-Strings.’ Bright light floods through the windows on either side of a four-poster bed covered by a fluffy beige comforter with a stripe of black musical notes dancing from one corner to the other. Music-themed pictures decorate the walls, and so many throw pillows. I still don’t get the point of those things, but Bree reassures me they’re an important part of the ambiance.
“There’s a basic bathroom in this one. Some of the other suites have soaking tubs in addition to a walk-in shower.”
“Wow, sounds luxurious.” I should take in the details of the room, but she’s what I’m most interested to drink in.
Bree laughs. “Did you think we’d use hay bales for the beds and leave a bucket in the corner?”
I roll my eyes at her. “No, just didn’t expect this level of comfort.”
“We want people to come back. Amenities make all the difference.”
She shuts the door and leads me to another suite on the back side of the barn with ‘The Forever Suite’ brandished across this door in a flourishing script.
I point to the sign. “Nice name.”
Bree grins. “We wanted something better than just the honeymoon suite, which makes it more versatile, too.”
She swings the door open to a lush room in soft rose and rich greens. A king-size bed sits on one side with a cozy sitting area in front of the fireplace.
“The fireplace is electric, but still generates heat. We didn’t want to deal with adding a chimney to the barn or using gas.”
