After our little rendezvous in the tent, he packed my stuff in my bag for me and insisted that he’d pack up camp later today.
He drove me home so I could quickly change, then stopped at Lakeside Grounds on the way to the diner to get me a coffee and breakfast sandwich, another thing he insisted on doing for me.
Now we’re parked outside of the diner and I watch as Henry rounds the truck before I can get out and opens the door for me. He grabs my hand and helps me out of the seat like the gentleman he is. While I feel like I should be self conscious about this more-than-friends gesture, a sense of pride overtakes me as he claims me like this.
“I had fun last night.” He rubs my hand with the pad of his thumb. “I think I would’ve ran into you at some point in life but I’m happy I came here,” he gestures to the diner behind us, “and that you were here too and it led us to right now.”
With his other hand, he cups my jaw, bringing my mouth to his. I know that anyone inside the diner can see us but I don’t care, I wrap my arms around his neck and deepen the kiss.
Henry Bellwood deserves to be shown off and I want everyone to know he’s mine. At least mine for now.
“Have a good day at work.” He kisses my cheek and leans in to mumble something in my ear. “Don’t forget about how wet you were for me last night and how you came all over my face.”
“Henry!” I screech and he chuckles.
“Bye, Maisie,” another kiss to my cheek, “I’ll see you soon.”
He leans against the passenger side door until I get inside and sends me a soft wave before he gets back in the truck and drives away.
“Maisie Eloise Winslow, did I just see that boy kiss you goodbye?!” Kevin yells when I enter the kitchen to grab my apron.
“Care to yell a little louder so everyone can hear?” I say sarcastically.
“I saw the chemistry you two had from the second you met, I’m just happy I was right!”
“There’s nothing more than just friends,” I pause, “with benefits.”
“Friends, my ass! That man is head over heels for you.”
“Even if that’s true, the real truth is he’s leaving and I’m staying.” If he asked me to, I would squeeze myself into his luggage and leave with him.
“Hmm,” he eyes me skeptically, “I just don’t want you getting hurt. I haven’t seen you this… happy in a while and I know it’s that boy. He’s good to you, I don’t want that breaking your heart.”
“I’ll be okay.” I walk up to him, embracing him in a hug. “I promise.”
“I’ll punch his cute little face if he hurts you.” He laughs and breaks our hug. “Not sure if my punch will do much damage, but I’ll try.”
“I don’t think you’ll need to do that, but I appreciate the offer.”
35
HENRY
“Long time, no see,” Miles announces as I unlock the door to the Inn.
“I leave for one night and now you miss me?” I reply sarcastically, walking to the front desk where he’s rummaging through paperwork. “What’s the plan today, boss?”
“I have painters coming in about an hour. I decided I’d rather pay someone to do that than fuck it up ourselves.”
“Fair point.”
“We got a huge shipment over the weekend of pillows, comforters, sheets and all that stuff, and I just need help taking inventory, if you don’t mind.”
“I went to school for numbers, I’m down for the count.” I wink and he rolls his eyes but I see a smile on his face at my joke, so I call that a win.
We spend the next few hours counting inventory. Another shipment of towels and toiletries come in so we decide to knock that out too and make sure those numbers are all correct.
“How was your night with Maisie?” Miles asks. “Skip the shit I don’t want to hear from my cousin.”
