All their gazes landed on me.
“Yeah?” Evander’s gaze got distant like he was thinking it over. “If you want to get out from behind the desk, I hit the ground running as soon as planting season hits. I’m thinking of expanding.”
“Pumpkins?” Alder asked.
“Orchard,” he said. “My cousin Isla was complaining that she can’t get as many local pears as she wants for her brewery. I can take an acre or two from one of the grazing pastures. Could use some extra hands.”
“Clover’s due date is in May, so I’ll be around.” I’d make sure of it. If I picked up a contract or two, I could plan around it.
What if it caused an issue? What if Clover delivered early and I was gone? A client wouldn’t like me taking time off if I just signed on with them. I stuffed that concern away. I’d figure it out later.
Clover popped out of the kitchen, and I rose and crossed toward her.
“Need anything?” I asked. A dusting of flour streaked across her cheek. I wiped it off, cupping her face and rubbing my thumb over it. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m good.” She quirked her lips and glanced over my shoulder.
Oh. I was caressing her in front of her family. I was supposed to be just her roommate. Dropping my hand, I forced myself not to look back and see how many eyes were on us. They wouldn’t trust me with their sister, or in Weston’s case, his daughter, if they knew what I planned to do to her each day until Monday morning.
She swiped at the spot on her cheek that was now clean. “I just wanted to know if you like pumpkin pie or apple pie, and if you like sugar cookies or snowballs.”
“Do I have to pick just one?”
She smiled. “One of each. Then on the second plate, you can do the other kind.”
“I hope you made a lot.”
“Trust me, we do,” she said sagely and brushed the back of her wrist against her cheek. Another smudge of flour appeared.
I chuckled and wiped it away, never tiring of touching her soft skin. “Are you one of the desserts?”
Her eyes flared. Dammit. I did not say that in front of her dad. All of her brothers.
Jasper groaned. “See? This is what I mean. Maybe I can’t be your roommate.”
She chortled, but embarrassment flooded her face. “You’re going to move in with Jasper?”
“He’s going to move in with me,” I clarified, helping her change the subject as much as possible without looking like we got busted having sex.
“Bachelor uncles,” Jasper added, like he couldn’t help himself. “Whenever the sale happens, I’ll be living with your ex-husband.”
A knife twisted in my gut. Ex. I was going to need a lot of dessert to get that bad taste out of my mouth.
Clover
* * *
Why did it feel like I was cooking a last meal?
I knew why, and my appetite stayed tucked into a dark corner despite how good the Parmesan meatballs smelled. I had pasta cooked and waiting to go with the sauce I was currently stirring.
My bag was packed by the front door. In the morning, I would grab my toiletries and…move out. The movers were coming tomorrow afternoon, but Van was dealing with them. I’d be furniture shopping for my new place.
“Smells good.” Van entered the kitchen and leaned against the counter. One plate of cookies we’d brought home from Thanksgiving was nearly empty. The rest were frozen. He plucked a broken Santa hat up and popped it into his mouth.
“You’re going to ruin your appetite.”
“I can eat this whole plate and then that entire pan.” He peeked into the sink and let out an appreciative groan. “Is that penne? I’m never going to cook for myself like this.”
