Shit. He’d zoned right out. “Which one?”
“Chick Inn Time. I think it works with the inn, and it keeps it separate from the duck’s place. We don’t want to confuse the guests.”
So far, the inn’s guests had wanted to wander the entire property, see the barns, the trees, the pond, the ducks, and Fox—all of it. Apparently, The Worminator was the biggest hit. This little farm in Vermont would spread environmental consciousness, one guest at a time.
Seth brushed his lips lightly over Mara’s. “Chick Inn Time, it is. We’ll have to make a sign.”
Jolie nodded. “Amber and I were talking with Ford about making signs for different areas of the property. The guests like to wander, so it would be good to put signs on the barns and along the pathways, too.”
Ford pulled out his phone. “I think we should keep them all similar, to add to the cohesive feel of the place. The one Nimii and Elina designed for The Worminator is great. If we keep the new ones in line with that, we should be good.”
Jolie looked around the area. “We should come up with names for the three barns, too. Maybe the Toy Room for Lawson’s barn. That would match the room at the inn.”
Mara bounced. “I like that. We’ll have to think of the rest later. Kimi’s here.”
She grabbed Seth’s hand and tugged him into a jog to meet the veterinarian, where she parked near the inn.
Kimi’s grin matched Mara’s, and he knew the vet didn’t miss the way they held hands.
Two cages in the truck’s bed held chickens, all squawking in unison. Kimi lowered the tailgate, and Seth jumped into the back of the truck to move the cages to the edge.
Mara beamed. “Hello, ladies. You’re going to like it here. We’ve got a new home prepared for you. We named it this morning, and we’ll make a sign for you. Welcome to Chick Inn Time.”
Kimi laughed. “I love it. You fit in so well with the silliness of Phail. I’m so glad you’ve all come to the area.”
Seth watched moisture form in Mara’s eyes, but she blinked away the happy tears. “Thanks. It’s become home so quickly. I’ve always lived in big cities. Now, I can’t imagine moving away from here.”
And that was precisely the news Seth wanted to hear.
When Mara’s happy eyes met his, he nodded. “Same.”
Her sparkle brightened, and he had to steal another kiss.
Then he hoisted the crates. “Lead the way, ladies. It’s Chick Inn Time.”
Chapter 16
I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here
Mara bounced all the way to Chick Inn Time. Everything about it made her smile, and that wasn’t just the relief that Ford and Seth appeared to have gotten through the big brother idiocy.
It wasn’t as if she were a teenager anymore. Not that she’d ever brought a high school boyfriend home. A dad and eight older brothers were too intimidating for any of the boys she’d met in school.
None of those relationships had lasted more than a few weeks, and none had progressed past a few kisses.
She’d never been lit on fire by any of the kisses. And she’d never lit any of those boys on fire either.
Had she been searching for Seth all along?
She’d had her share of relationships in her twenties, but while they’d lasted longer, they’d all fallen apart after a few months. Without drama, proving intense feelings had never been involved.
She hadn’t even slept with Seth yet, and she knew if they broke up, she’d be destroyed right down to her toes.
Which meant she wasn’t going to screw it up. And they certainly would never drift apart without a single protest. She would fight to keep him in her life. She hoped he’d do the same for her.
Which was heaping a lot of expectations on a relationship that hadn’t progressed to sex yet.
It was going to be fabulous.
