He was right. I’m not ready to reciprocate, but I feel the stirring of those feelings deep in my chest.
Now, more than ever, I know I need this Austin trip. Going down the last time was helpful, but now? I need to put the past behind me and be one-hundred-percent ready to move forward with Ledger.
Chapter 33
Ledger
Iwasn’t planning on spilling my heart to Ainsley, but it just felt right. I needed her to know that I supported her through everything. Hearing her thank me for “letting” her do something broke my heart a little and made me realize I needed to show her we’re equal partners.
In more ways than one.
I have some work to do in the next couple of days to make this idea a reality, though.
Currently, I’m cooking a simple dinner of chicken stir fry and completely lost in my thoughts. I’m not freaked out by my confession; it feels more like relief. Relief that Ainsley now knows exactly how I feel for her, no more hiding it, no more pushing it deep down inside so I don’t scare her away.
The one thing I’m nervous about is this Austin trip. Not because I’m worried about Ainsley, but because I’m worry she won’t feel like I supported her enough.
“What’s got you thinking so hard?” Ainsley says as she takes the spatula from my hands and stirs dinner.
Sighing, I decide to focus on something other than my anxiety over her Austin trip. “I think I want to restructure the company a little. If what Jenna said was true, then word is getting out in areas we know nothing about, and I think we need to take advantage of the word of mouth, no matter what city it’s in.”
“I agree, but how do we even make that happen? It’s not like you can landscape remotely.” She chuckles, but all I can hear is the use of “we”.How dowemake it happen?
“I have no idea, and that’s the problem.” I’ve never seen something like this done, but it could revolutionize the company and expand the business to a level I never even thought possible.
“Then let’s brainstorm,” Ainsley says.
“No, baby, let’s eat. Work can wait.” And I mean that. I don’t want our time outside of work to be consumed with more work. I want our time to be just that—time together to lose ourselves in each other and think of nothing else except the way we make each other feel. I may not want to stay hidden, but her thought on keeping work and our personal life separated was a good one.
Ainsley plates up our dinner and sets them down on the table as I grab our drinks. Plopping down in my chair, I look at the woman who has changed every aspect of my life without even knowing.
I live for her now.
I live for her happiness, for growing our business together, for ensuring that she is living life the way she truly wants to.
Shit, what if she doesn’t want to stay in Bluebell Falls?
The thought is like a lightning bolt to my heart, but I keep my face neutral. We haven’t talked specifically about this, and for all I know, she may still not want to stay here permanently. But there’s no need to jump to conclusions before I know any facts. Maybe I’ll just come up with contingencies within the company for all the options.
“Ledger.” Ainsley says my name like this isn’t the first time she’s said it.
“Yeah? Sorry, lost in my head.”
“You okay?”
“I’m great, I promise. I just want to eat so I can take you to bed.” I smirk.
Her eyes light up, and I have to laugh at her enthusiasm.
And take her to bed I do.
I’m antsy as I walk into the office an hour away from Bluebell Falls. I’m hoping what I want to do is doable, but I won’t know until I talk to this lawyer. Ainsley heads to Austin tomorrow, and I want to get a jump on things.
“Ledger Hutton?” a man calls from the doorway.
“That’s me. How are you doing today?” I ask, trying to get my jitters out.
“Pretty good. Come in and have a seat.”
