Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 54852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 274(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
“I’m not going anywhere.” I pulled him the rest of the way onto me, his weight on my chest right and perfect, exactly where I wanted him.
“You’re not?” His tone was solemn, like he was asking about more than the next hour.
“I’ve got a table to fix, a chicken coop to design for your mom, and an old-fashioned Fourth of July at the farm to drag you to.” I kissed him lightly on the mouth. “Reckon I’m sticking around awhile.”
“Good.”
It was good. All of it. The sex. The company. The laughs. The growing list of things I wanted to do for and with him. And my list might be longer than the time we’d have together, but that was a problem for later. Tonight was for kissing and touching and being, exactly how I was always telling him to live.
Chapter Seventeen
Harrison
“Do you think Finn will let me pick out my chickens today?” Mom smoothed her red-white-and-blue, apron-style dress after climbing into my car and buckling up.
I pulled out of her driveway and drove slowly down her street, noting the porches festooned with festive flags and bunting. July fourth had dawned with clear skies and warm temperatures that promised perfect picnic weather.
“I think Finn is likely to be super busy today.” We were headed to the farm for their annual Fourth of July picnic, an event that Finn had said would feature family-friendly activities, live music, and locally produced foods. Mom had been anticipating the day for weeks now, but even so, I was still a little surprised at her energy level. “And shouldn’t you be tired after yesterday?”
“Eh. What’s thirty thousand tourists between friends?” She gave a demure shrug. The day before, July third, had been Burlington’s annual Independence Day celebration, with huge numbers of visitors at the waterfront and downtown for the big fireworks show over the lake and an assortment of other festivities. All the foot traffic had meant booming business for us. I’d worked fourteen hours, but it had been worth it.
“A few more days like that one and our opening numbers will be very nice indeed.”
“You and your spreadsheets.” She shook her head as I exited her neighborhood and headed south. “Just wait until next year when the wine bar is up and running, and we can take advantage of the post-fireworks crowds.”
“I know.” My spreadsheets were certainly looking forward to the extra income from the wine bar portion of Vino and Veritas. Renovations were almost done, staff members were being hired, and the small-plates menu was being planned. “Speaking of, how are Tanner’s wine lessons coming?”
“He’s a sweet man. He’ll do just fine.” Knowing her the praise meant that he was hopeless when it came to picking wines, but she was ready to adopt him, nonetheless, and wouldn’t hear of any critique of his abilities.
“Maybe you can collect employees, not poultry.” My tone teased like the breeze ruffling the nearby oaks and maples, but it wasn’t unkind. Frustrating though it could be, her compassion always inspired me.
“Oh, I still want chickens too,” she said lightly, undeterred. “Finn says he has the perfect starter coop for me. I’m looking forward to my eggs already.”
“Mm-hmm.” I made a noncommittal sound because I figured chances were very high that she wouldn’t be able to part the chickens from their eggs or would wind up gifting them away. “Just remember what Finn said—no clothing on the chickens and no leashes.”
“The two of you are no fun.” Laughing, she leaned back in her seat. “Speaking of fun, though, how are things going with him?”
“We’re friends.” I kept my eyes on the road. Traffic was heavier than usual, but I also dared not meet her gaze.
“Friends of the late-night variety?”
“Mother.”
I didn’t want to jinx things by talking about it. The past few weeks, Finn and I had sent a steady stream of text messages back and forth, shared more than a few light suppers, indulged in a lot of making out, and had absolutely zero discussions about exactly what we were doing.
He didn’t want anything serious, yet he’d spent several hours meticulously fixing my table leg, amidst other projects he’d taken on. I was a terrible bet for a relationship, yet I kept dreaming up things I wanted to share with him. We were a pair of ostriches, and knowing Finn, he’d like that metaphor. Heck, if I were a literal ostrich, there might be a better chance that he’d keep me around. I could keep the attack-peacocks company at the farm. Nothing had changed about our mutual realities, and yet it felt like everything was changing, and I absolutely was not ready to have that discussion with my mother.
“All right. Keep your secrets.” Mom sighed as I made the now-familiar turn toward Old Church Road. “I’m only trying to encourage—”
“Please don’t. I mean that with love. And don’t tease him today, please.” I knew Finn was out, but that didn’t mean that he wanted the general population to know that we had something going on. And the last thing we needed was his mother and sisters joining forces with Mom.