Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 70444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
“It’s a shame you have to leave so soon.”
I frown. “I know. I’ve loved being here. I can’t thank you enough for the opportunity.”
“I know about your little...arrangement,” Willa whispers.
“What do you mean?”
“With my grandson.”
I swallow hard. “Oh.”
“I may be getting older, but I see just fine.”
“I still don’t understand.”
“He’s in love with you, Oakley. I know you two were just pretending to date.”
“You did?”
“Of course. I’m aware it happened because his ex was here, but I also know you can’t fake real feelings.”
“I-I’m not sure about that.”
She pats my shoulder. “Trust me, dear. He’s smitten with you.”
Something more is brewing between us, but we agreed to make the most of our time together until I had to leave. That’s all it could be.
“I very much feel the same,” I admit. “Maybe it’s just a right person, wrong time kind of situation.”
“I know you live far away, but I hope you’ll at least come back to visit. You’re basically a part of our family now.”
“I hope so too,” I tell her honestly, though I’m not sure that’ll be possible. She shoots me a wink, and we join everyone in the living room.
After an hour of chatting, Finn and I leave. Between my text conversation with my sister this morning, and then Levi, and now his grandmother, my head is spinning. I hate that everyone knows I’ll be the reason for his heartbreak.
It won’t be easy for me, either. But what choice do I have?
“You okay?” Finn glances over at me as he drives us to his house.
“Can you pull over?” I ask.
We’re only a few minutes away, but this can’t wait.
“Sure, is everything okay?”
As soon as he puts the truck in park, I climb over and straddle him. He quickly moves his seat back to give us more room.
I crash my lips to his, he braces my hips, and together we rock against each other.
“Pull your pants down,” I order, lifting my skirt as he does.
Then he moves my panties to the side and lines up our centers before I impale myself on him. We moan in unison as we frantically make love.
I can’t get enough and can already feel him slipping away. I’m going to miss him more than I want to admit.
“Fuck, that was hot,” he murmurs after we come down from our highs.
“We steamed up the windows.” I laugh as I shimmy my dress down and sit next to him.
He waggles his brows. “Now, let’s go home and steam up the shower.”
I snort at his joke. “Lead the way, Country Boy.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
FINN
DAY 17
Tomorrow is the last day of the harvest festival, and Oakley has been painting her ass off, trying to finish in time. After she worked on it for a couple of hours this morning, we strolled through the pumpkin patch.
Once it got too crowded, we grabbed coffee, then left. Oakley’s deadline is looming, and all finishing touches have to be added so it can dry.
When we walk into my house, she immediately grabs her brushes and gets to work.
“Am I bothering you?” I ask, standing behind her and admiring her delicate brushstrokes.
“No, not at all. You’re the only person I don’t mind watching,” she admits, looking over her shoulder. “Grab a seat if you want. I’m just adding a few tiny details.”
“Wish I could, but I have some work to do today.”
She smiles. “I understand. You know where I’ll be.”
It’s taken us all week to clean up after the centennial celebration. The stage had to be torn down, and all the picnic tables, chairs, and hay bales had to be put away. The main storage barn is a disaster, and I promised my grandfather I’d have it organized before Monday—which is tomorrow. I’ve been procrastinating, but I’m a man of my word.
When I arrive, I immediately start moving things around to make room to walk. I appreciate the task because it keeps my mind busy. Oakley’s leaving on Tuesday, something I’ve been dreading for too long. And I know, there won’t be anyone who can convince her to stay, not even me.
Spending time with her this past week has been incredible, but I feel like we’ve just gotten started. When she wasn’t working, we hung out, and when she was, she’d let me watch her paint while we chatted.
I’m completely and utterly entranced by her. Even though I’m older, she’s the brilliant one who teaches me more than I could ever teach her.
We haven’t talked about what will happen when she leaves—it’s the elephant in the room that we’ve avoided. I’m not sure what I’d even say anyway.
Stay here?
Don’t get on that plane?
Sounds ridiculous.
“What’s up?” I hear a voice say from behind and nearly jump out of my skin.
“Fuck,” I cuss at my cousin Silas. “How about you not give me a heart attack?”
“Too jumpy for my liking,” he says with a chuckle. “Have some more chairs for ya.”