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I know exactly where she is.
Dammit.
I look up and glance around the table. I wait until the man speaking finishes, then I say, “Excuse me, everyone, I need to make a call.”
My grandfather frowns, but I push up from my chair.
“Torin, we’ll need your input?—”
“This can’t wait,” I tell him. As if he’ll listen to my input on anything anyway.
I move toward the door and give Jonah a quick head shake to tell him I don’t need his assistance. I step into the hallway and start dialing Abigail’s number as I stride toward my office. But I don’t complete the call until I shut the door behind me.
“Hello?” she answers after only one ring.
“You weren’t supposed to go into building five, princess,” I tell her.
“You didn’t say that.” Her voice sounds thick. As if she’s choked up. “You said buildings four and five were extras. I thought they were empty.”
“I didn’t think you’d go back in there,” I say. Then I sigh. “I also didn’t realize how long it can take for those plants to bloom.”
She doesn’t laugh. She sniffs.
“Abigail,” I say huskily. “Are you crying?”
“Of course, I am. You planted me a lavender field.”
I’m not surprised she recognized the plants even when they’re far from blooming.
I smile. “Yes. Well, it won’t be much of a lavender field for another year or so. I got mature plants but didn’t realize they can take two years until their first bloom cycle.” I’m seriously annoyed by that. I wanted to give her that building full of lavender. “I’m sorry.”
She gives a shaky laugh. “Are you kidding? Don’t be sorry! My God, Torin. Most men give women bouquets of cut flowers. You planted me an entire field of the flower I love and use the most.”
I smile in spite of how disappointed I am. I knew I couldn’t keep building five a secret from her for an entire year, but I’d been looking into having blooming plants shipped in and added to the building. It was going to cost a fortune, but no one had told me no yet.
“You’re my princess, Abigail,” I say, my voice gruff. “I’ll always make sure you have what you need and what makes you happy.”
“God, I wish you were here,” she says, her voice wobbly. “I so want to…”
“Reverse farmer me?” I tease, trying to get her to smile.
She laughs and takes a breath.
“Yes,” she says. “And…just hug you.”
I feel my heart squeeze. The sex with her blows my mind. She’s so eager and open and passionate. But I want that sweeter stuff too. The stuff that says this is more than farms and fucking. “I’d love that. Both of those. All of that.”
We’re both quiet for a moment. I’m wondering how the hell I can get out of here tonight. There’s almost nothing I wouldn’t miss to go to Abigail.
There is a late dinner tonight and then again Friday night, and my grandmother will be in attendance at both, so I’ll have to stay tonight and then come back Friday. But that’s fine. I’ll make it work. Not only would it be incredibly rude to miss them, but it would hurt my grandmother if I didn’t show up. Especially because she specifically asked me to be there.
She said it was important to her that the family be together. Her emphasis on these being important family dinners was strange. My mother, grandmother, grandfather, and I have dined together often. It’s hardly a major, formal event for us to eat together. But I know that if I go back to the ranch, to Abigail, it will be incredibly hard to leave again.
Still, it’s not far. I can go back and forth. I promised Abigail that she won’t have to do all the gatherings and appearances. She’s so fucking happy on the ranch and having her there, on my territory, knowing my home makes her that happy, that comfortable, that I’m providing her the things she wants and needs, is satisfying in a way I’ve never experienced before.
I will not make her live at the palace.
But I can leave tonight as soon as the dishes are cleared. I will be with Abigail tonight.
