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“Not even Mia?” Damon asks, finally looking at me.
I meet his gaze but don’t say a word. Everything that needs to be said is in my expression.
He shakes his head. “Jesus, man.”
He sighs and then sinks back into his chair. It takes a few minutes before either of us speaks again. Damon breaks the silence.
“I guess I should clarify my statement. You move fast when you want something.”
“That’s true.”
“And you want Mia.”
I swallow, close my eyes, and picture Mia. All the tension in my body fades when I see her.
“I want Mia, sure, but more than that, I need her. I’ve never felt this way about anyone. Not even with Lena. She’s kind, fun, funny, and beautiful. She’s driven and confident. Amazing with Luke. She’s perfect. I know I don’t deserve a woman like her, but I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to.”
Damon’s silent. His fingers dig into the leather armrests and they moan and creak in response. The moment stretches out forever but I don’t mind. Damon will have to come to terms with reality. Mia’s no longer his to protect. She’s mine.
“That’s not true.”
Heat rises in my chest and floods my neck and face. “What?” Damon turns to me, a half smile on his face. “That you don’t deserve a woman like Mia. You’re a great man and great friend, Wyatt. A wonderful father. Selfless and caring. And—” Damon laughs. “Sounds like I’m the one who should be fighting Mia off to date you.”
I laugh, and after a few beats, he continues. “Look, all I’m saying is that I couldn’t be happier that you two found each other. Or that you finally noticed Mia. If I didn’t think you deserved Mia, this conversation would be different. I’m protective of Mia. You know that. But I know she’s in good hands.”
Damon stands up, stretching out his arms as he groans.
“Maybe tell me next time so I don’t have to learn about it through text messages.” He laughs and then shoves his phone toward me. “The whole town knows. Maybe you should be a little more inconspicuous if you want to keep things secret.”
I stare at his phone. There are pictures of me and Mia kissing outside the Inn from every angle. Were we that oblivious? And then there’s a video of me throwing her over my shoulder and carrying her up the stairs.
I sigh, handing the phone back to Damon. Whatever. Now the entire world knows that Mia’s mine.
Damon grabs my shoulder and pulls me toward him. “I know it doesn’t need to be said, but I’ll say it anyway. Take care of her, Wyatt.”
“You know I will,” I say, grabbing his shoulder.
“I know,” Damon says, giving me a tight hug and a pat on the back before heading upstairs.
I wait a few moments, letting it all sink in, but the urge becomes irresistible. I move to the stairs, taking them three at a time as I rush toward Mia’s room, pushing it open and then closing it behind me.
“Wyatt!” Mia shout-whispers at me as she jerks upright. “What are you?—”
I swallow the rest of her words in my mouth, kissing her harshly, roughly as I tunnel my fingers through her hair. Possessing her. Laying claim once again to my girl. I should tell her about the conversation. About the cloud that’s been lifted. Tell her we don’t have to hide but that can wait until morning.
Tonight, Mia’s mine. No. She’s mine forever.
“What do you think?”
Luke’s running around with Oink and Bandit, screaming and throwing sticks. You’d think that after a weekend of hiking, climbing trees, and splitting wood, the kid would be tired. I’m getting tired watching him.
Mia’s at my side, my arm around her as I show her my little project. Big little project. The one meant to convince her to stay with me.
“I know it doesn’t look like much but think about the future. You’ll have your orchard over there. Wheat fields are already growing there. We can add more raised beds. Anything you want. Think of it as a blank canvas. Something to mold to your liking. There’s no limit to what you can do here.”
It used to be my mother’s. Still has some old raised beds, a shed, and some other infrastructure, but it’s been unused for decades.
“I know it’s not the bakery you wanted. But think about it. You and me and Luke at the farmer’s market. Selling Hartwell Family Farm produce and baked goods.”
