He cocks his head with a knowing smirk, and for a second, I’m a kid, feeling like I’m not going to like what’s on the other side of that look.
“I peeked at the reports from this year’s harvest and compared them to previous years.”
My stomach drops. A collision of my fears and anxiety surges through me, coiling tightly. He’s going to tell me I’m not fit for the job. Why else would he be here?
“I can explain?—”
His hand lifts, stopping me. “There’s nothing to explain. The numbers are phenomenal. You kept equipment costs down by keeping up on the maintenance of the harvester, gross tons harvested was more than last year, overall, it’s looking like it’s going to be a good rest of the year for production. I’m impressed.”
After several seconds I say, “Oh…Thank you.”
He shakes his head and looks up at me over the rim of his glasses. “You need to stop convincing yourself you can’t do this. You can do this. It’s in your blood, you grew up in this world. Trust yourself. You’re the best person for the job.”
“I don’t know about that.” I smile faintly. “Gavin is probably better suited.”
His head turns, looking in either direction before speaking. “Don’t tell your brother I said this, but thank goodness he turned it down. He’s too calm and understanding. He’d let too much slide because of his good heart. Not that you don’t have a good heart, but you don’t take any shit. Not even from me, and I respect that about you.” He pauses and leans back, resting his ankle on the opposite knee. “There’s a reason I didn’t hold your hand during transition. I did exactly what my dad did for me, absolutely nothing. He fed me to the wolves when I took over and then never checked to see if I was okay. Because that’s howyou learn, you figure it out yourself. I didn’t want you to do things my way, I wanted you to do them your way.”
“Would’ve been nice if you gave me some warning and told me that beforehand.”
He chuckles. “Now what’s the fun in that?”
When I get home, I find Marisa reading in bed with Goose cuddled up to her. My girl and my dog; it’s the best sight to come home to. Within minutes I’m changed out of my work clothes and have her in my arms, my nose buried in her hair, inhaling her.
“How was your day?” she asks, closing her book, and giving me her full attention.
“Weird,” I say hesitantly while twisting the ends of her hair between my fingers, the silky strands slipping easily through my hands.
Her eyes narrow, willing me to elaborate.
“Well, first Travis came by.”
Her jaw drops while she stares at me with creased brows. “What? Why?”
I tell her about our conversation, and she’s quiet for a beat, biting her bottom lip.
“How do you feel about it?
I have to think for a moment, because ultimately, what I really feel is surprising. “As strange as it sounds, I feel bad for him. I’ve been there, but I had my family to lean on. Travis doesn’t have a family like mine, and he hardly has any friends. He’s probably going to have a hard time getting over her.”
Marisa caresses my cheek with her thumb and then runs it along my shave line. Her soft, smooth hands on me could calm even the worst of my storms.
“You’re a good guy, you know that? Someone else in your shoes would probably scream ‘I told you so’ in his face.”
I grunt a laugh. “I wanted to, but I held it in.”
Her lips brush against mine, the faintest of kisses. I feel her smile against me as she pulls away.
“I should probably tell you I got added to a group chat today with your sisters and Tawny. Is that weird for you? I know things between us are still new, and I don’t want to overstep a boundary you’re not comfortable with.”
“Baby, there is no boundary. I want you everywhere, in my house, in my bed, in my life. I pre-apologize for my crazy family, but they’re kind of part of the package.”
Her cheeks lift as a dazzling smile spreads across her face. “So, we’re really doing this, huh? Full-on public, out in the open?”
“Definitely.”
CHAPTER 42
Marisa
