Why can’t you stay here with us?
Stay for me?
I drifted away, leaving them to talk on their own, and headed for the storage shed, where we kept tools, fertilizer, and other supplies needed around the farm.
I bypassed the secret project I’d been working on, covered with a tarp just in case Noel ventured out this way, and gatheredup boxes of lights, tinsel, and ornaments we’d purchased for the tree-decorating contest. We were using cut trees, which we’d stored under cover, so the snow had missed them, thankfully. This morning, I’d arranged them in stands, bracketing the entrance to the farm, and as soon as the scavenger hunt wrapped up, folks would arrive to decorate.
Noel said he got the idea to hold both events the same day to improve turnout, and it seemed to have worked. All of the scavenger hunters planned to stay for it, in addition to a few extra folks coming out later. We’d taken RSVPs to ensure we’d have enough supplies.
“Hopper?” Noel’s voice called from the doorway.
I turned, sidestepping in front of my project, even though Noel was unlikely to recognize it for what it was beneath the tarp.
“Hey, just gathering supplies for the next event.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell everyone when I first got here,” he said, voice fragile. “I don’t want you to think I’ve been using you to make myself feel better or…or…”
I set down the box of supplies on a workbench and went to him. “I don’t think that.”
He looked at me with luminous eyes. “I love my parents, but you’re the reason I—” He stopped and swallowed. “Well, I just want you to know that I care. That you’re more than a distraction or a fling. Even if this is temporary, you’re important to me.”
I swept him into my arms. “Ah, baby, I know that.” I kissed his hair. “Don’t you know that you wear every feeling on your face?”
He drew back, looking disgruntled. “What was my face telling you when I first arrived, then?”
I smirked. “That you thought I was hot, and youhatedit.”
Noel laughed. “Someone’s got a healthy ego.”
“Am I wrong?”
He shook his head, lips tipped at the corners. “No, damn it. I thought you’d moved in and taken my place. I thought maybe you were hoping my parents would get too feeble to run the farm and pass it on to you because the prodigal son was away.” He rolled his eyes. “I was paranoid and jealous.”
“And adorable,” I said, bending to kiss the tip of his nose.
He looked unimpressed, so I continued.
“And passionate about so many things,” I said. “I’m just glad I get to be one of them.”
He went up on his tiptoes, threading his hands through my hair, and kissed me. “You’ve got my full attention, Hopper Kelly. I promise you that.”
The same questions still burned in me, but I locked them down. If Noel was going to change his whole life, give up his dreams of running a restaurant in a big city, and stay, it had to be his decision. As much as I wanted to beg, this was one instance where neither of us would enjoy it.
At least there was hope. He didn’t have a job waiting for him. He didn’thaveto go back.
If he sacrificed the big-city chef life for a home here, I’d dedicate every day to making him smile. And if he went back to it, leaving this little corner of the world behind, I’d try to survive.
But I already knew he’d be taking my heart with him.
The tree-decorating contest was a success. Not only did it get people out to the farm, but now we had six beautiful glowing trees lighting up the boundary between the tree farm and the parking area. Once I added my little surprise, the whole entrance to the farm would be transformed.
“It looks beautiful,” Maggie said from her spot next to me on the porch. Ed had already gone inside to change, and Noel had returned to the kitchen.
“Sure does,” I said with a grin. “Noel should organize events that require people to improve the farm for us more often.”
She laughed and slapped my arm. “On that note, I better get inside before that boy cooks himself into a coma. He said something about making more of that potato chowder.”
The chowder I’d whined about coming off the dinner party menu. Had he made it just for me? My chest warmed.
