Me: Guess who’s the new Manager of Farm Operations and Social Media Director?
It didn’t take long for the reply to come through, and I rolled my eyes affectionately when I read it.
Grandma Nola: Is it Larry? No, wait, did they offer it to Becca? I haven’t met her yet, but she sounds like a peach.
Me: Ha. Ha.
Grandma Nola: I’m just pulling your leg. Congratulations, MacKenzie Eloise. I knew you had it in you.
The recognition from my favorite person in the world had me clutching my phone a little tighter, suddenly grateful we were texting and not on a video call.
Me: Thanks, Grandma.
Grandma Nola: We’re in the RV. Should be in Kirby Falls by Monday morning. Can’t wait to see you, sugar.
I smiled, excited to have her and my grandfather home for the holidays.
Me: Drive safe. See you soon.
I was just returning my phone to the back pocket of my jeans when I heard a low “Psst!” from behind me.
Spinning around, I caught sight of Brady peeking around the corner of the building. “Hey,” he whispered.
“Hey,” I whispered back, crooking my finger and urging him closer.
He looked good. Brown hair messily styled to within an inch of its life, blue eyes dancing with mischief, puffy vest in place over a bright yellow flannel.
“No suspenders?” I pouted when he came to stand before me.
His grin widened. “I knew how they affected you. Couldn’t have you mauling me in front of our family and friends on our first covert operation.”
I gave him a flat stare, but it was ruined by the fizzy happiness bubbling inside me, spilling out alongside a smile I couldn’t contain.
I scanned the area around us. We were on the back side of the Bake Shop with only a plowed winter field for company. I checked my watch and figured we had time.
Reaching out, I snagged Brady’s hand and towed him inside Will’s office.My office, I mentally corrected.
The blinds on the lone window were already closed, but I locked the door in case Will or Becca wandered back over.
“Ohhh, another stakeout?” Brady asked, clearly enjoying sneaking around.
I urged him to sit on the desk and then stepped between his legs, unbuttoning his flannel as I went. “Only if you prefer a stakeout without pants on.”
Brady stilled my hands, which had just latched on to the waistband of his jeans. His gaze searched mine, but I could see the excitement there, too. It mirrored mine.
I was giddy with the prospect of this new ... thing between us. I still didn’t understand it, but now I was free to look and touch and taste. And I wanted to do that right now.
“I don’t have a condom,” he finally said.
I nodded. “That’s okay. Change of plans.” And then I dropped to my knees, unzipping his jeans as I went.
“Shit,” he breathed above me, a little tortured and a lot desperate.
I worked on shimmying his pants partway down his lean hips while Brady focused on getting his shirt and vest all the way off.
He kept up a steady stream of chatter while we got him indecent. “Should we really be in here? Will is so grumpy. I don’t want him to kill me for desecrating his office.”
As I leaned in to playfully bite the edge of his hip bone, I fought the urge to tell him it would be my office in another week or so. But it felt too soon. I wanted to wait until it was real to tell Brady. This wasn’t the same as texting my grandmother out of sheer excitement. If I shared my news with someone outside the family, then it would be out there. And Will still had to train me. He could easily fire me out of annoyance, thinking I wasn’t mature enough or smart enough to take over for him.
