“I couldn’t ask you to waste your weekends.”
“What else am I doing?”
“Well, if I can be completely selfish… I’d like to steal you away on Sundays so we can spend time together.”
“As my new boss, I’m sure you can give me the afternoon off.” She wiggled her eyebrows.
“Ez, you don’t have to…”
“I worked more than a few summers in the shop. I’m perfectly capable of scooping ice cream and making a milkshake. If Mim doesn’t mind watching Til, I’d only need Bron to walk me through any changes to the register and get me a uniform.”
“You really want to?”
“Sure.” Erin grinned. “I can still rock the pink polo shirt.”
“You really,reallywant to?”
“Yes, Cal. I’m perfectly sure I want to help out. That’s part of this—ofus—isn’t it?”
“Okay, well…” I downplayed how excited I was that she was interested in the farm with a slight shrug. “I’ll ask Bron to set you up in the payroll—”
Erin barked a surprised laugh. “There’s no need for that.”
“Of course there is. If you’re working, you should be paid, just like everyone else.”
“And last time I checked, I’m staying for free in one of your cottages. That’s money you could be earning every night and is worth a lot more than selling tokens to pick berries and scoop ice cream.”
“I’ve got an alternative solution for that problem. Hear me out, okay?”
“O…kay?”
“Move into the house—”
“Cal!”
“You could take any of the rooms upstairs. Better yet, sleep in my room. I promise I’ll be a perfect gentleman. No funny business. I swear. And then you won’t feel guilty if I pay you for the work you do on the farm, just like I pay everyone else.”
“Cal… that’s…” She bit down on her lip.
I sighed. “I know it’s too soon, Ez. I do. I just…” The picnic basket in my hand was suddenly heavier than a boulder as the strength seeped out of me. “Is it so wrong I want you around all the time?” What would I give to fall asleep next to her? Almost anything.
Erin’s fingers curled around my bicep. “I like knowing that you want me around.” She kissed my jaw.
The rest of the walk was silent except for when I hollered out for Matilda to pause her stomping so we could set up by the river. I dropped the picnic basket on the grass, and with a quick flick, the checkered blanket was stretched out for us to sit down.
Erin dropped the oversized bag stuffed with towels and clothes. She shielded her eyes and squinted to look down at her watch. “What if we have a snack first—”
“No snack!” Matilda stomped her foot. “Swimming!”
Erin frowned. “Til, that’s not very nice manners.”
“But…” Matilda’s bottom lip popped out, and she turned longing eyes on the river sparkling only a few feet away.
“Itisscorching after all that stomping,” I said.
Erin sighed. Two against one. She’d lost this battle. “Okay, a quick swim to test out the water and then a snack, okay?”
Matilda nodded eagerly. Erin tried to wrestle the little girl into the floaty vest, but she was too busy twisting and bouncing in place to cooperate. She wanted me to see her outfit. The pink-and-purple vest had a tail on the back, which she showed off by wiggling her bottom to make it swish.
