Page 77 of Out of Place

“You ok with Olivia changing the house, Ms. Dottie?” I ask, finding my seat at the kitchen table.

She looks around for a moment, taking in the kitchen. By the looks of it, I don’t think the house has ever been renovated. It could definitely use some TLC. And I know Olivia hated the room she was staying in. “Too much wood,” she told me the first night I stayed over with her.

“I think it’ll be good. I’ve lived here a long time, and it’s always been like this. My parents and grandparents never saw fit to change anything. Underwood Farms could use a set of fresh eyes and ideas. Olivia is just the one to do it. She can carry on the legacy.”

“Damn right,” Olivia interjects.

Dottie laughs. “You might have to rein her in a little, Landon, but for the most part, I think she’s got some good plans.”

I know Olivia probably has something over the top in mind because that’s just who she is. It’s what I love about her. She’s over the top. But I wouldn’t want her any other way.

We sit around the table talking and eating, and it feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

After dinner, I don’t give Olivia a choice as I carry her to my truck. She’s staying with me tonight. I need her in my bed. I need her arms and legs wrapped around me all night, and I want her right there when I wake up in the morning.

She doesn’t protest because she wants it as badly as I do. She smiles as I drive through the town. She’s happy to be here, and that makes my heart so full. My favorite person in my favorite town.

When we pull up to my small bungalow, I turn the truck off, and we sit silently for a moment.

She’s staring at my house when she says, “You know, Dottie said that once I’m comfortable on my own, she’s going to move to the house her parents lived in when they retired. So, I’d be all alone in that big old house.” She flicks her eyes to me with a smirk, and my heart pounds in my chest.

“Sweetheart, are you asking me to move in with you?” I ask.

“Hell, yes.”

As much as I’d miss the first house that I bought on my own, it’s a no-brainer. Of course, I’ll move in with her. There’s no place I’d rather be—on my favorite farm with my favorite girl.

“Well, then hell yes, I want to move in with you.”

She smiles. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

We get out of the truck, and she runs up my front steps. I take her to my bedroom and show her just how much I fucking missed her.

Olivia

Eight months later

The kitchen was the first thing on my list of renovations because I realized it was where everyone spent most of their time. Even though it’s been done for three months now, I still have trouble finding everything.

I’m currently looking through one of the cabinets for Aunt Dottie’s large red casserole dish. When she moved out a few months ago, she was nice enough to leave some of her favorite things with me, telling me they belonged with the house, not her.

Dottie is still very much part of the business. She’s at the house every day to go over budgets and planning and everything else I didn’t know existed until she took me into her office and gave it to me straight. It was. . . a lot. I’ve spent more than a few nights crying on Landon’s shoulder, telling him I don’t know if I can do this. He, of course, talked some sense into me like he always does. He’s really been a rock for me through this entire process.

“Hey, sweetheart. What’re you doing?” Landon asks as he walks down the hall. He’s already cleaned up from work. He had plenty of time because, unlike Dottie, I don’t have dinner ready immediately after everyone finishes working. Landon doesn’t seem to mind, though. Sometimes, he even cooks dinner. Since neither of us really knows what we’re doing in the kitchen, it’s definitely been an experience. We’ve eaten more burned chicken than I care to admit, and I’m pressing hard for this town to get a damn DoorDash driver and more restaurants.

“Trying to find the casserole dish so I can cook dinner,” I tell him. I look over my shoulder and do a double-take. He’s in his nice jeans and a light pink button-down shirt I’ve never seen before. My brows crinkle together. “What are you doing?”

“I have a surprise for you tonight. Go upstairs and change into the outfit on the bed.”

I clap my hands together and squeal, forgetting all about the casserole dish. I love surprises. I quickly give him a kiss before running down the hall, past our newly furnished living room, and up the stairs. I pass the room I used to stay in and head to the primary suite, which I painted a calming cream color. The furniture is all new and black matte and makes this place feel a little more modern.

In the center of our fluffy white bed is a hot pink mini dress I’ve never seen before. I pick it up and hold it against me. It’s sparkly, with spaghetti straps and a V-neck, and when I check the tag, I see it’s from one of my favorite designers.

I wonder how Landon got this, or more importantly, why he got this.

I’m sure he’ll explain it to me soon enough. I quickly change and take my hair out of the ponytail it’s been in all day. Luckily, I curled it yesterday so it still has some style. All I have to do is fluff it up and add some spray. My makeup is still decent from this morning, too. Since I’m not out in the dirt as much these days, I take the time to put makeup on in the mornings. It makes me feel a little more like me.

Once I check myself in the mirror, I head downstairs, where Landon is waiting by the back door.