Page 51 of Dumped for a Christmas Tree Farmer

Crazy, utterly insane, frankly concerning, in Charlie’s words, but he told me he understood. And because he glanced at Bella in her pink dungarees, I knew he’d let me do this. He wouldn’t call for a psych evaluation because I agreed to add in some caveats to the contract.

But Indy Winters has drawn me to her in a way that I’ve never felt before. She’s rekindled a love for mischief and fun. I want her by my side, building, maintaining, growing. All of it, I want with her.

“I’m looking for a head of operations. You’d be overseeing maintenance of properties, new business, details of which we can discuss later. But I want to be clear on one thing. This is not a job. This is a partnership. You’d be invested in the business as much as me. We’d split it fifty-fifty—”

“That’s ridiculous, Mav. I don’t know the first thing about operations. I—”

“You have run a business since you were eighteen, all whilst caring for your mother. You’ve handled staff, money, payroll, everything. I don’t need to explain to you why you can do this job, Indigo. You just can.”

The use of her full name has her sucking in a deep breath. Usually reserved for when I’m about to pull down her panties, she’s now realizing it’s actually when I want her to submit.

“Say, I can . . . what’s the deal?”

“We trial for one year, if living in Seattle, and with me, isn’t everything you want, we adjust, or you come back here and resume your life in Bear Hills.”

“But the business—” I frown.

“Technically on loan for one year. The two of them will keep all the profits for everything they do, but they agree you can re-negotiate your contract for up to one year if you change your mind.”

She bites her lip, pulling her hands back and tucking them into the sleeves of her sweater.

“Henry and Scott, they’re both happy with that?”

I shrug. “They’ve agreed to the terms.”

“Why would they do that if they’re buying the business off you?”

“I gave them a good deal.”

“What constitutes a good deal?”

My lips quirk to the side before I run my hand over my beard. It’s grown in the last week, and I’m considering keeping it. Indy seems to like it when it rubs against her thighs.

“A dollar each.”

“A dollar each? But Mav . . . you’re going to lose so much money. I can’t let you—”

“I’m going to gain way more than what I buy your mom’s business for.” I draw her hands to my lips and kiss her knuckles. “I’m going to get peace of mind that your mom’s business, your business, is in good hands. I’m going to get updates on Bear Hills as and when I please. I’m going to see you happy, living the life you want. One that’s on your terms. I’m just hoping that will be with me.”

“This is a lot.” She pulls her hand back, gripping the edge of the table.

“Is there anything you would change? I can make amendments. Let me just call Charlie—”

“Mav, it’s perfect. It’s just . . . what if you change your mind about me? We’ve known each other for a week. This is insane.”

“What’s insane is I spent the first three days running around town instead of spending more time with you.”

She laughs, and relief cuts through my chest. “All we did those first three days was spend time together.”

I grumble, “You were working for some of it.”

“You’re crazy,” she mutters.

“Too crazy?”

She bites her lip, her eyes peeking through her lashes as she considers me. “I have one thing.”

“Anything.” I pull her hands back into mine, her eyes flitting between the contracts like she’s trying to calculate the trajectory to the moon.