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The moment was interrupted when Charlie bounced into the room. “My teacher said I can help you load up Burke’s Blazer.”

Burke raised an eyebrow. “Are you missing anything important?”

Charlie shook his head. “She’s reading Olivia’s book to the class. I’ve already read it a bunch of times.”

Olivia was Charlie’s stepmom and a successful fantasy author. She’d done a ton of research to create her world of Norissamin and the dragons and brucans. Rissa hoped to work with her to create a new unit. Learning to create a world required a great deal of scientific knowledge. How land masses were created. Weather patterns. How flora and fauna adapted at different altitudes and distances from water, which ones competed for the same food, and which co-existed peacefully.

Doing world-building lessons with a class, whether in-person or online, would be fun. They could make maps or build their lands with clay. Then they could focus on creating a fantasy creature that had the correct adaptations to thrive in their land.

It would be an incredible unit, but she hadn’t been brave enough to ask Olivia about it yet. She’d only known these people for a week and she didn’t want to be pushy.

She also didn’t want to miss her opportunity. With her time at the school officially done, she could move on. Probably should move on.

But she didn’t want to.

She had a few streamed live lessons booked for the remainder of the year, but she didn’t have anywhere to be for weeks yet, not until after the Christmas break.

Could she stay?

No one had mentioned her leaving, although she didn’t think any of them would tell her if she overstayed her welcome.

Once they packed the Blazer, Charlie returned to class, and she and Burke headed back to the farm.

Burke tapped his finger on the wheel in time to the Christmas music playing softly. “Thanks for letting me tag along this week. I had fun.”

“I’m glad, but I’m sorry to take you away from your own work.”

He shrugged and grinned. “Not a problem, and I mean it. I’ve only kept a dozen accounts, and they don’t need much more than maintenance for the rest of the year.”

A dozen accounting clients sounded like a lot to her, but Burke’s work ethic was so strong she didn’t have to worry that she was taking him away from his tasks. He would always complete his work to the best of his ability.

“You can enjoy Christmas with your family. It’s probably been a while since you were all in one place at Christmas.”

Burke nodded. “It has. Between our military contracts and our various jobs all over the States, it’s been years. Too many years.”

“I’m sure it’ll be a special season for you all. You’ll have to remember to take lots of pictures to commemorate the moment.”

Burke slowed to turn into the apple farm and parked in the lot in front of the barn. He didn’t turn off the engine; instead, he turned to her with a frown. “Do you have somewhere to be?”

She shrugged. “Charlie wants to do some outdoor bubbles with Ella if the temperature is low enough.”

His lips quirked into a smile. “Only you and Charlie would hope for lower temperatures, but that’s not what I meant. I meant, did you have somewhere to be for Christmas? Do you have to travel to another school, or do you have someone waiting for you to come home?”

Shock rippled through her at his bluntness, but it shouldn’t surprise her. Burke had never been one to play games. If he wanted to know something, he asked. Rissa had never learned to be that brave.

She shook her head. “No schools booked and no one waiting.”

Burke’s eyes flared with heat. “Stay. Stay here on the farm. Be part of our Christmas.”

She’d already transferred some money to the No Phailed Apples Inn account, but she could do that again. “I already owe your family so much for the past week; I don’t know if I should impose any further.” But her words were soft and hesitant.

Burke reached over and took her hand in his. “You’re not imposing. You’re adding to our family in the very best way. Everyone loves having you here. If you hated being here, I wouldn’t stop you from leaving, but I don’t think that’s true. Please know I want you to stay with us. With me.”

His eyes glowed with sincerity and desire for her.

Rissa had been wrong about his reasons for leaving her behind all those years ago. It hadn’t been about her not being enough, not being wanted. Instead, it had been about Burke coping with his pain in the only way he knew how.

She wasn’t a burden to him. He didn’t want her to stay because he felt sorry for her.