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“Can I tell you a secret?”
“Please.”
“I adored that old grumpy man I met weeks ago.”
“Yeah?”
“Um hmm. I felt like he just needed some love and compassion. The second I gained your trust, I knew he’d dissolve slowly. It was only a matter of time.”
“I trusted you the second I seen your face. Otherwise, I would’ve sent you hiking back up the road,” he snickered, sucking his teeth.
“I’m just happy you didn’t.”
“Me, too.”
“And I feel better knowing I’m not the only one feeling like I’m knee deep in something beyond my imagination. But, it feels right.”
“Because it is. We’re on no one’s timeline, no one’s clock but our own. However things happen, they’ll happen. Whenever they happen, they’ll happen. I’m here for the ride, prepared for the journey.”
“So am I.”
“That’s what matters most.”
Finally, I’d made it to the cheesecake that somehow remained cool. With the second fork on the spread, I cut a small piece before scooping it into my mouth.
“God,” I moaned. “Who’s responsible for this amazing dinner?”
My mouth was full, but there were questions that needed to be answered.
“And can we hire them more often?”
“As much as you’d like, Aeir.”
“That’s insanely good.”
“It is,” he agreed, taking a bite of his. “But I’ve had better.”
“Don’t hold out. Tell me where.”
“Right in that house back there, on the dining room table, six weeks ago. Again, just a few nights ago. Again, last night. This ain’t got shit on that. As a matter of fact, I’d rather have a serving of it instead.”
My nostrils flared as my nerve ending split and I froze in place. The revelation left me speechless. I watched as Malachi stood to his feet and rounded the table. He lowered his body until it was leveled with mine and then scooped me out of the chair.
As if I weighed a mere twenty pounds, he handled me like a lightweight. We traveled the length of the greenhouse, ending at the back door that led us outside, where I discovered a netted enclosure he’d created, complete with the same style of lights inside.
“Malachi!”
He ducked upon entry, sure not to snag his head in the net. The inflated mattress he laid me on top of felt nothing like the others I’d experienced. It was plush, soft, and loaded with the coziest blankets. A side table served as the resting spot for a Bluetooth speaker, bottles of water, and a box of chocolate.
“You really didn’t have to.”
“But I really did.”
His lips touched mine briefly before he pulled back completely and removed his shirt. He was prepared for dessert and I refused to deny him of his serving. I pressed my back against the mattress and allowed my dress to pool underneath my butt while spreading my legs wide, inviting him to the feast he’d requested.
TWELVE
The turning gravelin the distance woke me from my slumber. Leaning over the side of the mattress, I clutched the .45 I’d stored just underneath the edge during the setup in the event of an emergency. Escaping undetected felt impossible, but I tried my best to keep quiet and not wake Aeir.
