AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Probably in hopes of sharing the steak.
But that also meant I didn’t have to share my bed with anyone other than Helena. If she’d have me.
“You look incredible.”
She smiled up at me. “Like my new dress?”
“I do. You could be wearing one of my T-shirts and I’d think you were equally beautiful, but I love all of this.” I lightly twirled her out from where I’d caught her close.
She gave me a delighted laugh as the ruffle of her dress floated around her and my chest tightened at the length of leg it showed from a slit I’d missed during my first perusal.
“Bells dressed me, to be honest.”
“Bells?”
“My new…friend. Laverne hired her to help with the party planning at The Lodge.”
“Oh, that’s right. Grayson?”
She nodded. “Belinda, but she goes by Bells. I like her. She’s staggeringly beautiful, but she’s also very smart. I think Laverne found something special in hiring her.”
“Is that so?” I drew her hand up to my shoulder and slid my hand along the silky material that hugged her curves. “Maybe she’s just playing off what makes you special. Thought about that?”
“Oh, no. I’m just helping out.”
“I think you’re doing a bit more than that.” As always, the way she melted into me unlocked something I hadn’t realized was missing for so long. “Laverne said Cara has been much more confident since she started working with you.”
“She just needed a little boost.”
I tipped up her chin to meet her gaze. “Don’t downplay what you’re doing for my family. It may have started as a mistake, but you’ve opened up a whole new corner of The Lodge for Laverne’s staff.”
“She would have figured it out. It was just waiting for them to realize the garden was perfect for parties. Weather permitting.” She crossed her fingers. “May it cooperate with us or we’re in real trouble.”
“Lucky for you we have access to a bunch of tents if need be. We’ve done a few outdoor weddings in the field where Rachel’s new boozy bus was parked.” I drew her in tighter against me, so our thighs rubbed together. “And you might just have someone who would help set that up.”
She stared at my lips before her gaze rose to meet mine. “And who might that be?”
I lowered my mouth until we were a few inches apart. “Maybe my idiot brothers. Definitely me.”
Her breath whispered along my bottom lip as we swayed into a slow box step. I’d turned on music upstairs in my room and the song was a distant hum. The air between us went beyond music and seemed to vibrate with so much more. “I love that you all help one another here. I’m not used to that. The people I know are usually out for number one, no matter who gets hurt.”
“Maybe those aren’t the people you should be around.”
I swallowed down the need to drag her even closer. To bring her tight into my protective forcefield. With every moment she was in my life, it felt like she belonged here. As if she was meant to be at the orchard.
Meant for me.
I wasn’t a fanciful man, but she made me want to believe in it.
Believe in someone other than my family.
“Maybe I shouldn’t.” Her voice was quiet. Almost as if she was afraid to say what she wanted too loud. Her hands slid up along my shoulders to link behind my neck. “Did you do all this for me?”
I brushed my nose along hers. “With a little help.”
“You shouldn’t—”
“If you say I shouldn’t have gone to the trouble, you can just be quiet now. You deserve to be wooed.”
