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She takes a huge sip and sighs, her rosy lips pulling into a tight smile. “They’ve all been poached by that new place on the other side of town. Offered them full benefits and higher pay. I couldn’t afford to compete with that.”
I push my way out of my truck and slam the door shut with my boot, dragging my hat off my head. “Are you trying to tell me that you’ve got no help out here at all?” I don’t think I’ve ever been this livid. How can all of them have left her high and dry?
“No,” she scoffs. “Of course not. I’ve got Granny!”
My head reels and I lean back against my truck door. “Your Granny can’t help you with half the stuff around this place. I meant help with the animals and stuff.” I study everything closer.
“Where’s all your stock?” I have a bad feeling I know the answer. But I wait impatiently to find out if I’m right.
She huffs. “It’s really none of your business, Sebastian.” She kicks at the dirt with her booted foot and I know I’m right.
“You sold them.” My voice is low and final. She doesn’t bother arguing.
“I had to. I didn’t have enough help to take care of everything.”
“Fine. I’ll loan you a couple of my guys until you get back up and running.”
“I can’t afford to pay them.”
“Perhaps you misunderstood me. I didn’t mean you’re paying them. I am.”
Her cheeks flush red and she bites those tempting rosy lips. Full and sweet and I’m just dying to get a taste. “There’s no way that I’m letting you do that, Sebastian. This is my place. It’s my responsibility.”
I stand up straight and grab her arms, dragging her up against me, smiling when she goes rigid and her eyes heat up. It might be anger, I don’t know. But it’s something hot enough to burn up the air around us like a fucking four-alarm fire.
“I didn’t ask you for your permission, Misty. You’re taking the help. I’ve been patient here but I just don’t think you’re getting it.” I lift her up until her toes are dangling off the ground and then turn to push her into my truck and tuck myself up tight against her. Her sapphire blue eyes widen and then her pink tongue darts out to trail along those lush lips. “You’re mine. You always have been. No other man will ever have you. Not Rusty, not anyone else. So get used to it.”
She shakes her head and the coffee drops from her fingers, splashing all over the dirt under our feet. “No,” she breathes out roughly. “That’s not happening.”
“It is. I’m not going away this time. And I’m not letting you run any more. We’ll do this dance a little longer. Sure, we can do that. You’re going to be my wife, so I’ll gladly let you play around a little bit. Let you get used to the idea that we belong together and we always have. But I’m not backing off this time. You take me as I am. I’m not your best friend, I’m not your fucking enemy. I’m your whole fucking world, baby girl.”
And I slam my mouth down on hers when her lips part in shock. I close my eyes and breathe in the scent of her. She’s soft and sweet under my hands and the fucking peppermint scent that always clings to her now envelopes me like I’m living in a damn candy cane. And I love it. It’s addictive and I’m all in for it. All in on this.
I pant and drag her closer and her legs come up to wrap around my hips, opening her rounded thighs in her rough jeans up to my body. I can almost feel her wet heat right up against my skin and it’s too much and yet not enough. It will never be enough. I’m going to be craving this woman until the day I die.
I pull back and stare down at her flushed face and I almost howl with desire when her blue eyes open up all slumberous and needy.
I palm her cheek and she just stares up at me. “Now… we’ve got some French hens and turtle doves to hunt down. Let’s get this show on the road.”
CHAPTER7
MISTLETOE
I smileat the nice old lady as she hands over the four turtle doves on the weathervane. Each direction has a turtle dove at its end.
I honestly don’t know how the hell Sebastian is hunting this shit down but each thing is unique. The three French hens ended up being yard ornaments in neon paint. I’ve never seen anything like them.
And now this weathervane? It’s perfect.
“Thank you, Mrs. Collins. This is just perfect for the auction.”
“Oh, that’s all right, dear. I wanted to find a nice, new home for it anyway.”
Sebastian grins back at her as he settles the carefully wrapped package in the back of his truck. “It’s so nice of you to donate it for the kids. I know it will go to good use.”
“It’s my pleasure. I grew up in foster care part of the time when I was young. Until my parents adopted me at fifteen. It’s important that neglected kids have somewhere to go to help them.”
I lean forward and hug her. “Thank you so much. I hope that we can help a ton of kids out there. It’s so important.”
