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“I’ve never felt like this before.”
“Me either.”
“Then we’re here for each other, caring for each other’s feelings and nurturing this relationship. Nothing will come between us.” He kissed me one more time, then pulled me into the living room. “We’re here. Dishes are done, and laundry is washing. How many episodes can we watch tonight?”
“Just two. I need to take a shower and go to bed early.”
“You got it,” Knox said as he cuddled with Addy on the couch.
His relationship with her was easy and fun. She didn’t shy away from his affection. In fact, she seemed to soak it up. She was like a flower wilting in the sun without water. She needed more love than I had to give. I just hoped I wasn’t making the biggest mistake of all falling for this man.
As much as I wanted to trust myself, I’d never been successful in a relationship before. It was hard to see how things could change now. But I’d promised him I would give it a chance.
Knox winked at me over Addy’s head, and I settled in to watch the holiday show, feeling content and loved.
Chapter 18
Knox
Last night, I helped Addy and Sarah sort and fold the laundry and then put it away. It was domestic and not something I’d ever done for a woman I was dating before, but I liked helping them. Our relationship was different and more fulfilling than any other I’d had.
I just hoped that Sarah was all in with this relationship like I was. At times, I felt like she was too scared to let herself believe that this was real and possible. I suspected she was holding herself back. She was unhappy with her ex’s interactions with her and her daughter; she was dissatisfied with work and her side hustle.
She wanted more for herself but kept her life small. It was almost like she was afraid to take any risks. I understood that being a single mother made those risks more like jumping off a cliff without a safety net. But she had her family’s support and now mine.
I hoped that she saw that she could do anything, even if she didn’t have our love and support. That she could take a few more risks and still have a good life with her daughter. That things would be even more rewarding when she took that leap of faith.
But I could only do so much. She needed to see how special she was and how much she deserved the life she wanted to live. That included me.
I got a message from Talon when I was drinking my coffee on the deck, so I rushed to finish it and get ready for work. I stopped by his house on the way. “You need my help with something?” I asked as I went inside the work shed.
His hair was disheveled, as if he’d run his hands through it a billion times. His clothes were wrinkled, and his face was lined with exhaustion.
Various metal designs were leaning against the wall—a Santa with a sled, Rudolph, a nutcracker, and more presents. There were even a few nursery rhyme characters. “This is amazing.”
“I’ve been working around the clock to get these done. Can we set them up somewhere and see how they look? We don’t have an area on the lane, but maybe one of the paths?”
“We’re going to need more help than just us.”
“That’s why I called everyone. It’s around that time of year when business is slowing during the week.”
“That’s true.” Evenings and weekends were still rushed, with customers wanting to buy a tree at the last minute. But most people worked during the day and didn’t come to the farm with their families. “We’re moving these today, then?”
“That’s the idea. It would be nice if we could showcase these before Christmas. Get an idea if this will be something we can expand next year.”
“I have a feeling it’s going to be a big hit.”
“People love light shows. Add in the Christmas tree farm and the holiday shop, and people are going to love it.”
“I hope so. I worked hard to get them done.”
“I can see that. Have you eaten anything or slept?”
He tipped his head to the side. “I ate a sandwich at some point. I just can’t remember when.”
I went to the fridge we’d installed in the workshop when we realized he would skip meals and pulled out a Vitamin Water and a premade sandwich. “Eat while you’re waiting for everyone else to show up. You’re going to need your energy to haul this.”
“Heath is bringing the trailer,” Talon said as he sat at another workbench that was mostly cleared of debris and tore into his sandwich.
