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“That says something if he’s telling you this is what you should be doing.”
“Mmm.”
“You don’t believe him?”
“I want to, but running a business is hard. What if my team decides that working for the Morrisons is a sure bet, and I’m not?”
“You won’t know unless you try. When I started my company, it was just me. I didn’t have anyone working for me or relying on me for a package. I didn’t need a team. Not like I do now. However, I grew slowly and took my time before hiring an assistant. You don’t have that luxury. You need a team now.”
I grabbed my bag from the trunk of my rental, and Heath took it from me, throwing it into the back of his truck before helping me inside the cab. The interior smelled like him, evergreen mixed with a hint of spice.
Heath climbed in and started the engine. “I asked my cousin, Cole, to help. He’s been a floater, drifting from one construction job to another. I asked if he wanted to build something with me, and he was quick to say yes. I think this is what he’s been waiting for.”
“Is that the same cousin Cole who helped on the farm over the years?” I asked him, genuinely curious to learn more about him over the years I was gone.
He flashed me an approving look. “You have a good memory.”
I remembered everything that had anything to do with Heath Monroe. My crush existed long before he finally noticed me in the woods. All the Monroe brothers were attractive, but there was something about Heath that drew me in. Maybe it was the combination of his confidence, his concern and care for others, and his energy. I wanted to be around him.
He backed up and headed down my lane.
“Thank you for looking after the property while I was gone.”
Heath raised a brow. “You know we’d do that anyway. We’re neighbors and friends.”
I felt bad about asking my neighbors in California to keep an eye on the place. I’d given them a key, but I didn’t think they’d go inside. I had a security system and could monitor the cameras from here.
“I’m sorry I left without saying goodbye in December. I was overwhelmed with everything.”
“That’s understandable. You had a rough night. I’m just glad we could be there for you.”
I had to get as far away from temptation as I could. Because at the end of the day, Heath wasn’t interested in me.
He drove past the main house and took a second lane up the other side of the mountain. “Knox lives on this side with Talon.”
I couldn’t see Knox’s house from the lane, but Heath pointed it out as we drove. “Just through those trees there. He has an amazing view. I made sure that each cabin had a good location and views off the back deck, but Knox’s might be the best.”
Again, I wondered if Heath just wanted to be close to me and my property, but that couldn’t be. It was just something that nagged at me. I wouldn’t be satisfied until I asked, even though I had a feeling I’d be disappointed with the answer.
He pulled up to a smaller cabin with several sheds on the property and shut off the engine. “Talon’s always in his work shed. He tends to forget to eat and sleep. We check on him to make sure he’s taking care of himself.”
“That’s nice that you guys have each other’s backs.”
“It’s nice, but also a pain at the same time.” We met at the hood, and he led the way around the cabin to the largest shed in the back. He slid the barn door open and peered inside. The workshop was dim, with tables and metal objects leaning against every surface.
Heath stepped further inside. “He’s not here. He must be sleeping. I won’t disturb him.”
“He won’t mind that we’re here?” I asked.
“He gets more annoyed when we show up when he’s working. He doesn’t like to be disturbed. Mom said he’s high on focus, whatever that’s supposed to mean.”
“Ah. He doesn’t like to be interrupted when working because it takes him a long time to get back on track.”
“How do you know that?” Heath asked.
I shrugged, feeling a little self-conscious. “I’m a coach. I don’t do as much of it as I used to, but one of the things we talk about is individual strengths—how they help us and how they get in our way.”
“What are your strengths?” Heath asked, leaning on one of the tables that was clear of tools and objects.
