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This one was so high it felt like a treehouse.
“All of them have this feel. I wanted the houses to be up high, almost like you’re in the branches.”
“Mission accomplished.”
I had no doubt that Heath accomplished whatever he set out to do.
“Once this is done, we can focus solely on the inn and get it done. I’m hoping sometime in January, or maybe even sooner.”
“Won’t it be difficult with the tree-cutting season landing during that time?” I wasn’t as in a rush as I initially was to sell the property. I didn’t want any ties to this place, but now I wasn’t so sure. The inn was my excuse for visiting. What would it be when it was gone? I’d have no reason to return. There was Heath, but I still wasn’t sure if it was a fling or something deeper. I thought I knew where Heath stood when we were younger, and I’d been wrong. I was afraid to trust my instincts now.
“We hired a few of our cousins to help. I’m hoping that means I’ll have more time to work on your place.”
“If you’re needed here—”
“I appreciate that, but we all have side work that we can’t neglect just because it’s time to sell a few Christmas trees. We need to hire additional help at some point. What better time than now?”
“As long as I’m not interfering with your work. I know how important it is to your family, especially your mom.”
He drew me to his side. “I love that you’re so accommodating when it comes to my family, but I want you to feel that what you need and want matters, too. You can come first.”
I laughed and pushed away from him, the band around my chest pressing even tighter. “Do we need to go to your mom’s? I don’t want to be late. I know how important tonight is to Ireland. She wants everything to go smoothly so this can be a possibility for the farm.”
Heath gave me a look. He knew I was deflecting, rambling so long that maybe he’d be distracted.
Finally, he nodded, and I let out a breath. He wasn’t going to press me about my feelings.
Because when it came to coming first in anyone’s life, it never happened. It might have with my grandmother, but I pushed her away. I didn’t want to have the responsibility of being number one. The fall to the bottom was farther when you were that important.
It was safer to stay inside my California house and pretend no one outside my business existed. And with Gram gone, it should have been that much easier. But now I was getting close to Heath, and the further we fell, the more he’d push.
I just hoped I’d put it off for another day. I couldn’t think about what would happen when he pressed me to open up to him. I found that if I didn’t show up in anyone’s life, then I couldn’t be important to theirs. The problem was, I was falling for the Monroes.
Even though I knew I was going down a dangerous path, I wasn’t willing to stop. Not yet.
Heath didn’t bring it up again as he locked up and drove us down the hill to the main house. He parked his truck next to a similar truck with the same logo. “Thanks for helping out tonight.”
“Of course.” Even if it was a bad idea for my heart. I was getting to know these people. I liked them. What would happen when Heath remembered my brother and his vow to protect me? I’d lose them, and I knew it would be harder than never having them at all.
“I want you to be happy here.”
“I am.” It was an honest statement. I was as happy as I’d ever felt. I tended to stay in a constant state of non-expectation—unless it came to my business. I imagined amazing things happening for it. But I never let myself believe in the same growth for my personal life.
Heath smiled. “Good. I’m glad.” Then he leaned over and kissed me, making me wonder if this is what life would be like on the farm. Would I live with Heath in his cabin, going to family dinners at his mom’s or at one of his brothers? Would his family help me when I needed it?
It sounded too good to be true.
When he lifted his head, he said, “I’m glad you’re here.”
His expression was so sincere I couldn’t look away or respond. The lump in my throat was getting bigger by the second.
He pulled the door handle to get out, and I did the same. His words danced around my heart. He had no idea how his words made me feel, like I was worthy of love and happiness. He couldn’t possibly know how much I longed for them to be true. For this to be my life.
I couldn’t get too complacent here.
His mom answered the door, but her words were drowned out by the cacophony of voices in the house behind her. Ember and Addy were chasing each other through the house, and Knox was yelling at them to stop.
Ireland grabbed my hand. “I want to talk to you about the food.” Then to Heath, she asked, “Do you mind if I steal your girl?”
