Seek and Cherish: A small-town rockstar rom-com (Sanctuary Book 5)

CHAPTER TWELVE

Honey

With a careful twist and a snap, I remove the cord from the alarm sensor on the back of Mac’s house. A thrill shoots through me. “Still got it.”

I smile as I hop off the ladder and let myself into Barley and Begonia’s enclosure. “Hey, kids. Ready to get married today?”

A pang of disappointment slows my steps as Mac doesn’t run out of the house, ready to take on whoever’s messing with his goat. I don’t want him to interrupt my plan, but I want to see him. Really a lot.

The pull I feel toward the man is concerning, which is why I’m not going to think about it. I’m going to focus on getting everything ready for Barley and Begonia’s big day.

I glance over to see that Barley is nuzzling his face against Begonia’s. They are adorably in love. If only human relationships could be so simple.

The sun has fully risen by the time I’ve gotten the food laid out on Barley’s climbing stack. I brought something for the humans and for the goats. I’ve also gotten Begonia and Barley into their wedding attire and I’ve almost finished weaving flowers through the bottom of the arch-like bridge that connects the two goat towers.

I was up all night weaving the flower stems together, after I’d made sure they were safe for Barley and Begonia to eat.

The ladder tilts to the side as I lean out to hook a flower around the bridge support, letting the rest dangle toward the ground. A sharp tug on the strand makes me nearly lose my balance.

My stomach swoops and I shriek.

The ladder starts to fall sideways, but I pull back and right myself. I glare down at Barley, who’s lifting his nose in the air, totally interested in the flowers and unconcerned about my safety. “No eating the decorations, Mr. Hopper.”

I lean to the side again, reaching for that last hook and letting the ladder tip onto three legs, because Mac is bound to show up at any moment and I want this to be perfect. I don’t have time to get down and move the ladder.

Again, there’s a sharp tug on the flower chain. I pull back, but Barley pulls harder at the worst possible moment.

I hit the ground hard, the ladder luckily toppling down next to me and not on top of me.

I can’t catch my breath as I stare up at the pink and white flowers above. They look pretty, at least.

A sip of air makes its way into my lungs and I begin to believe I might actually survive this.

Barley is happily munching right next to my head. He gives another tug on the garland, and the entire display falls on top of me. “Barley, no,” I wheeze out.

“What is going on out here?” Mac’s tone is way too cheery for this moment when all my best-laid plans have just gone up in smoke.

He looks down at me, the sun a halo behind his head. Just when I think the man can’t possibly get anymore good-looking, he goes and looks like a freaking angel.

“Can’t. Breathe.” I’m actually getting more air into my lungs, but everything hurts and I want to be rescued.

Mac pulls the flowers off me and tosses them aside before crouching next to me, his brow creased in worry, his beautiful, expressive eyes reflecting my pain. “Please tell me you didn’t fall off the ladder.”

I blink up at him, my eyes burning. “I fell off the ladder. I can’t breathe.”

“You had the wind knocked out of you. What hurts? Is anything broken?”

With his help, I sit up and assess the damage. “I didn’t hit my head, I don’t think. Nothing feels broken, but how can I tell?”

“You’d know.” His confidence makes it clear he’s speaking from experience. “Let’s get you inside so I can check you out.”

I wiggle my fingers and toes. “I think I’m okay, and we need to have this wedding before Barley and Begonia eat all the decorations and food.”

“I hate to tell you this.” He rubs my shoulder gently. It feels so good, I lean into his touch. “But it’s too late.”

He shifts to the side, revealing Begonia on the food table, chowing down.

I leap up, ignoring the stiffness and pain, and hobble over to her. “She shouldn’t eat the chocolate.”

Mac hurries past me, lifts Begonia off the table, and puts her gently on the ground. She maas at him in dismay. “Where is it?”

I finally make it to the table and grab the paper bag of truffles. “The bag is sealed, but she can probably get into it if she really wants to.”

Mac takes the bag and drops it on the other side of the fence. He scans the table. “Everything else here is okay for them to eat?”

“It should be. Based on the research I did. Obviously, the veggie tray is specifically for them, but they should be able to eat everything else without getting sick.”

“Good.” Mac grips my hips and guides me to sit on the lowest level of the climbing stack. “You need to rest until we’re sure you aren’t more seriously hurt.”

“I’m just a little stiff.” I speak with more confidence than I feel. I’ve never fallen that far or that hard, and I’m more than a little worried I might have done some real damage.

“I hope you’re right, but it won’t hurt to take it easy and it could hurt for you to do too much too soon.” He rubs my back. “I can take you to the hospital. You should probably get checked out.”

I twist, ignoring the twinges of pain, and raise and lower my arms. “I’m fully functional. I don’t need a hospital. How about we get these two hitched? I promise, I’ll rest after.”

His mouth turns down, his palm still rubbing soft circles over my back. He’s actually bumping a sore spot with his thumb, but I like the feel of his hand on me too much to tell him.

“I’ll agree to it, but only if you sit right here to officiate.”

I sigh. “Can’t we put the flowers back up? I want it to be pretty.”

He shakes his head. “Why didn’t you wake me up? I would have helped. I could have at least corralled the goats for you.”

I deflect the only way I know how, because I don’t want to think too hard about how excited it’s made me to think about surprising him with this wedding. I love his smile far more than I should. “You’re too practical. You’d probably say Barley and Begonia don’t care about decorations and put the kibosh on the whole thing.”

His lips quirk up. “I would’ve done no such thing.” He points at Barley, who’s happily chomping away at the flowers. “And if I had, I’d clearly have been wrong.”

“So you’ll help me hang the flowers back up?”

“Nope.” He pats my knee. “I’m not taking a chance of anyone else getting hurt today, and Barley clearly prefers the flowers on the ground where he can eat them.” He stands. “Stay here and I’ll get everything set up.”

I open my mouth to argue and, even though he’s facing away from me, it’s like he senses it.

He looks back with so much concern and tenderness in his expression that I close my mouth. “Please, Honey. Take care of yourself.”

He waits until I nod, then turns and gets to work like he didn’t just say something that has shaken me to my core. His intense focus and his concern is so tangible it’s like a warm blanket wrapping around me.

It’s like he actually sees me and wants what’s best for me.

I can’t think of a single other person in my life who’s ever insisted so forcefully on my well-being, except maybe my mother. But that’s what mothers do. She has no choice but to take care of me.

I wrap my arms around myself like I can keep my heart in my chest. Like I can keep myself from falling for this man.

I watch as he corrals the goats and straightens their wedding outfits, talking to them in a low voice about how important this day is and what it means.

It’s adorable how much he loves them and the view of him, in fitted jeans and a t-shirt that hugs his biceps, is enough to make me happily sit here and watch him all day.

Barley lifts his head a little higher, like maybe he understands Mac, and Begonia walks over with Barley to stand in front of me as Mac takes his place beside me, one hand on my shoulder.

“Barley and Begonia,” I say, in my best solemn voice. “We are gathered here today to join the two of you in goatly matrimony.”

Begonia wanders back over to the food table, and Barley follows.

“Guess they don’t have vows to say.” I get up to bring them back, but Mac pushes me down with his hand on my shoulder.

“Keep going.”

While Begonia munches on carrots, I continue. “The love between you is an inspiration and an aspiration for goats and humans around the world. May you both live in joy and—”

Barley mounts Begonia and starts pumping enthusiastically.

I slap a hand over my eyes. “Should we stop them?”

“I’m not getting between them right now.” Mac’s voice is strained.

“You may now kiss the bride.” I turn until I’m fully facing Mac, my back to the goats. He peeks at me between the fingers of the hand over his eyes.

“We should give them their privacy,” he says. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”

He’s back in about three seconds, his arms full of food. “There’s no way she’s not pregnant, right?” he asks as I stand and hurry with him out of the enclosure and to the house. “Should we separate them?”

“It’s way too late for that.” I let us into the house and he carries the food to the kitchen and spreads it out on the table. “I thought you were going to keep them separated until Barley’s neutered?”

Mac sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “I need more fencing to do that, but the hardware store in Vance Vale was out. They’re getting more today.” He waves me over. “Sit and eat. Are you still feeling okay?”

I sink into the chair next to him and wince as a bruise on my butt makes itself known. “I’m fine. If something was broken, I wouldn’t have been able to sprint to the house just now.”

He opens a container of hummus and dips a carrot stick into it. “It was nice of you to set this up.”

“The best of intentions.”

He looks over at me, his jaw working as he crunches, and gives me a crooked smile. “It was a beautiful wedding.”

It’s so ridiculous, I burst out laughing. Suddenly, it’s all okay. Better than okay. “Barley and Begonia seemed to enjoy it.”

“So much.” He nods, holding back a laugh that his eyes reveal. He offers me a cracker. “Want a snack?”

I do want a snack. And I want to sit here with this man and talk to him about goats and weddings and his life among the trees.

I push back my chair and stand. “I should get home.” I can’t lose focus on what I’m doing here. He’s a means to an end. The wedding was just a favor owed. I cannot like him this much. I cannot fall for him. “The food’s all yours.”

His brow creases and I can almost see the argument forming in his brain. I want him to argue with me. But he nods. “Sure. See you for treasure hunting later?”

Right. Treasure hunting. This man scrambles my brain. “We could go now if you’re ready.”

He winks at me in an exaggerated leer. “I’m always ready, baby.”

“Uh-huh.” I push to my feet, but pain shoots up my spine, and it takes a long moment for me to realize I can’t straighten my back. “Ow.” The word comes out more as a whimper.

Mac is by my side in an instant. “You should sit on the couch.”

Instead of guiding me to the couch, he scoops me up and carries me over there.

“I can walk.”

He sets me down gently on the soft couch. “I’m not taking a chance of you leaving while you’re still in so much pain.”

“I’m just bruised and stiff. I’ll be fine.”

He sits on the other end of the couch and lifts my feet onto his lap. He slides off my tennis shoes and socks and rubs my left foot. “I’m not taking any chances. And I know you aren’t working today, so it won’t hurt for you to stay for a little while.”

“Mac, I—” He works his thumb just right into the arch of my foot and pleasure rushes through me. “God, that feels good.” I can’t hold back a low moan.

He shifts in his seat, but doesn’t stop rubbing my foot. “Just relax and let me take care of you.”

My throat gets tight for no reason, and I have to swallow hard to keep back tears. It feels better than I’d ever have imagined, being taken care of so tenderly. “Only because you aren’t giving me any other choice.”

He hums in satisfaction and moves onto my other foot.

He’s most likely a criminal and a terrible match for me. I can’t let myself like him too much.

Then, he hits that spot in my arch on my other foot and I lose the ability to think at all.