Chapter 33
CHAPTER
33
Sawyer managed to sound engaged by asking questions as Mila took him on a tour of her farm-stay project. What’s the rate of occupancy required to break even? How long until you turn a profit? Who’s your competition in the area? He asked all the right things but barely registered her answers, because all he could focus on was the curve of her neck, the line of freckles below her right ear, the way her ribbed singlet clung to breasts he’d explored at length last night …
Man, she’d blown his mind.
He’d had enough one-night stands in his life and knew what to expect. Once the initial attraction got sated with sex, the awkwardness set in, and he couldn’t wait to extract himself and get away.
But that hadn’t happened with Mila. Not that he’d expected to treat her as a one-night stand, but he’d thought things could get messy afterwards and he’d find himself bolting for the motel. Instead, they’d spent an incredible night talking and cuddling and snoozing between three bouts of memorable sex, and now strolled around the farm, back to their usual banter.
He couldn’t get enough of her.
Which meant he was screwed, considering he’d be leaving some time in the next week.
‘Are you even listening to me?’ She snapped her fingers in front of his face. ‘I know I kept you up all night but come on, a guy like you should have stamina.’
Another thing he loved, her ability to make light of their time together and not tiptoe around it like something to be avoided. He wasn’t a complete idiot and had thought having sex might change their friendship, but he should’ve known Mila wouldn’t let that happen. She’d always been there for him, had this way of propping him up when he needed it most.
‘A guy like me?’
‘Now you’re just fishing for compliments.’ She snorted and punched him on the arm. ‘I was asking what you thought about the idea of getting a few animals to keep the kids entertained.’
‘Kids? But we’ve only had one night together. Aren’t you thinking too far ahead?’
Shock widened her eyes for a second before she groaned. ‘You are such a pain in my arse.’
‘And what a fine arse it is.’ He grinned and she slugged him again, but this time they ended up play-wrestling until they were breathless, her hands pinned behind her back, her body pressed against his. ‘Now this is more like it.’
He heard her sharp intake of breath, felt the exact moment she relaxed into him. ‘I thought last night was a one-off?’
‘Do you want it to be?’
He didn’t.
He wanted her, all of her, for as long as he could have her.
Seeing her passion for the farm-stay project, how she came alive, vindicated his choice in helping her out. He’d done the right thing, even if he couldn’t tell her about it.
But last night changed everything.
He wasn’t just investing in her business; he’d become invested with his heart too.
He couldn’t see a future for them—or maybe he didn’t want to think that hard right now—but for however long he was in town, he wanted to be with Mila.
‘What I want is for us to christen the first cottage.’ Her eyes darkened with passion as she arched a brow in provocation. ‘You up for it?’
Sawyer didn’t have to be asked twice.
‘Should I ask why you have a blanket and pillow in this cottage, or will I hate the answer when you tell me you bring all your men here?’
‘Only the special ones.’ Mila tucked the blanket tighter over them. ‘Aren’t you lucky?’
Sawyer growled and nuzzled her neck until she squealed.
‘Okay, okay, the truth is I work late in here sometimes and I get really tired, but if I have a power nap I can keep going until all hours, so that’s why I stashed the blanket and pillow here.’
‘I can live with that,’ he said, savouring the feel of her in his arms. ‘The thought of you entertaining faceless men I’d like to pummel, not so much.’
‘Jealous?’
‘Hell yeah,’ he said, surprised by how much he meant it. He had no right to be possessive—they were friends indulging a mutual passion—but the thought of Mila with any guy made his blood pressure rise.
‘Let’s just say out of the two of us, I’m pretty sure your record with the ladies must far outweigh the occasional fling I’ve had.’ She patted his chest. ‘But please don’t tell me about them, because I’ll want to claw their eyes out.’
‘Now who’s jealous?’
They laughed and snuggled into each other, and he never wanted to let her go. A crazy thought, because he couldn’t live in this town and she was too heavily invested in the farm to ever leave.
‘I’ve got a question for you,’ she murmured, tilting her head back to look at him. ‘I know you won’t be sticking around much longer, but do you want to stay at the homestead for however long you’re in town?’
Her invitation had him equal parts stunned, elated, and wary. Stunned because he knew that meant she wanted to continue the physical side of their relationship for however long he was in Ashe Ridge, elated because he’d like nothing better, and wary because the closer they grew the harder it would be when he walked away.
‘Or you could continue staying at the motel and hanging out with Shazza in the hope Simone is still pining for you and will come back?’
He pinched her butt and she giggled, the innocence of it shooting him straight through the heart.
‘Thanks, I’d love to stay,’ he said, terrified by the adoration in her eyes.
Would her feelings turn to condemnation when she learned the truth? Because Sawyer knew if he moved into the homestead, even for a few nights, their relationship would deepen and that meant ultimately telling her the truth before he left.
It was the right thing to do.