Chapter 36
VAL
Chewing my lip, I pinned an errant curl back into the pile atop my head.
I had five minutes before I needed to be ready, and my hair was determined to be uncooperative.
Thrusting a final bobby pin into the mess, I called it a day.
It didn’t look half bad, but it was a far cry from the inspirational photo of the braided bun I’d found on Pinterest.
I sighed, grabbing my purse from the bathroom counter, then headed to the kitchen.
Since Nolan and I had made things official, it had been a blissful last week at Hale’s Peak.
Cressida was still staying up at Summit’s Edge to give Nolan and I some privacy in our “glowing honeymoon stage,” as she called it, but was at his side for their public appearances.
Only another few months of fake dating Anton and then they’d make their breakup public.
After I’d given an interview to the paparazzo who’d helped us with the photos of Hal’s car, I’d had an influx of requests from other tabloid writers looking for a quote. Dodging them was a full-time job, but Cressida was helping to divert them, acting as my PR rep.
But I put all of that aside, focusing on tonight. It was the Hale’s Peak end of season party, but Nolan had asked me to meet up with him beforehand. Something about another one of his surprises, and I was giddy just thinking about it.
Right on time, Nolan walked down the hall wearing dark jeans and a long-sleeved Henley, looking good enough to eat. Placing a warm hand on my neck, he kissed me deeply.
“Beautiful,” he said.
My stomach sprouted wings and threatened to fly away. “My hair looks like a bird’s nest.”
“You’re perfect. Let’s go.” He tucked my hand into the crook of his arm and led me to the car. Stan dropped us off at Briar Manor, but instead of heading inside, Nolan took me around back to my greenhouse.
“Are you planning to put me to work?” I snarked. “I was promised food.”
Nolan laughed. “You know you’re about twelve seconds away from finding out what the surprise is, right?”
“I like to know things as soon as possible. It helps me plan.”
“Are you planning to run away or something?”
I shot him a playful smile. “To be determined.”
He stopped and pulled me flush against his chest, nuzzling into my neck.
My laugh died in my throat as he pressed me against the nearest tree, his lips hot on the tender spot at the base of my throat.
“You’re not going anywhere.” A quick nip to my neck, then he sealed his words with a kiss on my lips.
It was too lingering to be anything other than a promise of more to come.
My smirk would have been more convincing if I didn’t feel so flushed. “I’ll allow it,” I said. “So, the greenhouse…?”
Nolan gave me an innocent shrug, pushed open the door, and flipped a switch.
It was my greenhouse as I’d never seen it before.
String lights with tiny incandescent bulbs lined every window seam, shelf, and row of plants. A welcoming spread of artisan cheeses, fresh bread, and to-go bags had been set up on the bench where we’d sat all those months ago, sharing the closely held secrets of our hearts.
“Nolan,” I breathed, “This is amazing. It looks like stars.”
He leaned against the wall with a hand in his pocket. “The cloudy weather ruined my original plan of a starlit picnic on the heated patio of Summit’s Edge. So I thought I’d make you your own starry sky.”
Tears pricked at the backs of my eyes. Here was a man who would give me the whole world, and if he couldn’t do that, he’d make one for me. I grabbed his face and pulled his lips down to mine. “Thank you,” I said.
He kissed the tip of my nose. “Let’s eat before you get upset.”
I reared back in mock offense. “Are you implying that I get hangry like a toddler?”
He smirked and settled onto the bench, opening the first bag of takeout. The smell of melted cheese and spicy meat made my mouth water. “Not like a toddler. Well, not all the time.” He winked and handed me a taco wrapped in foil.
“Is this from that Mexican place in town?” I took a hearty bite and knew immediately that it was. I’d know their salsa anywhere.
“I know you’ll be too busy running around tonight, so I had to make sure you were fed.”
I pointed my nearly gone taco at him. “It’s not fair that you know me so well already.” But my heart warmed. He wanted to take care of me, even though he knew I could take care of myself.
“Any word from Dominic’s contacts?” Nolan asked.
“Mm! Yes.” As I licked sauce off my finger, Nolan’s eyes watched the movement with a thinly veiled hunger that made my thighs clench.
“I spoke with Federico last week. He offered me a summer job in Peru to learn about terrace farming, but I want to get things rolling here with the greenhouse expansion and the rental property in town first.”
Last week, I’d finally plucked up the courage to call the landlord of that house and lot I’d been eyeing, and I was signing the lease tomorrow.
With Nolan helping out with Juanito’s meds, I no longer had any excuse not to pursue this big, concrete step toward fulfilling my goals.
Apprehension still simmered below the surface, but a quiet confidence now accompanied it. I can do this. I am doing this.
“Oh, that reminds me,” I continued, pulling out my phone. “I need to text Dom and ask him when I can come visit the ranch in Hawaii.” I fired off a quick message.
“‘Dom?’ And Federico? Do I need to be jealous that you’re on a nickname basis with my brother and also jetting off to the jungle for another man?” he said in a teasing tone. But an element of heat underlined his playful words.
“Please. The only man you have to worry about me running off with is Thor. If that fine God of Thunder comes for me, I’m sorry, but I must go,” I said with a little mock swoon.
“Isn’t that what you and your girls call Anton behind his back? The man you are currently fake dating?”
Oops. “Um—”
A low growl was the only warning I had before Nolan pinned me to the bench, the planes of his body arguing with mine. I tried to wriggle away, but I only succeeded in pushing my breasts against his chest. The friction of our bodies sent a jolt of heat pulsing in between my legs.
“I don’t want to hear another man’s name on your lips,” Nolan said as he ran his tongue along my lower lip. I opened my mouth for him, wanting more, but he pulled away with a dark chuckle. The bastard. “You may or may not be paying for that comment later.”
I righted myself as he went back to his food, a very unconvincing innocent look on his face.
“Seems like I’m paying for it right now,” I pouted.
“How are you feeling about the end of the season?” It was an awkward way to ask it, but I didn’t know how else to segue.
We were together, sure, but we hadn’t yet talked about what our life looked like after the season ended.
Would he return to California? And how would a relationship work if I was traveling around the world, forging partnerships with local farmers?
Could we survive long distance? Did he even want to try?
Nolan busied himself with adding more sauce to his taco.
It was the first time I’d seen him look uneasy.
Maybe he’s having the same internal monologue as me.
“Arthur is very pleased with the partnership with Anton,” he replied, enamored with getting the perfect amount of pico de gallo wedged into his taco.
I started on my third taco—I guess I’d already eaten a second one without realizing—and studied Nolan from behind my food. I debated for a moment, but pushed my anxiety off a cliff. I had to ask it now, or never. “Will you go back to San Francisco, then?”
Nolan put down his food and my skin buzzed under the weight of his full attention. “Keller Resorts headquarters is in San Francisco, but I’m not tied to the area. Where would you like to go? Or do you think you’ll take Federico up on his offer of Peru?”
I froze mid bite. “You—you’d want to go with me?” This was everything I’d ever wanted but hadn’t dared to hope for.
He gave a nonchalant shrug, as if he wasn’t fulfilling all of my wildest dreams. “If you want to go to Peru, I’ll work from Peru. I’m the CEO. I can do whatever I want.”
I couldn’t help the swell of tears in my eyes as I said, “I want that so much, Nolan.”
Faster than a blink, I fastened my lips to his, all of my doubts evaporating under the heat of his kiss.
I never would have imagined this was where we’d be after he’d fired me upon our first meeting.
And now, we were talking about the future—our future.
My heart was so full, I thought I’d explode from the sheer will of keeping everything from spilling out.
Who’d have thought I’d end the season with my boss as my boyfriend?
“The crew, back at it again for one last hurrah,” said Austin as he lifted his beer bottle in a cheers, and we all joined in. Everyone looked spectacular, dressed to the nines for the celebration. Hale’s Peak had officially closed its doors for the season, and now it was party time.
All the employees and townsfolk packed into the ballroom laden with shimmering fabrics, a disco ball, and neon lights.
The atmosphere was the total opposite from the fancy fundraiser Nolan had organized months ago.
It looked like a night club—much more the staff’s speed, who loved to dance late into the night.
A buffet of appetizers and heartier dishes lined the far wall, but Frankie and I only had eyes for the open bar.
I made eyes at Nolan where he sat at the C-suite’s table across the room with Arthur and other Keller Resorts bigwigs.
Cyrus was notably absent—Nolan had filled me in on the whole debacle with his mother’s death and his ultimatum to Cyrus.
Good riddance. When my eyes found Nolan, he flashed a smoldering smile.
Cora, Daphne, Cressida, and Anton were among the crowd as well, but Dominic had returned to Hawaii.