45. Booth
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
booth
“Roy, you’ve saved the day once again, my fine fellow.”
My upbeat tone is lost on the red-faced, surly man snarling at me.
If you didn’t know him, you’d think he was about to swing at you with one of his meaty fists, but this frown is his happy one.
“Get gone, Sadler . You’re too cheerful,” he grumbles and reties his white butcher’s apron.
“All from seeing your handsome face.” I give him a two-finger salute.
“ Thanks for sorting everything out so quickly. Catch you next time.”
Roy has been providing fresh, high-quality meat to the restaurant since I was a kid.
Not one to mince his words, he gruffly explained over the phone that the sirloin steaks due for delivery tomorrow were contaminated.
He suggested it was easier if I came in person to resolve the problem—probably because of his aversion to technology.
I was ready to deliver every excuse under the sun to not come out here, but Aly was adamant.
My girl was holding strong, but I wanted to be on hand should she need anything.
A joke. A hug. A kiss.
I’d give her the world if it put her at ease until Martin touched base.
So far, she hasn’t texted or called.
Waving in his direction, I head toward my truck at the back exit of the butcher house.
The building is large, covered in corrugated steel, an hour away from town.
It’s only when I step outside that the incessant beeping coming from my pocket reminds me what shitty cell service it has.
And I’ve been here for almost two hours.
“Fuck. Fuck . Fuck .” I scramble to pull my phone out.
A string of texts and missed calls from Aly stare up at me.
My growl of frustration echoes around the small parking lot.
She-Devil: Hey, can you call me back?
She-Devil: Martin called.
Harvey knows and wants to meet.
She-Devil: Heading over now.
I’ll be fine. I’ll call once I’m done :)
She-Devil: I’m sitting in my car outside the farmhouse.
I don’t know if I can do this.
She-Devil: I know you’re not ignoring me and maybe I’m freaking out a little.
I’ll regret sending this later, but I could really do with one of your stupid innuendos right about now.
She-Devil: It’s snowing, and it made me think about The Nook.
Can we go one last time before my trip?
She-Devil: Okay. I’m going in.
My chest splits in two.
An array of emotions ransacks me.
Panic . Distress . Anger .
Misery . Pride .
Her trip.
That’s what she’s been calling her departure and I haven’t had the stomach to correct her.
There’s another four-letter word I can’t bring myself to acknowledge.
It’ll do us no good.
Not with her trip coming up .
Her last text was over an hour ago, meaning she’s either still at Martin’s or gone home.
The journey back to town is a blur; my hands work on autopilot as I take the back roads in my urgency to get to her.
The farmhouse is nearest, so that’s my first stop.
My tires skid to a stop, kicking up stones and dirt, when I see Aly’s car in the driveway.
I’m diving out of the truck when the front door creaks open, lighting up the path.
Illuminated in the entrance stands Aly .
Even her silhouette has my pulse racing.
The need to kiss her, check how she is, and to hold her engulfs me.
I make it one step before she’s flinging herself at me, clutching at my clothes as she hugs me tightly.
All feels right in the world with her in my arms. Wild curls hide her face, and I weave my fingers through them to get a proper look at her.
I’d prepared myself for almost every outcome.
When a smile breaks out on her face, the corners of her eyes creasing, this is the one I was willing to sell my soul for.
Aly can handle anything.
She’s a turbulent force of nature.
The Silver Goddess .
We mere mortals are lucky to coexist with her.
“Hey, beautiful,” I murmur against her cheek.
“ I’m so sorry. There was no service at the butcher house. I got he?—”
Her lush lips silence me.
The kiss is brief, perfect, but brief.
“ It’s fine. You have nothing to apologize for.” When she pulls away to link our fingers together, all worry disappears.
“ Do you want to come in and officially meet Harvey ?”
“I’d really like that.”
And in we go.
She leads.
I follow.