Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Oakley
Auburn had come into the nursery every day for the past week, almost two weeks. He bought a plant every time, mostly things I liked or had my eye on.
He asked questions about the plants. How to care for them. Sunlight needs. Watering schedule. By my count, the alpha had at least fourteen plants, and that wasn’t counting my days off, though the rumor was, if I wasn’t there, he didn’t buy anything.
Daisy was very interested in what she called a budding romance. She waggled her eyebrows every time she saw me now. Nosey, sweet, endearing woman.
I’d been doing semi-stalking of my own. On the way to the grocery store, I went out of my way to go past the ice-cream shop.
The gossip train in Oliver Creek was always on schedule, always running strong, and each time I walked by, there was someone else who stopped and sighed, saying something about hoping they were open in time for the summer season.
The banner hung over the front window said Coming Soon, Homemade Ice Cream. Auburn was working so hard, I bet he knew better than anyone else how fast the hot season was coming in.
It seemed like the only time I didn’t see Auburn working was when he came into the shop. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach at the thought of him coming in to see me, had become a priority that took him away from his work.
Romantic, yes.
Good for business, not so much.
I was on my way to get a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich with bacon from PBJ and once again strolled by the ice cream shop. Inside, Auburn painted the walls a fun, bright-yellow color. Like sunshine. Interesting choice for an ice-cream shop.
Scanning the area around him, I saw no evidence of food. No bags of to-go orders. Not even a bottle of water.
The man was working himself to the bone. A streak of desire shot through me. Not lust but the desire to provide for this alpha. He was working all day and probably nights but wasn’t taking care of himself as far as I could see.
I sighed. Time to see if this feeling for him was real.
I popped into the PBJ shop and tripled my order. He could have one sandwich for lunch and another later in the day if he wished. A couple of bags of chips and an apple rounded out the meal, and I even made a stop at the convenience store for a few bottles of water.
Halfway there, I panicked. What if he was allergic to peanut butter or didn’t like apples?
A few breaths calmed me down. I had to stop automatically thinking the worst.
My heart beat like a rabbit’s as I knocked on the glass of the future ice cream shop. Auburn looked up and gifted me a quick, broad smile. He didn’t even know that I’d brought food.
Goddess, was that smile for me? Just me?
“Hey, come on in,” he said.
I walked in and saw more of his hard work. “You’ve been busy. It’s really coming together.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “I feel like it’s not a real ice cream shop until I get my freezers in. Feels naked without them. What brings you by, Oakley?”
I almost shuddered at the sound of my name on his lips. “I’ve seen you working hard and no sign of eating. I thought you might want lunch.”
“Watching me, huh? Glad I’m not the only one. What did you bring me?”
Not only did he thank me a million times for the lunch, but he said it was one of the best sandwiches he’d ever had. He ate the apple and the fresh kettle chips as well. It felt like a date, sitting on a spread-out paint tarp in the middle of his shop, enjoying simple food.
Mason would never have done that.
“Summer is closing in, Auburn. Are you going to be ready?”
As soon as the question left my mouth, I felt bad about it.
He cocked his head and let out a long, drawn-out sigh.
I’d struck a nerve. Poor guy. The deadlines and opening this place were probably on his mind twenty-four hours a day, and here I was, bringing it up on his one break.
“I don’t know, to be honest. I’m working sixteen hours a day, but I knew this place needed a lot of work when I bought it. ”
“Maybe I could help.” I blurted the offer before thinking, but I meant it.
“I couldn’t ask that of you, Oakley. You have your own job.”
I looked around the place. Painting needed to be finished. Holes patched. Light fixtures still sat in boxes in the corner. Not to mention the flooring. He’d chosen a black-and-white checkered pattern judging from the label, but they weren’t installed.
There was a lot to do.
“You didn’t ask, and I have days off and, other than my eight-hour shifts, I’m available. Let me help.”
He took a look around the place and his shoulders relaxed. “I could really use the help.”
“Then it’s settled. I’ll start in the morning. I work this afternoon, but tomorrow is my day off.”
“You have to let me pay you.”
I scoffed. “What? No. I offered.”
“And I have a budget for this. Money to use on paying someone to help, among other things. I just hadn’t gotten around to advertising. Please. It wouldn’t be right for you to work for free.”
I could use the money. Building my savings up was taking a lot more time than I planned on. “I wouldn’t be completely opposed to getting paid.”
He chuckled, and again the sound bundled me up like a blanket fresh out of the dryer. “Sounds like a deal.” He stuck his hand out to shake, and I hesitated. I knew touching him might be the start of something more.
Oh, who was I kidding? It was already more.
My bear was completely invested. Now, I was investing my time.
The only thing left was my heart.
Slowly, I took his outstretched hand and as we shook hands, the movement slowed. There was no more Oliver Creek. No more sounds from outside. There was just me and this beautiful alpha and the pounding of my heart. He stared into my eyes. “Deal.”