36. Connor
36
CONNOR
I ’m glad to be home. It’s been a week since New York, and things are moving quickly. With the spa, and with Daisy and me.
I love the city, but the older I get, the more I just want to be in Whispers. With her. Seeing Daisy do her morning yoga on the lawn brings me peace. I like falling asleep with her in my arms. We work all day, and sometimes see each other around the office, sometimes not, but my days are starting and ending with her now, and I can’t remember them being any different.
Now I survey my new building plans that are stretched out across my desk, looking over them with a critical eye with my builder, Griffin.
“So is this what you’re thinking?” Griffin asks me, the two of us working on these plans on and off for months now. Dad and I purchased separate plots of land farther out of town years ago. He built on his, a large ranch-style home, and now he and Victoria and their myriad of animals all live there happily. My land is next to his, the borders thick with pines for privacy, but we have a gate between us, so he and I can walk over to each other’s place anytime we want. It isn’t far from Hudson and Huxley’s family ranch, and there are a few other large allotments still vacant around us. One I know Griffin has already purchased, the others still waiting for the right buyer. Prices are so high for the land, it’s out of reach for most locals.
But even though I own the land, I don’t have a house yet. It was always something I thought I would build when I was older, ready to settle down. But now, as I stare at the plans we’ve designed over the last few weeks, it’s feeling like it’s the right time to make it happen.
“Yeah, I think we’re nearly there. Can we extend this a little?” I ask, looking at the landscaping. There’s a space to the east that I was going to make into a pool, but I have since changed it to be a large, expansive lawn.
“Sure. The other option is to have the pool over here on the north side, which is probably better,” Griffin suggests, watching me. “Why do you want so much lawn over there?” he asks, and I look up from the plans at him. He’s grinning at me, like he knows exactly why I want such a big lawn, and I roll my eyes.
“Just say it,” I tell him, throwing my pen on the desk and pocketing my hands, waiting for his teasing to start.
“Your dad told me that you’re into yoga now…” He’s not able to help the laughter that spills from his mouth. I grin then, because I don’t care.
“You’ve been talking to Dad?” I ask him, scratching the back of my head, and it makes sense. They’ve probably been having a good old gossip about me, especially since Daisy and I haven’t really been hiding anything since we got back.
“What’s happening?” my dad asks, walking into my office.
“Speak of the devil,” I murmur as he shakes hands with Griffin.
“We’re just tweaking a few things. Your son here wants more grass for his morning yoga,” Griffin says, his smile wide.
Dad looks at me, his grin one that makes me grin right back, and now all three of us grown men stand around my office, smiling like fools.
“Yeah, well, love will make you do crazy things, Griffin. You’ll learn that soon enough,” Dad says, and I scoff.
“I’m not in love.” Only, the words taste bitter on my tongue. I can’t be, though, right…? I mean, we work together every day and spend every night together too. I’ve met her parents, and she’s met mine. We’ve traveled to the city and have practically been inseparable this entire time. The thought of being separated gives me hives.
“Oh, well, I’m no expert, but…” Griffin trails off, looking back at the house plans and then back to me accusingly, and I sigh before running my hand down my beard. “Keep these. Look over them, and then just email me any changes. I need to go chat with Victoria about a new project that’s coming up.”
“I’ll catch up with you later,” Dad tells him, and I give him a wave as he walks out of my office.
“You alright?” Dad asks seriously.
“Yeah, it’s just Daisy.”
“Daisy? I thought it was going well with her?” His brow creases with concern.
“That’s the problem,” I tell him, looking at him firmly.
He shakes his head. “I don’t understand?”
“She’s brilliant. Also, fucking smart, funny, quirky, she makes me tea every morning, and she’s so fucking flexible…” I groan, and my dad grins.
“I just… How do I get her to stay? How do I get her to stay in Whispers? Here, with me?” I ask him, feeling my chest open up, vulnerability sneaking out.
“Well, shit.” His grin widens as he chuckles.
“How did you get Victoria to stay?” I ask him, thinking he’ll have the answer for me.
“I simply didn’t let her go. There was no way she was leaving Whispers, and I told her as much,” Dad says, and I shake my head. I’m not going to go about it that way with Daisy, that’s for sure.
“Have you told Daisy how you feel, since you’re clearly in love with her?”
My heart stutters at his call-out. “I’m not in love…” I can’t even finish my denial, not believing the words for a second. The way I feel when I’m with her and the way I feel when I’m without her, it’s too intense to be anything other than burning, deep love. My dad looks at me the same way he looked at me the time I hid bullfrogs in his whiskey cask when I was ten. He doesn’t believe me.
“So you’re okay that she packs up and leaves in another week or so? Because that’s what she’s going to do unless you get your head out of your ass and ask her to stay.”
Exhaling a whoosh of breath, I run my hand down my beard again.
“I can’t ask her to stay. She has a life, family, friends, work in New York.” I don’t want to take her away from everything she loves. That feels like a selfish move on my part.
“But how do you know she doesn’t want to? She sure fits in well around here, seems to love the lifestyle Whispers offers. She can go back to the city with you every month, see her friends and family,” Dad says, and it all makes sense to me, but I’m not sure Daisy will feel the same.
“She has a strong business brain…” I murmur, because she isn't going to be a kept woman. She will want to work, want to do something productive that challenges her and makes her happy.
“So do you, so why don’t you put it to work and get something organized for her? Hell, she has a lot of skills we could use in our business.”
I look at him sharply. He’s okay with me offering her something permanent, and for that, I’m grateful.
“Maybe…” I murmur, already thinking about it.
“It feels good, doesn’t it?”
“What does?” I ask, wondering where he’s going with this serious tone.
“To find a woman who feels like the other half of yourself?”
“Hey!” Daisy steps into the office like a breath of fresh air, just as I’m about to respond. But my dad already knows how I feel. That my answer would be a resounding yes. “Oh sorry, I didn’t realize you were in a meeting.” She starts to step out.
“No. I’m just leaving.” Dad steps toward the door and looks at me. “Think about it, son,” he reiterates, and I nod.
“Thanks, Dad.”
He gives Daisy a big shit-eating grin as he leaves us alone.
“Things have progressed quickly with the spa this week. I’ve finalized the long treatment food menu with the chef, and once I tweak a few things, that will be done. Staff are all confirmed and all trained. I have booked Marie’s Place next door for the next few months, and then you can reassess. The booking system is all in, and the team is starting to take advanced bookings. Products have all been allocated and stock counted, ready to go,” she tells me with a wide, proud smile on her face. I grin back at her, even though my stomach drops.
She’s almost done. Her project is complete. The end of her tenure with us is coming too soon.
“What’s this?” she asks, stepping closer and looking down at the plans for my new place that are spread all over my desk.
“Oh, house plans. I’m building a ranch out of town,” I tell her, and she looks up at me, surprised.
“Really? A new house?”
“Yeah, I can’t live at the distillery forever. We’re going to break ground on the accommodation buildings soon, and then it will be too busy, too loud…”
“Wow, this looks amazing.” Her fingers run across the drawings, taking it all in.
“Do you like it?” I ask, holding my breath, hoping she does.
“Look at all that lawn. That’s going to be amazing.” Awe softens her tone, wrapping around my heart, and I grin, feeling like I made the right decisions.
“Bedrooms all along here, a large living space, and a kitchen that overlooks Whispers.” I point out a few details.
“Oh, what’s this room?” she asks, and I swallow. I should’ve known she’d catch that.
Before I can answer, Stephanie, the receptionist, walks in.
“Connor. The PR team is on the phone. They said to check your emails right away.”
I move quickly, opening up my laptop and seeing the email in question.
“Everything alright?” Daisy asks, frowning, and I look at the screen, my eyes moving through the email.
“The media have published photos…” I grit out, before I click on the attachment and draw in a sharp breath.
“Photos?” she asks tentatively.
“Of us,” I tell her, and she steps forward to look at my computer over my shoulder.
“Oh…” As the article opens, we both stare at it in silence. It’s a leading story in one of the online news and gossip websites, with photos of us walking around town, going to her apartment, driving into my penthouse. With my nerves rushing, I look at her, seeing her face has paled. The photos aren’t great, and the headline is commenting on her size, clearly for clickbait, even though she’s fucking beautiful just the way she is. My shoulders stiffen, realizing how hurtful this must be for her. They write shit about me all the time, but the frustration and anger I’m feeling now is focused solely on them commenting on Daisy. I make a mental note to have a meeting with my PR team. The media needs to know Daisy is off-limits.
“Ignore it. They’re vultures. They don’t know me, they don’t know you. They don’t know us,” I tell her as I stand and grab her hand. She looks at me, searching my eyes for something, and I grab her other hand, standing toe-to-toe with her.
“Breathe with me, Daisy,” I ask her quietly, and her eyes widen before she nods.
“In, two, three, four…” she says as her eyes close.
“Out, two, three, four…” I say as we stand together, holding hands and breathing in sync for a few more beats before we open our eyes and look back at each other.
“You’re getting good at that.” Her smile is small, but there.
“Deep breathing is a new hobby of mine. I was taught by the best,” I quip, and her smile widens a bit, making me feel better.
“Are you ready for the party tonight?” I ask her, knowing the spa opening has been all that anyone has spoken about all week, as Victoria has been busy pulling it together.
“As ready as I’ll ever be. Thank you for organizing a dress and hair, makeup, shoes, the works. A real-life glam squad is coming for me.” She hums, still smiling up at me. This is her night to shine. Our night to shine. I was always going to ensure she had everything she needed. Because while I love Whispers, I know it doesn’t have the shops or people to help her for a formal night like tonight. So I flew them in, especially for her.
“You don’t need glam; you’re always the most beautiful woman to me.” Leaning down, I take her lips in a chaste kiss.
“Well, on that note, I should go. I have a few things to finish up before I head out.” Stepping backward, away from me, she slides out of my grip.
“See you tonight,” I tell her, watching her go.
“See you tonight,” she says, sending me one more sweet smile over her shoulder before she’s out of my office, and I’m slumping down in my seat.
My dad’s right. I’m completely and utterly in love with her.