Chapter 12
Rhyland
I f someone had told me yesterday that my morning would include nearly kissing Payton for a second time since moving in, followed by walking the aisles of the farmer’s market side by side with Payton while pushing Gabby in the stroller, I would have said that I had a better chance of recreating Dinosaurs better than they guy who had created Jurassic Park .
I feel like a dick for basically avoiding her all week, but I just felt so guilty after jerking off in the shower to thoughts of her while she slept less than a hundred feet away.
What a dick move, especially after I told her to accept my help, yet here I was, nowhere to be found, spending more hours at Tilley’s.
I scrubbed every inch of surface in the kitchen and reorganized both the pantry, liquor storage, and the walk-in.
But when I saw Payton in the kitchen this morning, wearing that sorry excuse for pajamas— like, is that what she wears all the time?— I knew I had to make it up to her, even if she didn’t even realize it.
Step one—help with Gabby. To say it shocked me that Pay had given in to me helping her with only a slight hesitation at first would be an understatement. Holding Gabby in my arms and feeding her for the first time is for sure a core memory for me.
Step two—get to know the new Payton Mosby.
I know everything about the younger version of her from all my time spent in the Mosby house.
But who really is this version of Payton?
Does she still love the same things she did?
I know her coffee order hasn’t changed, but what else has? What makes her tick?
“Doesn’t this smell amazing?” Payton says, shoving a loaf of freshly baked brioche in my face. A chuckle slips free as I jolt back, resulting in her flashing me a smile that screams, “I’m sorry.”
“So, I know you’re the professional and all, but I was thinking maybe tonight I could make dinner.
I’ve been craving Mom’s stuffed french toast, and this would be perfect for it.
” She hesitates for a second, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth.
“I mean, I don’t even know if you’ll be home. You might already have plans.”
It’s killing me that I put that doubt in her mind.
“That sounds amazing. I wouldn’t miss it.” Breakfast for dinner is one of my favorites. My mouth instantly waters, not only at the thought of that dish but at watching Payton move around my kitchen.
I watch her as she pays the vendor. Her smile fills her entire face.
I know I made the right decision in inviting her here with me.
Payton smiled all morning as we visited each vendor table.
There’s not a single one we haven’t stopped at.
Not that I mind at all. If I could extend this to an all-day affair, I would gladly do so.
“Do you think they did that on purpose?” Payton asks as she stands from placing the bag of brioche in the storage space under Gabby’s stroller, where three filled-to-the-brim canvas bags already lie.
I purchased something from each vendor where Payton made the sweetest noises while sampling the items. Even if it wasn’t me able to make those noises, I wanted to hear them on repeat in my mind.
After the second incident, I offered to push the stroller to conceal what the noises were doing to me.
Nothing says good morning better than boners in the farmer’s market.
“Do what?” Did I zone out and miss something?
Payton tilts her head toward the table we just left. “You never realized that the butcher, the baker, and the candle shop are all next to each other. All that’s missing is the tub.” She giggles, but when she notices I’m not, her jaw hangs open. “Oh, come on, Rhy, you know ‘Rub-a-dub-dub.’”
By the time she’s finished the lyrics to the childhood nursery rhyme, I’ve joined in her laughter.
How could I forget that? A memory flashes in my mind of every time I would spend the night at her house, and you could hear Connie’s voice throughout the entire house saying, “Rub-a-dub-dub, it’s time for Payton to get into the tub. ”
Conversation continues to flow between us, just as it has all morning.
“Well, looky what the cat dragged in.” A voice comes from my left, and I shake my head. Oh boy, here we fucking go.
I place my hand on the back of Payton’s lower back and guide her toward the James Farm table. “Terri, good to see you.” I hold my hand out to shake his.
While he shakes my hand, Terri focuses on Payton beside me. “You miss one week, and you get yourself a family. It all makes sense now,” he teases.
Payton gasps beside me. Would that really be such a bad thing? I could see it now. We’re already playing house, sort of. The only thing missing is a ring on her finger. I push her reaction to the back of my mind.
I place my hand back on her lower back, just needing some sort of connection to her. “Terri, this is Payton and her daughter, Gabby.”
“Connie and Elliott’s daughter, right?” She nods. “I thought so. I remember you when you were just a little tike. Now you’ve gone and grown up and I see have a little tike of your own.”
I chuckle. “Who says the term ‘ tike ’ anymore? Way to show your age, old man.”
As Terri opens his mouth to reply, Payton steps in, giving him the same big smile she’s greeted everyone else with this morning. “It’s nice to see you again, sir.”
“Sir—oh boy, can’t wait to tell the wife that one,” he laughs.
“Oh my goodness, this has to be the most beautiful bunch of strawberries I’ve ever seen. They look like artwork.”
“We offer basket picking at the farm. Just come on by anytime, and you can pick straight off the plants.” Payton’s eyes widen in excitement. I make a mental note to plan something soon for us to do that. Terri offers one to Payton to sample.
“Mmm, so good. These would be perfect for the stuffed french toast tonight.”
I nod in agreement. “I’ll be sure to add it to the order.”
Terri shows us more produce he’s brought. I’ve scoped out basil and tomatoes for a tomato mozzarella appetizer with a fresh pesto drizzle. Terri and I are in the middle of discussing zucchinis when Payton places her hand on my upper arm.
“Hey, Gabby and I are going to stroll over there”—she nods to What in Carnation’s flower shop tent diagonally to where we stand—“and grab some fresh flowers for the kitchen table.”
“Okay, I’ll meet you over there once I’m done here. I shouldn’t be too much longer.”
I track her all the way over to the booth. It’s only about twenty feet away, but I can’t help but feel protective of them.
Terri tsks a few times as he steps around the table to come stand beside me.
“You’ve got it bad there, my friend.”
If this were anyone else, I would probably deny it, but I can’t, so instead, I speak the truth to just one person. “Tell me about it.” I let out a loud exhale.
“Why not just tell her?”
“It’s complicated. She’s…” I trail off, not sure how to categorize her. There are so many ways to do so.
“She’s a Mosby. I know who she is. You forget I’ve lived in this town longer than you’ve been alive. She just moved back, right?”
“Yeah, not that long ago.”
I don’t go into too much detail with Terri because, honestly, what she has been through is really nobody’s business but her own.
“If you want my advice,” Terri starts.
“I don’t,” I reply.
“Well, too bad, you little shit. I know someone taught you to respect your elders. My advice to you is don’t wait too long to tell her how you feel.
Someone might not hesitate and snatch her up before you man up enough to.
But be gentle with her heart because it’s more than just one you’ll be holding in your hands. ”
He then clears his throat. “Now, enough of this emotional bullshit. If you don’t want to get caught by the little lady, then I suggest we get down to business.
” He claps a hand on my shoulder and spins me around to complete our order for the week, along with the strawberries and a few necessities that are just too good to pass up.