27. Kai
Chapter twenty-seven
Kai
It turns out fascia boards aren’t hard to change out, but they are high over your head or up where there is no shade on a ladder.
Even though I am only assisting and filming, I’m drenched with sweat from standing in the sun for hours.
After going back to the house for a shower and releasing Hayes to check on the farm stand, I return to record more of the work inside and bits where I’m speaking
When I stop to drink some water, I notice two things. First, more time has passed than I thought, and it’s almost dinner time. Second, the video from yesterday has blown up online.
While I shouldn’t be too surprised, as I have a large and dedicated following, I couldn't predict how the renovation series and new channel would turn out.
Thousands of new followers overnight and more engagement than I could have hoped for.
I remind myself that even with the success so far, it still might tank, but my optimism pushes that thought right out of my head.
Still, I am over the moon that it’s going well. Hayes and I ended up fooling around before retreating to our own beds for the night, and I guess that’s a type of celebration in itself.
Hayes surprised me when he said he downloaded the app and watched my video. I thought he was going to remain stubbornly off social media. Hell, he doesn’t even carry his phone with him around the farm, forgetting it on the kitchen counter half of the time. Does he even know what these numbers mean?
A couple more videos and I can monetize them in a significant way, especially as I keep picking up more sponsors.
I decided the interior walls will be one video and the fascia board the next.
Hayes and my own research tells me that drywall is more work than it’s worth, so I have new beadboard paneling coming in tomorrow.
After that it will be updating the kitchen and windows before interior decorating.
How did this go from idea to a few weeks from done so fast?
Stretching this project out is important.
I could lie and claim it is for my income, but it’s also to have an excuse to stay in Foggy Basin longer.
Somehow, I don’t want to leave this too small, too hot, and too remote town, and it has nothing to do with promoting fashion like I came here for.
Hell, I only do a few hours a week on promoting Ezra’s brand now.
I know the real reason is the farmer I can’t get enough of.
Packing up, I tuck my supplies away in the old kitchen cupboards I plan to sand and repair since they’re still in good condition. Turning off the time lapse on my phone, I put it and the battery pack in my pockets and head toward the main house.
Before moving out here, you wouldn’t catch me walking around enjoying the view without taking the pictures or sending messages.
Now, I’ve learned to take things a little slower.
Hayes has to move fast on occasion with the animals, and he has multiple big tasks every day, but he doesn’t rush them.
Now I take in the green trees, the noisy chickens, and blooming wildflowers and smile at the quiet beauty around me.
Laughing at myself as I reach the back door, because I’ve become the type to stop and smell the roses, I realize I’m actually smelling cooking meat.
Opening the screen door first, I start slipping off my new work boots as I enter the kitchen. The cooking smells are stronger here, and I can see why the main door was open to the heat outside, since there is a bit of cooking smoke.
“Are you burning dinner?” I ask Hayes’ back, where he’s manning a cast iron pan with something sizzling and two big pots that are covered. He’s got his hat off, hair still wet from a shower, and bare feet. “Whatever it is smells good.”
“Oh, hi,” Hayes gives me a smile over his shoulder like I’m a sight for sore eyes and my heart thumps in my chest. “Another minute to brown them and these will go in the oven for fifteen. Breaded pork chops and corn on the cob.”
“Ooh, I’ve been excited to try your corn. You forgot to show me how to shuck it,” I point out, moving to lean into Hayes’ body and look over his shoulder. The chops are cooking in oil and I’m shocked he has his plaid shirt sleeves rolled up despite the hot, popping oil.
“You can shuck my corn later,” Hayes teases with a grin and I laugh as he removes the pan from the stovetop to put it in the oven. This move puts his ass right against my dick and I realize I’m hungry for something else and grab his hips.
“Oh, I’ll shuck it all right. Bet you have delicious…Corn.”
Hayes shakes his head and opens the boiling pot of corn to check on them, but I can see he’s still smiling under his mustache. “Not until after you eat. You forgot lunch.”
“I had a protein bar when I took a shower in the middle of the day. Does that count?”
“Sure, but I still want to feed you.”
The fact that Hayes cares whether I eat and takes the time to make me a home-cooked meal means I don't plan on ever turning this offer down, but it’s still so cute.
Kissing his cheek I move to open the cutlery drawer. “Can I set the table?”
“That would be great, thanks.”
Hayes turns off the heat to the corn as we move around each other in a comfortable way, as if we’ve been cooking and setting the table in the kitchen together for years instead of only a few weeks.
Humming some song I can’t catch the lyrics to in my head, I find myself swaying my hips and bobbing my head, but I stop in my tracks when Hayes joins in with lyrics.
“Stand by your man,” he sings in a deep baritone before catching me staring. “What? That was one of my mom’s favorites.”
“I didn’t know you could sing. My voice is terrible, but I love music.”
“Me too,” he grins at me and we just stand there like idiots until the timer goes off, breaking the spell. Hayes pulls the pan out of the oven and turns the other pot off, and I finish setting the table, noticing fresh flowers in a vase.
“These are pretty.”
“Picked them for you,” Hayes tells me, coming up from behind me to set a bowl of rice on the table. He kisses my cheek and takes our plates before I can react, and I reach out to touch a soft petal. I can’t remember anyone ever getting me flowers, let alone picking them by hand.
“Thank you.”
“I figure everyone deserves flowers, not just women,” Hayes tells me, setting our plates down with a pork chop and ear of corn on each.
We don’t discuss the flowers as we sit and dig in, and I can’t help moaning as the savory flavor of the breaded meat bursts over my tongue. “Damn, these are the best I’ve ever had!”
“Glad to hear it.” Hayes chuckles and I see he’s been watching me, waiting for me to eat first. “I always like the meat I raise myself best, but I’m biased.”
“Raised yourself?” I set my fork down and feel my brow furrow as I realize what he means. “Oh! The pigs!”
“Yep. Meat came in from the butcher this morning so I defrosted the chops for tonight and some bacon for tomorrow.”
My first thought is that it’s weird to eat pigs I’ve met, but I remember Hayes owns a working farm, and that he is proud of the things he grows to eat. That includes the animals. And I enjoy his eggs and produce every day. This isn’t any different.
After taking a bite of the wild rice I bet is from his brother-in-law’s farm and his sweet corn, both with butter, I groan in enjoyment and go back to the pork. It’s still delicious. “Thank you for cooking dinner. This is all delicious.”
“Figured you might want to celebrate. Your first full-length video seems to be doing well and everyone can see how hard you’re working. Congratulations!”
After taking a moment to have a few more bites and process that he recognized my efforts, saw my success, and took initiative to celebrate with me, I find my throat clogging up with emotion. Setting my fork down and standing, Hayes looks up at me in worry.
“Are you okay? Should I have told you about the pigs before you ate?”
He doesn’t have to wait long before I’m pushing him back in the chair to straddle his lap. Cupping his jaw under his beard, I lick my lips and swallow hard.
“Thank you.”
“It was nothing,” Hayes starts, but I cut him off with a kiss. It starts hard and fast, but deepens to involve our tongues and roaming hands before I lean back to look at the incredible man before me.
“It was everything.”