Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
THEO
Iinhale deeply. The scent of rotten leaves and pine trees hit my senses, and I groan. “That,” I say, “is my favorite smell in the world. Do you smell it?”
Evie sniffs delicately. “No. Not really.” She’s tapping away on her iPad, constantly multitasking. That’s part of what makes her good at the job. Hiring her hadn’t been a sure thing, but now, I know it was the right move.
She’s excellent—and she’s good company, too.
I halt and turn to her with my hands on my hips. “Stop and smell the pine trees, Evie. Come on. The email can wait.”
She lowers the device. “Can it really? It’s from Harvard.”
“It can.” I lift a finger. “One good whiff. That’s all I ask.”
She inhales deeper this time, her eyelids fluttering shut. The wind blows through her blonde tresses. “It’s… fresh. Right?”
“Exactly.” I turn back around, pleased. “Come on. It’s only going to get better.”
We’re not the only ones here. Most of my employees, from the marketers to the accountants, are scattered through the forest with me.
A few people stay back at the office to focus on daily operations, but anyone who can come does.
This is an important trip. It’s about more than the work; I’m here to make a mark on the earth, and my employees care about it, too.
My other reasons for caring about this trip are selfish. When I’m out here, I’m more me. Even though these woods are new to me, nature itself isn’t. I’m at home whenever my hands are in the cold dirt.
I’m always the first one to plant a tree. It’s a tradition.
I dig my shovel into the dirt, precisely on the spot the forester told me to, uprooting a chunk of dirt. Each time I push the shovel in, there’s a polite round of cheers—but never loud enough to disturb the forest. I taught them well.
“You never want to make the hole deeper than the plant,” I say. “But you want it to be about three times wider.”
The forester works alongside me, and we quickly prepare the perfect hole. As I place the tree, I inspect the roots, breaking up the circular pattern. I look at the forester to get his approval, and he nods.
“You need to break up the roots if they look like this,” I say. “If it’s bad, come to me or Heino.” The forester. “This is to aid in new root development.”
In some cases, we may need to use a hacksaw, but that’s something I won’t have my employees do on their own.
Heino and I cover the roots with dirt, and I lovingly pat out the air pockets, tamping my gloved hands against the earth. I can’t hide my smile any longer. It’s cold outside, but I’ll stay in the chill as long as I need to if it means I can be here.
“You want to eliminate the air pockets,” I say. “And then… you water it.” I’m still smiling when I stand up.
The thrill of victory runs through my body as I look around the small crowd and see they’re all grinning, too. My eyes fall on one person in particular—Evie. She stands with her hands clasped together, gazing at me with affection I don’t know how to accept.
My smile grows.
I’m bone tired when we end our first day. Evie is already back at the cabin, taking calls, and I know what to expect when I open the door and drag my feet inside. She’ll want me to remove my dirty shoes, and I do, leaving them by the door. I’ll be using them again tomorrow, anyway.
This may be exhausting work, but it’s exactly what I need. Trips like this help break up the monotony of working in an office every day. Christine is handling everything at the office, and I know I can trust her to do a great job.
All I have to focus on is giving back to nature. From a young age, I knew I wanted to do something to save the planet. I considered politics, but I never had much taste for it. The science world wasn’t for me either, despite my forestry degree.
Even getting into business was something I felt strange about. There are enough shitty businessmen out there, and I don’t need to become another one of them. I try not to, but even being in business adds a few points to my asshole scorecard.
I don’t feel that way about my work on days like this. Today, I’m doing exactly what I want to. As I walk through the cabin, I’m as happy as can be—but Evie is not. She sits on the couch with her phone to her ear and a steely look on her usually sweet face.
“As I mentioned, Mr. Roche is out of the office on an important trip. He won’t be available for three weeks. I can schedule you for something then.”
I tilt my head, watching her; she barely pays me any mind.
Evie has changed since she started working for us. I still remember her nervousness back then. She used to tiptoe around the office and apologize for no good reason. Now, she doesn’t offer a single apology to whoever she’s talking to, and I swell with pride.
There’s something more, too, a feeling that isn’t pride. Seeing her more confident, so strong-willed, it’s… attractive. She’s always been beautiful, but this is something else. I absentmindedly rub my chest as I sit next to her—not too close. Never too close.
I don’t say anything until the call ends.
“Who was that?” I ask.
“Duncan Fairweather.” She rolls her eyes. “I’ve never known a more entitled prick.”
That’s not what I’m expecting to hear.
I jump, caught off guard, laughter pouring from my mouth. “Evie!”
“What?” She giggles, returning to her usual self, and I’m grateful the job hasn’t crushed it out of her entirely—not yet. “You’ve had to deal with that guy; you know it’s true.”
“I plead the fifth.”
“Whatever.” She yawns, stretching her hands over her head. “You’re the one who has to meet with him once we’re back, so… good luck.”
“You’ll need the luck, too.”
“Will I?”
“Oh, yes. I need my assistant at my side at all times.”
She shakes her head, wrinkling her nose. “I may suddenly fall ill that day.”
“Probably not the best idea to let me know you’re faking sick ahead of time.”
“Probably not, but I have a feeling you’ll let it slide. You’re soft, remember?”
Something unsaid passes between us—my soft spot for her. I know I can write it off, that it’s because she’s my friend’s little sister, but that’s not it.
“I will let it slide, and I am soft.” I chuckle. “Does that make me a bad boss or a good boss? Be honest.”
“You’re a great boss. Easily the best I’ve had—no competition—but I’m not the only one who thinks so. Take a moment to appreciate how you inspired everyone out there today. I never thought I would see Bill from accounting chopping away with a hacksaw.”
I snort. “You would be surprised at what Bill gets into on the weekends.”
“What do you—” Her lips part. “You know what? No. I don’t want to know.”
“Not much of a hunter?”
“No!” Her eyes widen. “Never! Are you?”
“Not really.” I lean back in the chair, running my fingers through my hair. “I’ve been hunting a few times, and even though I realistically know it’s better for the environment than factory farming, I don’t enjoy it.”
“I guess it is better than that.” She looks me up and down, sending goose bumps across my flesh without a single touch. “You know what will be better for my environment?”
I turn my head, meeting her gaze. Keeping my employees comfortable is part of my job, and it’s especially important when we’re traveling. “What’s that?”
“If you go shower.” Her nose wrinkles. “You smell. I can smell you all the way from here.”
Well, that’s not what I was expecting.
“Evie!” I let out a shocked laugh.
More surprises from her.
“What?” She holds up her hands. “You’ve been hard at work all day. Obviously, you’re a little dirty… and a lot sweaty.”
“Okay. I get it. I’m going.”
But for another moment, I let myself stay there with her, watching the way her face screws up when she’s focusing on her laptop screen. My heart is racing when I finally leave the room.
“Theo!”
I’m about to crawl off to bed early when Evie’s voice comes from outside. There’s no alarm in her tone, no need for me to run—but I do, padding across the house to join her on the back porch.
“What?” I ask, running a towel over my damp hair. “What is it?”
“Look.” She leans onto the porch railing and sighs, staring into the distance. The only thing separating us is a screen door. “Isn’t it so beautiful tonight?”
I let the towel flop to the ground and follow her outside, my brows furrowing. “What exactly am I looking at?”
“The sunset, of course. Look how pretty it is.”
After spending a day in nature, it’s shameful to admit I almost forgot about one of the beautiful wonders of the world. Every sunset is the same but unique. This one covers the backyard in an orange glow, like so many do, but Evie is right.
It’s breathtaking to see the sun dancing and dipping below the row of trees and to know she’s making room for the moon.
The light ripples across the clear lake.
Fluffy clouds float past. It’s like a painting.
For someone who spends so much time admiring nature, it’s interesting how often I let it pass me by.
How could I forget about the simple beauty of a sunset?
“Yeah,” I breathe. “I guess it is.”
My head turns, and there’s another beauty, one awesome enough to punch me right in the gut. It’s her. She’s the only thing as beautiful as the sun and as far out of my reach.
The soft, orange light illuminates her face. Her golden hair is bathed in the sunshine, and her eyes brighten, almost shockingly blue. The strap of her blouse slips down over her soft, rounded shoulder.
My hands clench into fists.
“I love sunsets,” she says. “I actually have a controversial take, but…”
My fingers unfurl slowly, tension releasing from my body. “Hit me with it.”
“I like a sunset more than a sunrise,” she whispers like she’s telling me a secret. Finally, Evie glances at me from the corner of her sparkling eye. “It’s not worth it to wake up so early. It always ruins my mood. Being up early reminds me of work, not of the beauty of nature.”
“That is controversial.” I chuckle. “A scandalous take on Mother Nature. But don’t worry—your secret is safe with me.”
“Thank you. I appreciate your discretion, Mr. Roche.”
“Don’t call me that. Not right now.” Not when everything is so perfect.
I lean onto the porch railing beside her, forcing myself to focus on the scenery. Evie and I have been spending more time alone, but this is the first time we slip completely into silence.
It’s comfortable to be here with her, without having to say a thing, admiring the beautiful show nature is presenting to us. I was ready for bed earlier, but I’m wired now, like she really is the sun. Evie’s energy makes me want to perk right up.
I’ve spent my life basking in nature, but I never had time to find someone to enjoy it with—not in quiet moments like these.
Our shoulders are only inches apart. It’s nothing, not even a real touch, but the brush of her bare shoulder keeps me awake until Evie finally turns to me, smiles sweetly, and goes inside.
Her sugary perfume trails behind her, leaving little reminders everywhere she goes.
The sun disappears. It’s dark out, and I’m still stuck in a moment that meant nothing to her.