Get The Picture?
After helping clean up lunch, Esme wasn’t sure what to do next. Her nerves were jumping. Worry that the paparazzi had found her again. Excitement at planning Halloween events with Wyatt. Joy at being so easily accepted by the others. Hope that maybe she’d found a place to stay.
It hadn’t been Wyatt who first suggested she stay.
That mattered. The vibe around the table was warm and welcoming.
Her experiences had made her wary, but she was generally able to discern fake from real.
That hadn’t always been the case, but she’d learned a lot from her career and the attack.
Seeing glee in the eyes of the models who’d been her competition for the skincare contract had been humbling.
She’d thought they’d been friends, or at least friendly.
Lacy Johnson had barely suppressed her giggle when she told her how sorry she was that Esme’s career was over.
Again, she wondered if the other model was somehow behind the attack.
When she’d suggested it to the police, the eye-rolling had begun.
Shoving away the memories, Esme turned her attention back to the present. The people on the farm didn’t want anything from her. They didn’t want access to famous people; they didn’t need her money. They hadn’t even known she had a lucrative career until she’d told them.
They appeared to like her as she was. Like Nans and Claudia. A heady feeling, one she didn’t want to lose.
As she moved into the main room off the lobby, Wyatt appeared at her side. “Have you seen Chick Inn Time yet? Would you take a walk with me?”
She figured she’d go almost anywhere with him, and she was curious about his reaction to her career earlier.
Once outside, she stopped to study the garden. She wouldn’t let one jerk take away her joy in the space, but she wouldn’t be wandering the paths alone for a while.
As if sensing her thoughts, Wyatt stopped beside her. “We’ll figure it out. He won’t be bothering you again. The farm has a lot of security, especially on the buildings. The dogs add another layer of protection as you saw today.”
“Boomer was amazing. I’ve always wanted a dog.”
Wyatt nodded. “Me too. There are so many dogs here, adding another wouldn’t be a problem. Have you met Bibi yet?”
She shook her head.
“Bibi is Dani’s Newfoundland. She’s a happy mountain of fur and fluff. You’ll love her.”
“I look forward to it. I’d also like to check out Dani’s bees one day.”
“I haven’t been here long, so I’ve only had a quick tour, but Dani’s property is amazing.
She’s got a couple of fields filled with apiaries.
She creates metal art, too. You’ve probably seen some of her art in the garden.
There are a few at Chick Inn Time as well, wind spinners that help deter predators. ”
Esme smiled. “There are so many talented people here.”
Wyatt nodded. “And in Phail and a place called Midnight Lake that’s nearby. I haven’t visited there yet, but the people are friends of everyone here. There’s an art studio, arson investigation cabin, a couple of scientists, and a team running the Midnight Security company.”
“I’d love to see that.” From the last few minutes of conversation, she had enough ideas for dozens of videos for her series. She could stay here for years and never run out of ideas.
Except the paparazzi would find her.
Wyatt brushed his hand softly over her lips. “What happened there? What made you sad?”
She smiled. “I was thinking I could stay here for years and never run out of ideas for my videos. But that means the paparazzi would find me, and no one would be left alone.”
Wyatt reached to cup her nape and run his fingers over her skin in comfort. “We’ll figure it out. We’ll find a way to keep you and everyone safe and unbothered.”
She nodded, but she didn’t think it was possible.
As far as she knew, none of these people had dealt with the insidious determination of the paparazzi.
Like every other profession, some people did their jobs like professionals, but the paparazzi group seemed to have more than its fair share of duds and zealots.
Esme shook off her mood and smiled. “Okay, time to introduce me to the chickens.”
He grinned and gestured the way. He reached for her hand, but then pulled away. She didn’t let him get far before she took it.
Her reward was his wide grin and the relief she saw in his eyes.
“I’m glad I didn’t fuck it up completely. I want to apologize for earlier. Hearing you were a model was a shock.”
“Why?”
He sighed heavily. “I dated a woman down in Texas who was a model. We were only together for a few months, but we’d agreed to be exclusive.”
Esme sighed. “I’m sorry. From your phrasing, I’m guessing she didn’t keep her word.”
“You’re right. I found her and a supposed friend of mine together.”
“I’m so sorry. That’s awful. She was an idiot to betray you like that.”
He squeezed her hand. “Thanks. I’d started to realize that she was an expert at putting on a persona for different situations. She loved attention and orchestrated ways to be seen by people she felt could enhance her career and bring her fame and fortune.”
“I’ve known more than a few people like her. I’m sorry she duped you.”
“That’s why hearing you were a model was such a shock.
I thought you might be putting on an act for me, that I wasn’t seeing the real you.
Being fooled sucked and I don’t think I’ve recovered.
My instincts said you were nothing like her, but my insecurity overwhelmed me when you said you’d modeled, too. ”
Esme nodded, unsure of what to say. She couldn’t imagine anyone dumb enough to cheat on Wyatt. He was a good man. But she knew how many people loved the attention modeling gave them.
For Esme, her career choice had come by accident in high school.
It had given her a way to take care of Nans and herself after Nans was gone.
She’d done it for the money, never for the attention.
That part had always bothered her. She’d enjoyed the modeling itself, but had hated being followed and photographed outside of the job.
She was having more fun spotlighting small communities. Even if she was lonely, she loved the absence of attention. When people noticed her now, it was mostly because of her scar. As far as she knew, no one had tried to photograph it, so the attention was fine.
Wyatt wouldn’t know her well enough yet to know that she wasn’t the type of woman to betray a man or go back on her word. She hoped he could somehow come to trust her, but with his past, it would be difficult.
Wyatt’s voice was soft when he spoke again. “I know you’re nothing like her. We haven’t known each other long, but I know you’d never cheat on anyone. You’re a good person, Esme, and I’m sorry my reaction gave you the impression I didn’t know that.”
She squeezed his hand. “You’re forgiven. We’re just getting to know each other.”
“I’d like to get to know you better. A lot better.”
Their gazes caught, and she saw desire in his eyes. The same desire that pumped through her. She reached up and brushed her lips softly over his, causing the same kind of explosive reaction as she had the previous time. “Me too.”
Wyatt wrapped his arms around her and rocked her from side to side. “Good.”
She smiled into his chest as they held each other under the apple trees.
When he stepped back, he kissed her forehead. “Okay, let’s go meet some chickens.”
It didn’t take more than another minute to reach the birds.
A large enclosure kept the hens safe. The front part of the pen held a variety of wooden structures, like the kids’ play equipment in Phail Way Park.
Chickens perched on rods and boards. Others pecked at the ground or drank from a fancy water device.
A pair sat together on a swing that rocked back and forth.
Near the back, a smaller area included the coop itself with a ramp leading up to it.
“This is amazing.”
Wyatt nodded. “I didn’t know chickens would be so fun. They like to perch on the highest spot available, and they seem to take turns on the different equipment.”
He led her to two laminated pages that showcased the hens, each with its picture and name. “Seth and Mara named all the hens. Six are named after Seth’s military team. The others have names based on Star Wars.”
Those names had her laughing. Darth Layer. Hen Solo. Hen Urso. Chewbokbok. “Princess Lay-a-lot is my favorite.”
At the side of the coop, a carabiner kept a box closed. Wyatt undid it with another smile. “This is the nesting box. The humans can collect the eggs without disturbing the birds, although they do like when people go inside to visit, too.”
Inside the box, they spotted two eggs. “I’ve never seen eggs any fresher than the grocery store. This is incredible.”
“Want to do a video?”
“Only a million or so. Do you mind?”
After his earlier reservations about her career, she wondered how he’d react to her videos. Now that he knew she’d been a model, did he think this was another attention grab?
He grinned at her. “Not at all. I’ve enjoyed the ones I’ve seen you do. You’ll have to tell me how to find you online. I don’t have social media, but I’d like to see your other videos.”
Esme’s heart warmed, and her worries melted. There was no prevarication in his words or distrust in his eyes.
So she pulled out her phone and held it over the nesting box. “Hi, everyone. This is Esme, and I’m as close to foraging for my food as I ever expect to get. Welcome to Chick Inn Time. Wait until you see what I’ve got to show you.”
Later that night, Wyatt settled with a mug of hot cider at the farmhouse kitchen table to do some research.
He’d said good night to Esme over at the inn without grabbing another kiss.
After screwing up earlier in the day, he wasn’t rushing things.
She already felt too important for him to screw it up twice in one day.