Chapter 10
CLARA
It was probably good that Ronan had to leave to take care of something for the Hounds. This was usually the busiest day of the festival, and it would’ve been hard to head downstairs and get any work done if climbing back into bed with him was an option.
After he left, the quiet of the apartment felt bigger without him in it.
I was behind the counter by eight thirty, restocking the donut case and trying not to yawn every time I bent down to grab another tray from the warmer.
The sensual workout I’d gotten in bed was different from the physical labor I did every day.
Muscles I’d never been aware of before ached in the best way.
Every time I shifted, I felt the faint soreness between my thighs, a quiet reminder of Ronan inside me, filling me until there was nothing left but us.
The bell jingled a little after eleven, and Poppy burst through the door. Ace was right behind her with a protective hand on her lower back.
“Fall festival time,” my best friend cheered, making Ace shake his head with a chuckle.
Poppy looked up at him with a wide grin. “You laugh now, but you’re going to be happy I talked y’all into coming to the orchard this morning.”
I was about to ask who all her “y’all” included when King and Stella followed them inside. Cadell was balanced on King’s hip, his chubby fists waving. Blaze and Courtney were right behind them, and Arlen was asleep in a soft carrier strapped to Courtney’s chest.
Poppy rounded the counter to hug me. “This place is even more popular than last year. The pumpkin patch is packed already.”
I returned her hug, laughing. “Wait till you see the hayride line. The line was wild yesterday when word got out we had a Hound taking shifts driving the tractor. My dad will have some disappointed customers when they find out it’s just him today.”
Courtney shot a knowing look at Blaze. “Let me guess, you want in on that action?”
Blaze pulled his wife against his side and gently placed his palm against Arlen’s back, being careful not to wake the baby. “Only if the festival isn’t too much for you two.”
Courtney rolled her eyes. “I’m sure I can spare you for a round or two if Clara’s dad is okay with you driving his precious tractor.”
“I’m sure he will.” Poppy poked Ace in the chest. “And you can take a couple of turns if you want. Gotta give the customers what they want so the fall festival lore continues to grow.”
Ace chuckled. “You weren’t kidding about how much you love this thing.”
“If anything, she was understating how much she enjoys the festival.” I beamed a smile at my best friend. “Remember your freshman year, when you came home for the weekend just so you could help out?”
“So totally worth it.” She snagged a bag of apple cider donuts from the case and took a bite out of one with a huge grin.
“Might be safer for me on the tractor, so you don’t bite my fingers off if I go for a donut,” Ace muttered.
“Please don’t feel like you guys need to help out. My dad really does have the hay rides covered. This was the first year anyone but him took the tractor out,” I explained.
“If anything, you’d be doing our men a favor by letting them take the tractor out.” Courtney swayed from side to side in a soothing motion for Arlen. “It’s not every day that they get to drive farm equipment.”
Farm life was normal to me, so I just shrugged. “I’m sure my dad won’t turn away the extra help from men who know how to handle machinery.”
Ace wagged his brows and winked at my best friend. “Oh, I know how to work machinery, all right.”
Poppy walked back around the counter to swat his arm before shoving half a donut in his mouth. “Here, eat this so you don’t embarrass me more.”
“Ooh, can I try them?” Stella asked.
“Sure.” Poppy grabbed her a fresh bag. “Here you go.”
“I just wanted a bite,” she mumbled with a laugh.
“Trust me, you’re gonna want a whole bag to yourself,” Poppy mumbled around her donut.
King pulled his wallet out of his pocket, but I waved him off before he could pull any cash out. “Even if you guys didn’t want to help with the hay rides, Ronan wouldn’t let us pay a penny for the top-of-the-line security system a bunch of your men helped him put in.”
“And I never pay for mine.” Poppy pulled another donut from her bag. “Kathy says I put in enough sweat equity as a kid to get them free for life.”
Stella’s eyes widened as she took her first bite. “I’m willing to pitch in wherever if you’ll pay me in these.”
Poppy flashed her a grin. “So good, right?”
We chatted for a minute about the other donut flavors we offered before Poppy grabbed my arm. “Bathroom break. Come with?”
I nodded, leaving the counter to Harper, who’d just walked in.
In the small restroom at the back of the store, Poppy leaned against the sink, her eyes locked on mine through the reflection in the mirror as she washed her hands. “Okay, spill. You’re glowing.”
I felt my cheeks heat. “Is it that obvious?”
“Girl, you’re practically sparkling. And from what Ace has said, it sounds like Rebel has been glued to this place all week.
Which I freaking love for you because it tells me he gets how rooted you are here.
Instead of trying to pull you away, he’s planting himself right in the middle of your world. ”
I let out a dreamy sigh. “Yeah, that’s what I hoped was happening. But I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. Is he really okay with the orchard being my life? With me staying here, running the place someday with my siblings?”
“Being a little scared is normal. Especially with how quickly these guys sweep us off our feet.” Poppy’s expression softened. “It was the same with Ace.”
We stepped out into the hall and found Ace leaning against the wall, waiting for Poppy. “You two gossiping about me?”
“Mostly about Rebel,” Poppy corrected, sidling up next to him and wrapping her arm around his waist. “He’s swept my bestie off her feet so fast, her head is spinning.”
Ace nodded. “Makes sense. That’s Rebel. When he decides something’s his, he doesn’t hesitate. Figures he’d be the same when he finally found his woman.”
Hearing one of Ronan’s club brothers call me his packed more of a punch than I expected. “Do you really think so?”
“Hearing his road name, some people get the wrong idea.” Ace rubbed the back of his neck.
“Rebel’s not reckless. Never has been. He earned that name because he walked away from a life most guys would’ve killed to keep.
Good money. High-profile private security gigs.
But the company started taking jobs that crossed lines he wasn’t willing to go over.
So he walked. Most men would’ve stayed quiet and took the cash.
Rebel didn’t. He told them to fuck off and never looked back. ”
I swallowed. “That’s why they call him Rebel.”
Ace nodded. “Yeah, because he won’t give his loyalty to anything that doesn’t deserve it.”
His words eased a lot of my worries, but a big one remained.
“He’s been here so much, but I’m worried he’ll get bored.
I’ve always pictured building a house here and taking over when Mom and Dad step back.
My siblings will help, but I’ll be the one running point.
It’s my dream. But what if it’s not his? ”
Ace’s voice softened. “Talk to him. From what I’ve seen, he’s not here because he’s passing time. Rebel doesn’t do half-measures.”
Poppy squeezed my hand. “He’s not going to resent you for loving this place. He’s going to love it because you do.”
I blinked back sudden heat in my eyes. “Thanks. Both of you.”
Ace gestured toward the front of the store. “Now go enjoy your festival. I have a tractor to hunt down before Blaze talks your dad into letting him drive it before me.”
I laughed and headed back to the counter.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of fun that held a new depth because I got to see Cadell enjoy it for the first time. I couldn’t help but picture my own children doing the same—the ones I wanted to have with Ronan.
Poppy and I stole moments to catch up, and I loved that she’d never been happier. But I also wanted that for myself. The ring, the property patch, and the pregnancy. It gave me new clarity into the depth of my feelings for Ronan.
Once whatever was going down with the club that had pulled him away from the orchard today was handled, we needed to talk about what we wanted for the future.
Hopefully, it was the same thing. But I had a feeling that for him, I’d be willing to consider something different from what I’d dreamed of my whole life.