Chapter 65
Chapter Sixty-Five
ELLE
Everyone tried to keep me from coming back to work but that wasn’t fucking happening. I didn’t need crutches and even though walking on this stupid ass brace wasn’t the easiest, I could survive.
During my first week back, there was always someone hovering and it was driving me crazy.
“Mama, I’m fine!” I finally break, I love my mother and I know she’s doing it for herself as much as she is for me but I need to be alone.
I work best when I can be alone. Well, unless Patrick wants to be around.
“Okay, okay. I need to get back to the Big House and start on lunch anyway. You want me to have someone bring you some food?” My mother’s love language is definitely food.
I shake my head. “No, I have a meeting with Patrick and we’ll have lunch together.
” I don’t try to fight the smile that has become automatic when I bring my Intruder up.
I’m still a grumpy bitch, that’s never going to change, but Patrick loves me and I love him.
He’s never once tried to change any part of my personality.
He’s never tried to try to change me, only always supporting me.
I know being with him has smoothed out some of my rougher edges but that was all me.
After everything that happened with dating Loop, I thought I was going to be single and grumpy for the rest of my life but Patrick has proven every day since I met him that I’m perfect the way I am.
Fucking Loop.
He no longer has anything to do with my family’s business.
Turns out the day after my accident—the only day I took off, Patrick kept me very occupied—Lola reached out to the company we were using for accounting and made sure Loop was removed from working on our accounts effective immediately.
Lola told me that she would handle everything with getting a new accountant.
She didn’t have to do that but I do have to admit the idea of not having to handle that situation took a weight off my shoulders.
As Mama gets up to leave, I stand and give her a quick hug. The door opens as we release each other and my guy walks in. “Hey Intruder.” I call teasingly.
Once I explained the nickname to Patrick, he demanded I never call him anything else.
“Hey sweetheart, Mama Donna. Always great to see you.” Patrick walks over to the cat tree tucked in the corner of my office, Honey Cat in her usual space on his shoulders jumps off and makes herself comfortable once he’s close enough.
Mama wraps Patrick in a hug of his own, telling us she wants to have a family dinner soon.
I think she’s planning to make family dinners a more frequent occurrence.
I don’t think any of us siblings have been up to eat together with Mama since we went out that first hike with Patrick.
She’s mentioned it a few times, even talking about getting Anika to come down with Henry.
I don’t know if that is ever going to happen but I don’t mind taking extra time with my family anymore. Not when I have Patrick with me.
The whole family has completely accepted Patrick and I are together for the long haul.
“What are you thinking about?” Patrick kisses my cheek before wrapping his arms around my shoulders, pulling me into his warm body. He always smells like sunshine and I can’t help taking in a lungful of my man. “That I love you.”
“I love you too.” Another kiss and we get to business.
Patrick is kicking ass with tours and we’ve been discussing starting up a waitlist until we can look into hiring a second tour guide.
“I printed out some different examples of how we could create the wait list, let me just figure out where I put them.” I frown as I shuffle through the different binders and notebooks on my desk.
“Let me help.” Patrick stands and starts to help me search before he grabs my notebook.
My flower notebook. “No, not that one!” I jump up from my chair but it’s too late.
He’s flipping through the pages, confusion quickly morphing into smugness then resting into a look of contentment.
“You kept all of these?” His voice is full of awe, causing me to scoff.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.
I cross my arms and turn my head, hoping to hide the red staining my cheeks.
“Oh, sweetheart, I think you do.” There’s something in his tone that makes goosebumps dance across my skin.
“Do you look at all those pretty flowers I brought you?” He’s behind me, wrapping his arms around mine and forcing me to uncross and turn to face him.
“No.” I don’t know why I’m trying to deny this.
The evidence is right fucking there. “Oh, sweetheart, it’s okay to admit you’re obsessed with me.
” Patrick winks at me before resting his forehead against mine.
“I love you, sweetheart.” His lips press against mine, sweetly.
Once he pulls his lips away from mine, I keep my arms around his middle, taking in how much this man has changed my life.
Maybe I am obsessed but I wouldn't change anything I have with this man. He’s my safe space and I’m so happy he was forced to intrude in my life.
“I fucking love you too.”
THE END