Page 13 of Close to My Heart

“Are you sure you don’t want to save this for your paying customers?”

“This is the family field, and I’ve never cut a tree for myself before.”

“Ah. You’re a tree virgin,” I teased him.

He rolled his eyes good-naturedly. “Is this the one?”

I smiled and nodded. “It will look gorgeous in your house.”

Wes’s eyes heated, and I wondered what he was thinking. Then he knelt next to the tree, taking the saw he’d grabbed from the truck, and lined it up with the base.

I moved to hold the tree so it wouldn’t fall when he cut through it. As soon as the tree shifted, Wes shot up and grabbed the tree.

I walked next to him as he dragged it back to the car. Everyone else was back, busy securing their trees.

“We’re going back to the house to eat leftovers. You want to join us? We’ll need to open the farm soon.”

Wes shot me an apologetic look. “I’ll need to help on the farm for a little. Then we can take the tree back to my place.”

“We’re going to Wes’s house to get this set up before he changes his mind.” I didn’t want to spend time with anyone else. I wanted to forget the rest of the world existed and that anyone wanted anything from me.

“I don’t blame you. I don’t think he’s ever decorated for the holidays,” Al said as he continued to his truck.

I got in the cab while Wes secured the tree in the bed. Then he drove down the lane to the main house.

“I called Harbor Garage to tow your car.”

“Thanks for doing that.” I couldn’t believe I’d forgotten that my car was stranded on the side of the road.

We ate leftovers with his family. Then I took a nap while Wes helped his family open the farm for business.

When he texted he was done, I gathered my clothes and met him outside at his truck.

Ever the gentleman, Wes asked, “You want to go home and grab a change of clothes first?”

The thought of going home to the house on my grandmother’s property made my stomach turn. “I don’t want to chance running into anyone. As soon as I get home, Mom’s going to bombard me with options and pressure me to decide. I’m not ready for any of it.”

“I can understand that.”

I just needed one more day, and I was excited to decorate Wes’s house for the first time. He pulled down his drive. He’d purchased a home outside of a neighborhood with a long lane, and the house itself was behind a layer of trees. It was private.

Wes turned off the engine. “We’ll have a relaxing day. I’ll start a fire and make some hot chocolate.”

“That sounds absolutely divine after the evening I had yesterday.” I saw the stubborn set to Wes’s face. “I know what you think about my family, and last night’s shenanigans didn’t change that.”

“I hate what you’re going through. No one should be forced to get married before they’re ready, especially not to the first willing guy that only wants you for your money.”

I shrugged, trying not to let the pain of that statement penetrate. “I’ll have to offer him something. He’s marrying me out of convenience.”

Wes made a noncommittal noise deep in his throat. It was sexy.

Wes’s house resembled a modern-day farmhouse, complete with a huge wraparound porch, an unattached garage, and beautiful detailing on the siding.

We got out and met on the porch.

My stomach rumbled. “Maybe we should have stuck around for dinner with your family.”

“Nah. I’d rather do our own thing. Besides, Otto probably misses me. The neighbor came over and took him out a few times, but it’s not the same.”

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