Page 70 of All My Heart

I smiled, happy to be included. “I've heard a lot about growing up there. I can't wait to see it in person.”

“Not everyone likes it.” Teddy tipped his bottle to his lips.

“Have you dated women who don't?” I asked Teddy, wanting to get to know him better.

Axel snorted. “I wouldn't call what he does dating. He's never with them long enough.”

Teddy lowered his bottle and smacked him in the shoulder.

I enjoyed the way they interacted. I wondered if it would be the same when all the siblings got together.

Teddy nodded. “When we were in high school, it was a detriment. They made fun of us for growing up on a farm.”

“That stopped when we proved ourselves on the sports fields,” Axel added.

“I got hit the hardest with it. Maybe because I was the oldest.”

“The right woman won't care about that stuff. They'll love you for who you are,” I said. Just like I'd accepted Axel for his flaws and all. I didn't necessarily agree with his choices, but I accepted his decisions.

Teddy stood and set his empty bottle on the table. “I'm going to head out. Charlotte has some stuff she needs me to do around the farm tomorrow.”

“You letting her boss you around now?” Axel teased.

Teddy shrugged. “That's what Dad wants.”

Axel just raised a brow.

Teddy was compliant when it came to his father but a bear to everyone else. Or at least that was my impression.

“Thanks for helping with the cabin.” Axel stood.

“I'll come by to help with the rest of the kitchen install.”

“I'm sure we'll need the manpower.” When I worked on my own, I'd need to hire someone to do the installs. I wasn't sure I could do it myself. I'd have to see how difficult it was.

We watched Teddy drive off. Then Axel turned to me. “Want to test out the hot tub?”

“Are we sure no more family members are showing up?”

“I can never guarantee anything when it comes to my family. But it's late, so I think we'll be safe.”

Axel threw an arm around my shoulders as we headed to my cabin. I wished this could be us forever, working long days on a house, then soothing sore muscles in a hot tub. I couldn't think of a better life.

CHAPTER 18

AXEL

Iwas excited to show Luna the farm today. Each tree on the lane was wrapped in white lights.

Luna leaned forward in her seat. “I love the lights. They remind me of the palm trees in Sanibel. They wrap them in lights just like this.”

I'd never had the urge to go to the beach at the holidays before, but the way Luna described it made it an attractive idea. Made more desirable by the fact that she'd be living there again soon.

Did I want this relationship to extend beyond these few weeks? I parked next to the other trucks and Teddy's cruiser.

“It's exactly how I pictured it. A farmhouse, a barn, and rows of Christmas trees,” Luna gushed.

I placed the truck in Park. “The lights and decorations are Charlotte's doing.”

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