Page 24 of Merry With A Milkman

It’s been a positive evening and the comments should have me flying high, except for one off-hand comment I heard Mr. Omata make to one of the other guests.

He hasn’t had luck renting to single people and prefers to deal with what he considers a more settled married person. I’m sure that attitude includes his suggested arrangement with me, although he hasn’t made any indication of that mindset to me.

I’m hiding in the backroom trying to come up with a plan that doesn’t sound like I just made it up to meet his requirements. Maybe I’m overthinking this. Probably am. I need to get back out there.

Before I reach the needed calm, Tegan finds me. “What’s going on? Why are you hiding back here?”

“I’m not hiding.”

She chuckles. “Yes, you are. I know the whole process is overwhelming. Mr. Omata is basically planning to be an investor for one year, even though it’s in a weird way. When you want to impress someone, it’s so easy to get overwhelmed, wondering if you’re doing too much, or not enough.”

“You’re pretty darn smart, you know that?”

She blows on her fingernails and rubs them against her shoulder. “You’d better believe it.”

“I do. I need your advice.”

At her nod I explain what I’d heard and ask her opinion. Instead of speaking she wraps her arms around me and lifts her face. “We can figure this out.”

All evening I’ve resisted touching her. Her beauty tonight is beyond compare. Her smile and gentle nature are a balm to my soul. I’ll tell her tonight. After everyone’s gone, I will tell my woman how much I love her.

For now, resistance fades and her eyes close as I lower my mouth to hers. This…this is home. No matter what happens tonight, tomorrow, next week, she is my anchor. My love.

She eases back. “What do you think about the woman who came with your brother?”

Confusion makes my brows lower. Is she trying to distract me? “What about her?”

“He likes her. A lot. And it’s reciprocated. Rhone, your brother is in love.”

Steve? In love? “Nah, not Steve.”

Tegan shakes her head. “I’ll let this one go since you’ve been so wrapped up in getting Landon Dairy Cheeses up and running. Pay attention to those around you. You might not believe this now, but if you really notice how people behave when they come into your store, you’ll be able to serve them better. In some cases, like with Steve, you’ll get to know him better. I don’t know exactly what you did in the military, and it’s okay if you can’t tell me everything. But use that training with your business. You might be surprised. Trust me.”

“I do, honey. I’m going to need your help.”

“Anytime.”

I need to kiss her again and she melts against me.

“Oh, excuse me.”

We break apart to see disappointment fill Mr. Omata’s face. My heart and my hopes plummet to my stomach. I’ve fucked up my chances. As Mr. Omata turns away, Tegan presses her palm against my chest. “I’ve got this.”

She takes the older man’s arm. “I hope you’ll keep our secret, Mr. Omata.”

“What secret is that?” He pats her hand.

“Well, you see, Rhone and I are secretly engaged. It happened so fast and we don’t want our families to try and tell us to wait.”

“I understand fast, Ms. Drake.”

“Oh, please call me Tegan.”

He nods. “And I am Albert. From the first moment I saw my wife, I knew she was the woman I would marry. Our engagement was short. Just two months. Our families tried to talk us out of marriage. We stood firm and were married for fifty-five years before she passed.”

“I’m so sorry, Albert. You must miss her very much.”

“I do. Would you take some advice from an old man?”

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