Page 26 of Merry With A Milkman

I’m not sure what magic Tegan wielded. By the end of the evening Mr. Omato and I come to an agreement. Monday before he leaves town, we’ll go to the bank to complete our transactions.

As everyone leaves I notice the biker who always sits in the corner of the Sandy Sipper and who I now know is Boots’ friend, waiting across the street. There are some undercurrents in Boots’ life I haven’t figured out and I appreciate how protective he is of her. So even though she offers to help clean up, I practically shove her out the door.

Once I lock up and pull down the huge shades that cover the front windows and the door Tegan wraps her arms around my waist from behind. “This evening turned out fabulous, don’t you think.”

Wrapping my hand around one of her wrists, I turn so we’re facing each other. “Very successful. Thank you.”

“All I get is a thank you? I was hoping for something more.” She slips her hand between us to caress my cock.

“Ah, yes.” I press my reaction harder against her palm. “More will be later. Haven’t you always said, business before pleasure?”

“We could break that rule, couldn’t we? Just this once?”

As the more I want to give her coalesces in my mind, I shake my head. “It’ll be worth not worrying about having to come back to a mess.”

“I’m willing to come…”

“Oh, you will, sweetness. The sooner we’re done here, the sooner…” I leave my promise hanging in the air.

She slaps playfully at my shoulder. “Oh, you. Fine then. You wash and I’ll dry.”

There’s no cheese left to put away, nor any of the chocolates. We finish the last of a bottle of wine as we work. Once the shop area is cleaned and swept, we wash the cheese platters and wine glasses. Since the building will soon be mine, we store everything in the kitchen. The small act makes the store finally feel real to me.

We pause for a kiss in the back doorway before closing the door on the successful event. “Come back to my place tonight?” I ask.

Tegan’s lower lip form a pout. “But my bedroom’s just a few steps away.”

“I know, sweetness. It’ll be worth the wait.”

“Better be.” She starts toward my car. “Well, hurry up then.”

Even though it’s late and traffic is light, all I do is hold her hand and stroke her fingers on the drive home. We’re quiet on the drive, which gives me time to overthink what I’m about to do.

She’s only been to my house a couple times and we’ve never fooled around here, yet she takes my hand and pulls me unerringly toward the bedroom. She sits on the bed—thank god I was restless overnight and put on clean sheets—and holds herarms out to me. I remain standing a couple feet away and her smile wavers.

“There’s a lot to do before officially opening Landon Dairy Cheeses.”

“So, you want to talk business now. Okay. Fine. You’d better make sure it’s worth it later.” She softens her complaint with a smile.

“Based on tonight, I need to up my cheese production, too.”

“Which means you’ll be spending more time out at the farm and I probably won’t get to be with you as often. I understand that. Once you’re open things should even out.”

“What did you think of Steve’s girlfriend.” My switch in topic makes her lower her brows and stare at me.

Then she shrugs. “I like her. I’d enjoy getting to know her better. Tonight confirmed my belief that Steve likes her, too. A lot.”

“He does. If he has his way, she’ll become a permanent part of his life. And the dairy. I’m thinking about asking if she’d like to learn cheesemaking. Take some of the pressure off me.”

“A permanent part? Does that mean relationship wise?”

Of course she’d pick up on that part. I nod. “There’s a wedding in the future.”

Tegan clasps her hands together and sighs. “That’s wonderful. I’m so happy for them.”

“Don’t say anything yet though, okay. He’s planning a Christmas proposal.”

She makes the zipping motion across her mouth.

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