Page 43 of Hard Wood Daddy

Chapter 10

Rutger

Ileft Tess all fired up to fix the mess I made. Get a deal worked out. Make sure that this land will be a stable platform under her feet so she can be at home. It’s the most basic thing I need to do for her as a man, if I want to be good enough.

The problem with trying to sort out lease issues?

One problem begets another, it seems. Because I’ve just seen Lindsay’s computer screen, and I might not be able to read but I can recognize my girl in the photos she’s found while trying to figure out who Tess is on some Faceboard thing and Instagraff.

And every single one of them has her in the city. Every. Single. One.

My world has changed.

“I have an updated copy addressing the concerns you mentioned,” Lindsay says. She pulls a paper out of her desk. She’s been keeping it in a yellow folder so it’s safe, and she puts it in front of me.

I’m too big for the guest chair. I feel stupid hunching over her desk, staring at the mess of symbols on the paper. Focusing hard and going slow doesn’t help me a lot. Sounding things out without moving my lips is hard.

I want to know what I’m looking at. I want to fix everything. I open my mouth, ready to say the words:I need help reading this.And while you’re at it, there are more papers I need someone to read for me.

Lindsay is watching me expectantly.

Shame burns hot up my neck and onto my cheeks.

I sit back in the chair, fold my arms, and shake my head.

To me, this means, I still can’t sign this because I’m not good enough for Tess. I can’t read. I never learned, because the outdoors was all I needed, but it’s not enough anymore. She’s a city girl. She’ll stay, for now, but for how long? One day, she’ll realize what my mother realized, that this isn’t enough for her.

And I can’t wait for that to happen. I have to sell, and I have to do it today. We’ll use the money to buy some apartment in the city, and I’ll get a job where I have to wear a suit. I’ll do it all, because I’d rather that than live without her.

Lindsay takes my actions as another refusal.

She droops. She looks so sad. “So we still can’t stay? I guess if you’re selling the land anyway, maybe…maybe the new owners will be sympathetic.” She gets up with a heaving sigh. “Those corporate lawyers sent their boss over, so I can speak to Mr. Patron. If he’s still here, I’ll get the ball rolling today, but I’m sure the price will be too high for the university budget.”

Patron? The name tweaks a memory in me. At first I can’t place it, then it comes flooding back.

Eldon Patron.

That’s the man Tess talked about.

Not her boyfriend. I can’t even say his name and that word together.

The asshole who wanted to collect her virginity as a trophy. Who scared her so much that she ran straight into my forest.

He’sin my forest.

“Where is he?” I demand, pounding my fists on Lindsay’s desk as I haul myself to my feet, making her bleat as I get in her face.

“What? He said he was going to see you. Rutger, what—”

I don’t even let her finish. I explode out her office and tear a path up toward my cabin, shoving past the parking lot, some milling students, and the duck pond. My long legs devour the path as I climb the mountain.

Tess’s name rings through my pounding heart. Tess, Tess, Tess…

Throwing the cabin door open, I shout the name that fills my blood: “Tess!”

The cat mewls at me. She usually avoids me, the way I avoid her, but she rubs up on my ankles like she’s trying to tell me something.

Tess isn’t home.

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