Page 51 of The Billionaire and the Runaway

He does and I laugh. He’s buttoned the shirt askew and managed to get a bigger button in a smaller hold. I grin at my thought. Fine, maybe having a dirty mind isn’t a sign of being uncultured.

“I can help,” I say as I step inside. The door swings closed behind me as I tug at the button, prying it out of the small slit in the fabric. I finally manage to get it free, and Eric presses me up against the wall.

“Eric,” I hiss, looking around as if someone can see us in here.

He nuzzles my neck. “I can’t help it,” he whispers as he kisses my collarbone.

I groan softly and he clamps a hand over my mouth as he continues to kiss up my neck and suck on my earlobe.

Then he pulls his hand away and replaces it with his mouth. I fall victim to his amazing lips. This man can kiss!

“You finding everything alright back here,” Heather’s voice comes from the other side of the door.

I stare up at Eric in horror as he swings open the door. “I’m going to take that one instead.” He motions to a shirt on the wall hook. “I got the buttons all messed up on this one. Thank God I brought Ariana to help,” he adds with a chuckle.

Again, I’m met with a suspicious gaze for the second time today. Heather looks between us and then takes the shirt off the hook. “I’ll ring this up and put it on your tab,” she says.

“Thanks,” Eric calls out.

I glare at him. “We should talk. This”—I motion between us—“is getting out of hand.”

He smirks. “I like it out of hand,” he replies as he peels the shirt off to change, leaving me staring right at his amazing pectoral muscles and that “V” of muscles that juts out above his jeans. I think his body is my Kryptonite.

CHAPTERTWENTY

Eric

We’ve decided to keep our relationship to ourselves for a few more weeks. I know Ariana isn’t telling me everything. But if anything, I’m a patient man. I can wait. It’s only been a few weeks since we met and less than two weeks since we started, well, whatever this is between us. Neither of us is ready to put an official title on it.

I keep getting knowing looks from my staff. They see right through us, but Ariana doesn’t seem to notice. She’s busied herself with getting things set for our grand re-opening event. She’s already assured me that the farmstand only needs to be closed for four days for all the work to be completed. I find this completely unrealistic, but I’m doing my best to trust her.

Today, she’s been making calls and making something called teasers for our social media pages. I’ve watched her a few times through the large window in the office, her red hair tied up in a bun on top of her head. She’s adorable when she’s concentrating.

It’s hard not to have flashes of Tori. It’s hard not to think about how hard it was after she died. We had our entire life in front of us, and in an instant, it all was wiped away. But somehow, each day with Ariana, I think less about that time. I’m torn about it. On one hand, I feel guilty, as if not thinking about Tori every day is some sort of mortal sin. On the other hand, I find myself feeling happier every day, which leads me to feel guilty again as if I can’t be happy because she died.

I groan at myself as I sling some feed bags onto the bed of my truck.

“Need help, old man?” Kingsley asks.

“Very funny,” I grumble. “And no, I’m good.”

“If you say so. Hey, I was going to ask if I can take off the days we are closed. I sort of…was going to visit a friend,” he says.

I stop what I’m doing and turn to face him. “A friend?” I ask.

He shrugs. “Yeah, a few of us were going to stay at their parents’ beach house for a few days. It should be fun. I wasn’t going to go, but then if the farmstand is closed anyhow…” He trails off and shuffles his feet.

“Kingsley, you can take off whenever you want. You just need to let me know. By all means, please go and have fun,” I assure him.

“OK,” he says and then presses his lips together as if that will stop him from saying more.

“Out with it,” I state as I cross my arms.

“It’s just…I know things are tough here. And Tori would want me to help you. I just don’t want to let you guys down,” he explains.

Shit. Is everyone from Tori’s life dealing with guilt? I can’t even imagine what it’s been like for Kingsley. He adored his big sister, and she would be so proud of the man he’s become.

“Listen, Tori, first of all, would want you to go live your life and have fun. And second, I do too. There are other people we can get to work around here. Hell, Buck could even fill in for you for a few days or Joy. They have before when you’ve been sick. And I can do it too. Now…Earl, on the other hand,” I tease.

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