Page 12 of The Billionaire and the Runaway

“A city girl, huh? I grew up in the city too, but when Grandpa started talking about retiring, I moved out here,” she says as she opens the café door and we step inside. The smell of fresh bread, baked cookies, and coffee surrounds me like a warm hug.

“Hey, Sylvie,” a woman says from behind the counter.

“Hey, Elisha. This is Ariana. She’s new to town. She’s working for Eric,” Sylvie says as we walk up to the counter. She leans toward me. “I’d get one of her seven-layer bars. They are amazing and she will not tell me the secret ingredient.”

Elisha laughs. “What can I get for you ladies?”

“I’ll have a vanilla cappuccino with almond milk, and oh, what are those?” I ask as I point to a pastry that looks amazing.

“Those are my raspberry chocolate tortes,” Elisha says.

“I will take two of those. And a dozen of your macaroons.”

“Sure thing,” she says. I pull the remaining cash from my purse. Shit. I need to find a bank around here and open an account.

“Hey, is there a bank in town?” I ask.

“Yep. Right by the park off Main Street,” Sylvie says.

“Great. I need to open an account. Geez, so much to do when you move to a new town,” I say with a smile.

“So, you’re working for Eric, huh?” Elisha asks as she glances over her shoulder at me while she makes my drink.

“Yep. Just started,” I answer.

“You’ll love it. Eric is the best and he could certainly use some help out here,” Elisha replies as she turns and sets my drink down.

Sylvie leans in toward me. “He’s had a rough time of it. I think you’ll be good for him.”

The way she says it makes me wonder what she means. Does his rough time just have to do with the farm? She knows I’m working for him, right? So, not dating him. Clearly, there are some things I don’t know yet about my new boss. I just hope he gives me enough of a chance to learn more about him.

CHAPTERSIX

Eric

I sip my coffee as I go through some bills. Tossing them on Joy’s desk, I stare out at the sun that’s still low in the sky. Earl and Buck are already busy working. Joy is coming late with her grandson who has the day off from school.

I feel like a king looking over his kingdom. God, I hope I can save this place. I can’t imagine life without it. Then again, I couldn’t imagine it without Tori but I’ve somehow managed. I feel the darkness creeping into my mind but then the door flies open and in walks my newest employee. I watch her cross the room and look around.

“Good morning, Ariana,” I say.

She jumps and clutches her chest. “You scared the crap out of me,” she says in a breathless voice.

I hold up my coffee mug. “Coffee?” I ask.

She smiles and sets down a box of macaroons from Elisha’s café. “Yes, please. I brought some of these. I couldn’t resist, they looked so good when I stopped there yesterday.”

I grab a mug and put it under the coffee maker as I pop a new coffee pod in the top. “Elisha’s baked goods are the best. We’re lucky to have her here.” I pause and turn back to Ariana. “I cleared this table for you. I know it’s not much of a desk area, but hopefully, it’ll work for now.”

She tilts her head to one side. “Well, maybe I can run into town and pick up a few things to make it…more functional.”

I’m about to suggest she rummage in Joy’s storage closet in the hallway to see if we have any supplies at all, but then I hear the tractor outside and it doesn’t sound good. We both turn to look out the window.

“Oh no,” I mutter as I head to see what the problem is today.

Earl kicks the tire as I approach. “Damn thing just crapped out on me. I think we’re gonna have to get Marty out here to look at it.”

I groan. Marty runs the one gas station and service shop in town. He’s great with anything on wheels with a motor, but he also comes at a price.

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