Page 16 of The Billionaire and the Runaway

I enter the side door into the office. Joy’s there but I don’t see Eric as I look around.

“Hey, Eric had to go help Buck. I hope Lennox gave you a good tour,” she says as she types away at her computer.

“He did. He’s very sweet,” I say, taking a seat at my desk.

“Let me know if you need anything,” she says as I open my laptop and start to brainstorm.

I turn to her. “Can I get access to our website?”

“Of course,” she says, getting up and walking over to help me get into the web design for it. I settle in with a cup of coffee five minutes later. I have a lot of work cut out for me.

* * *

“I need some serious coffee,” I announce around lunchtime. “I’m going to borrow the truck and go into town.”

“Sure thing. You going to Elisha’s?” Joy asks.

I nod.

“Here”—she drops some money on my desk—“can you pick up some of her chicken salad sandwiches on a croissant for Lennox and me? And maybe a few cookies?”

“Absolutely,” I say as I gather my things and head to the truck. I manage to get to the café without stalling it. I grin proudly at the old blue truck as I walk inside. The bell chimes letting Elisha know I’ve entered. She glances up and sees me, giving me a wave.

“Hi, Ariana. Welcome back. What can I get for you?” she asks as she wipes her hands on a towel that’s slung over her shoulder.

I look up at a chalkboard and read today’s specials.

“Joy needs two chicken salad sandwiches on croissants. And a few cookies, maybe…” I look down and point at ones with M&M’s in them. “And I’ll have a ham and Swiss on a croissant and a hazelnut latte.”

“Coming right up,” she replies as she gets to work putting the order together.

A blonde woman comes whirling into the shop with a dark-haired man in tow. She twirls and the man puts his hand out to spin her like one of those little figurines inside an old jewelry box.

“Well, someone’s in a good mood,” Elisha laughs as she continues working on my order.

The woman giggles and leans against the glass display case, resting her forearms on top of it. “Tulip fields! We have tulip fields!” she exclaims.

“Seriously? OMG! Your wedding is going to be amazing!” Elisha says as she wraps up the sandwiches. Then she glances toward me as the blonde eyes me with curiosity. “Ella, meet our newest resident, Ariana. Ariana, these are my good friends, Ella and Gustavo. Ariana is working for Eric.”

The man narrows his eyes at her and then looks at me with a grin. “Call me Gus, please. And nice to meet you, Ariana.”

“Welcome to Storyview Falls. I love going to Eric’s farmstand and I love Snuggles!” Ella says.

“Thanks, nice to meet you both,” I reply as I hold out some cash to Elisha while trying to remember if Snuggles was a horse or a cow. The bank said it would be at least two weeks before I got my debit card. I haven’t used this much cash…well, ever.

“Here you go. Is Lennox out at the farm with you guys today?” Elisha asks.

I nod. “I guess there’s no school today or something?”

“Oh yeah, I forgot about that,” Ella says as she adjusts her hair into a messy bun on top of her head.

“Did I hear you say there are tulip fields here?” I ask as I place the bag of food under my arm so I can adjust my purse strap.

Ella smiles. “Yes. My and my fiancé’s farm started growing them over the winter and then planted a field. It was a total crap shoot if it would work. We’re getting married next weekend and wanted a small field of tulips as the backdrop.”

Gus tries to hold in a laugh but can’t contain it. Ella gives him a little shove.

“Yeah, right. They”—he puts up air quotes—“totally wanted tulips.”

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