Page 23 of The Billionaire and the Runaway

Now it’s me that’s blushing. “Oh, well, thank you, but I’m not doing such a great job.”

“Don’t water it every day,” he recommends.

“Right…” I trail off as I see Eric talking to a woman outside. I feel a twinge of jealousy. What the fuck is that about? Shaking my head a little at my ridiculous reaction. I decide to go back to the office and come up with some plans for our farmstand. There’s plenty that we can do to make it better.

“I’ll see you later. I’m going to start working on some ideas for this place,” I say as I walk past Kingsley.

“Sure thing. It could use some sprucing up.”

I nod in his direction but my eyes keep flicking over toward Eric. He’s leaning on a post and chatting away with a woman who is both his age and gorgeous. I nearly run into Buck as I reach the office.

“Whoa there!” he says as he reaches out to make sure I don’t fall.

“Sorry,” I mutter as I step back and motion for him to continue.

“Careful out here, Ariana. It can be dangerous,” he scolds, and I hate that he’s right. Almost as dangerous as falling for your boss, I think.

“What’s that?” he asks.

Oh shit, did I say that out loud?

“Nothing. Just talking to myself,” I state as I quickly open the door and go inside to the safety of the office.

Joy’s fussing with my plant as I walk to my desk.

“Poor little guy needs some rocky soil,” she says as she finishes repotting it.

“Thanks, Joy,” I say as I sit down and start coming up with plans for the farmstand. After an hour, I need a break. So, I walk out to the animal barn and find the lamb. She’s curled up, fast asleep and her mom is out eating in the penned area.

“Hey, little lady,” I whisper as I sit down on a wooden stool next to her. I stroke her soft coat. She stirs but doesn’t wake.

“How’s the baby doing?” Eric asks.

I shrug. “I guess fine. I can’t even keep a plant alive, so I’m hardly one to ask.”

He sits down next to me. “You figure out how to make the farmstand work better?”

“I’m working on it,” I reply. I nod toward the parking lot where the woman from before is coming out from the farmstand with some berries. “Is that your girlfriend?”

He coughs. “Uh, no. That’s Heather. She runs the thrift store in town.”

“Oh. I…never mind,” I stammer.

I steal a glance at him, and his lips are twitching like he’s fighting a smile. I quickly look away knowing my face is getting flushed.

“I don’t have time for a girlfriend,” he says quietly, but the way he says it makes me wonder if there’s more to that statement.

“You should make time. Until today, I hardly see you speak to anyone except your employees and the farm animals,” I say with a pointed look.

“I have plenty of friends, Ariana. And I have a family. And that’s all I need,” he says as he stands and brushes his hands on his pants. I feel like I’ve offended him and suddenly I want to take back what I said. Was I out of line?

“Sorry…I shouldn’t pry,” I whisper.

“It’s alright.” He starts to leave but stops at the stall’s door. “I think you need to take care of something more than a plant.”

My eyes shoot up to meet his. “What?”

“You can be in charge of our newest member here,” he suggests, motioning to the lamb.

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