Page 40 of Connor

DAISY

Idon’t know what made me pack a bathing suit, given that I can’t swim and didn’t think I would need it here in Whispers, but I did, and now it’s riding up my ass. My body’s clearly bigger now than it was when I bought my swimwear years ago.

But I’m still smiling, because I’ve been waiting for this all week.

“We need to work out the best path to the springs, the one that will be easiest for our clients,” Connor says. He seems off today. The trek from the distillery was quiet, the scowl on his face looking permanent. We’re back to insulting each other, the small peace treaty I thought we made no longer a viable option, apparently. Ever since Soren came to the office yesterday, he’s been either ignoring me or short and to the point. But surely, I’m allowed to have suppliers visit; that’s all part of networking and building a brand, and until he tells me I can’t, then I’ll continue doing the work my way. Although Soren dropping by was a surprise, and one I could’ve done without.

“I’ve been thinking about that. I suspect we may also have some older clients who come to the mineral springs. I did some research on the springs. They’re renowned for their healing properties. Mineral-rich waters can help boost circulation, improve hypertension, alleviate stress, help with pain, and reduce inflammation, not to mention a slew of other health benefits.” I assume he already knows this, since he’s a local.

“We’ll need to install a proper path…” he says, seemingly ignoring my comment as I follow him down a well-worn dirt path through the fields. As we descend, the world quiets even more, until all I can hear is the peaceful hum of nature surrounding us.

I stop for a moment to soak it all in, because this isn’t something that’s found anywhere in New York. Looking around, I close my eyes and take a deep breath. People pay a lot of money to try to capture this sound and the feeling it evokes. The slight rustle of the long grass, the little creaks of bugs and insects nearby, the careful movement of the trees swaying in the small breeze, the singing of birds up above, and the feeling of protectiveness from being at one with nature.

“What are you doing?” Connor barks, interrupting my impromptu meditation, and my eyes fling open. He’s standing in front of me, his eyes narrowing, brow furrowed. I have no idea why he’s extra grumpy today. But even with a slight scowl, he’s still handsome. Suppressing a groan of frustration, I push that thought to the side.

“Taking a moment. Soaking in nature. It’s very relaxing. You should try it. It might stop you being such an ass today,” I say sweetly with a shrug, totally stepping over the line of workplace courtesy, but we’ve toed that line since we met.

“I’m not being an ass. You're too slow. Come on, let’s go.” His snappy tone has me tensing, before he turns and starts walking again. I’m not sure if he went for his run earlier, but he clearly woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

“I’m not slow, you’re too fast. Your giant-sized strides are at least three of mine,” I gripe back, my feet racing to keep up and struggling with that task. Despite his assholery ways, I admire him from behind. He’s wearing jeans and a button-down shirt, one of my favorite looks of his. Walking in front of me means that he’s front and center in my vision. Not that he hasn’t been since I met him a few weeks ago. Connor Whiteman seems to be permanently branded into my brain these days.

“We’re in a beautiful place, and you still have something to complain about,” he murmurs, and now it’s my turn to frown, because I’m the least likely person to complain about anything.

“I’m not complaining. This place is beautiful, it’syouI have a problem with.”

“SoI’mthe problem?” he asks, exaggerating his tone, slight sarcasm sneaking in as he continues to walk down the sloping hill toward the springs.

“You’re so infuriating today, really. What is your… Ohhhh!” I gasp as my foot slides on an open tree root that I didn’t see sticking from the ground. I slip slightly and feel my heart leaping from my mouth as I fall. Trying to brace myself for the impact, I squeeze my eyes shut, holding my breath and waiting for my heavy frame to thud on the hard ground. But Connor is quick. In an instant, his hands are on me, his large palms wrapping around my waist as he pulls me close so I don’t fall over completely.

My eyes ping open, and I look straight at him. We’re almost chest to chest, barely an inch between us. His hands hold on to me tight, firmly around my waist, his body leaning over me, as he grabbed me mid-fall. My hands automatically latched on to his arms, and now my fingers grip his shirt, my breathing labored as we continue to stare at each other. I lick my dry lips and swallow, trying to bring myself back to reality. His eyes lower to my mouth, his face hardening.

“I’m infuriating? You can’t even walk straight.” He huffs, like I’m the one annoying him, rather than the other way around.

“I can so.” It sounds immature, but I’m almost lost for words. My body tingles, my breathing rapid, and my heart is racing as he looms over me. I feel completely at his mercy right now. Pulling away slightly, his eyes inspect me for injury while I try to calm my breathing. I notice his nostrils flare as his attention roams my body, his beard covering a world of emotions flicking across his face that are impossible to decipher.

“You need to watch where you’re walkin’,” he says, his accent thick, and I almost stumble again as my knees go weak. Sure, he talks all the time, and yes, I’ve heard small slithers of his Southern country accent slip in and out of his dialect, but out here in the field, the sounds of nature surrounding us and no one else here but the two of us, it’s thicker and slides down my body like warm honey, making my pussy throb in a way it hasn’t for some time.

“I was watching,” I push back, and he looks like he doesn’t believe me. Which would be right, since I was too busy looking at his fine ass, rather than where I was planting my feet.

“I don’t need an insurance claim on you if you hurt yourself already.”

“Well, like I said, stop walking so fast. I can’t keep up with your giant steps.” It’s obvious I’m still a little breathless. My heart thuds, the pull I feel for him increasing, and the way he’s looking at me could melt my clothes right off. It’s warm today, and I’m wearing a long shirt over some shorts, the shirt open at my collar, my swimwear underneath that. Although riding up my butt, it does cinch me in at the waist and pulls my breasts together, giving my already excellent cleavage a little more oomph. It’s a great confidence builder.

“Come on,” he snaps, startling me from my thoughts and dropping his hands from my waist. My body feels bereft for a beat before something strange happens. His hand grabs mine, holding tightly, and he starts walking again, this time a little slower. I think my soul has left my body, but my feet move along with him. He looks straight ahead, which is good, because if he looked at me, I’m not sure I could hide the feelings from my face. Shock, mixed with excitement, mixed with appreciation. His hand is huge, mine small in his firm hold, until he moves his hand a little so our fingers intertwine. I’m not sure if he’s just being helpful or trying to ensure I don’t fall or actually wants to touch me and hold my hand. But I let my fingers grip his just as tight.

“We’ll need to put in a handrail,” I say, my voice sounding a little nervous. I have no idea what’s happening, but my body is responding like she’s been waiting for this moment forever, gripping on to his hand tight, even now that the walkway has leveled off a little and there are no rocks or roots sticking up to trip me.

“I can get Griffin going on building a better path, with rails and maybe some small seating along the way. So people can sit and let nature soak over them,” he grumbles, and my eyes widen. Did he just agree with me?

“Griffin?” I ask.

“My builder.”

I huff. Of course he has his own builder.

“Careful here, the rocks can be slippery.” His hold on my hand tightens again as I step over some rocks that are glistening, then finally stop and look up and around. My mouth drops open in awe at the sight before me.

“Wow,” I say, stunned into silence. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this. “This is beautiful.” The water is calm, the spring larger than I was anticipating. Big boulders run around the perimeter, making it look like a natural pool. The water’s amazing, so clear, you can almost see the bottom. I’ve never wanted to jump into a pool this much before in my life. I swallow, pulling at my shirt a little, because even though I want to get in, I feel apprehensive about Connor seeing me in my bathing suit.

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