Page 144 of Tempting Promises
“I spent about an hour on the eye cream, but I don’t love it. Faye thinks I should try to work on something that will be more marketable like a wrinkle something. As though I have a fucking clue what to do with that.”
He sits beside me, tossing his legs up on the table. “You used a lot of weird shit when we were in the woods. Maybe one of those will work.”
“Maybe. I thought about the ash remedies we used. I don’t know, all of this feels so crazy, you know?”
His deep chuckle rumbles in the space. “Sweetheart, the factthat you’re melting pine sap and beeswax is a little off, but whatever other shit you’re adding is working. So, if you want to use ash, go for it, I’m sure it’ll make a lovely lipstick or some crap.”
“There’s an idea!”
Rowan helps me set up the next batch since we have over four thousand orders to fill. That in and of itself is absolutely mind blowing. Since it went viral, I’ve learned a lot about pricing and value as well. We’ve upped the price of the salve, and there hasn’t even been a tiny slow down. Faye has also taken a bunch of product and distributed it to other influencers. It’s been...amazing.
“I think I need to hire someone to help,” I say to Rowan as we sit at the table that’s now housing all the business supplies.
“I told you that a few weeks ago.”
“Yeah, I guess I just couldn’t wrap my mind around it.”
“Well, hire someone, get this thing going.”
I nod. “I have another idea.” This has been floating around my head the last few days, and the more I think about it, the more I feel like it’s the right decision.
“What’s that?”
Letting out a long, deep sigh, I straighten myself and lay it out. “I think we should merge the farms.”
That seems to stun him. “You do?”
“I hate the dairy farm part. The cows, the chores, the never-ending issues, all of it. I love this farm. This place is where I grew up, where my home is, and that’s what I was fighting to save, but you, you’re good at the dairy part of it all. You’ve built a thriving farm, got that contract, already bought a bunch of my cows, and need more land. We can become partners, the way you originally wanted to do it, and we can live here, if that’s okay with you since you live in a tiny ass cabin.”
Rowan studies me, his eyes not moving from mine. “Partners?”
“Yeah, we’ll merge. That way, you’ll get my certification for the organic label and can take over the business part of it, and I can do this or...I don’t know, but we’ll be a team.”
The light in his eyes brightens a bit. “We are a team, and ifyou’re sure, I think it’s by far the best idea. It gives us both what we want.”
I grin, feeling light. “I can’t believe this is all happening. Like one day I’m a failing dairy farmer and now I’m a thriving businesswoman who wasn’t meant to be a businesswoman. I’m in love with an amazing man, and now we’re going to live together. It’s...kind of perfect. Other than the fact that I basically lost everything and can’t seem to keep a business afloat.”
“You don’t see yourself, do you?”
I stay quiet, not really sure how to answer that.
Rowan leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “You’re so smart. So damn capable. You kept this farm afloat when you had everything trying to beat you back. You don’t ever back down from a fight. You’re resourceful, unwilling to bend to anyone’s whim. No matter what obstacle comes at you, you’re able to pivot. How can you not see just how fucking amazing you are? This business you started is going to be more than you dreamed of simply because you’re behind it and I’m right beside you, love.”
My heart pounds, and I feel more love in my body than I’ve ever felt before. “Marry me,” I say, knowing that I want him here for the rest of my life. I want him with me.
“What?”
“Marry me. I love you. I want you to be my husband, my partner, my heart and soul.”
He smiles, sinking down in front of me. “Marry me, Charlotte.”
“You know you stole my line?”
He reaches forward, cupping my face in his hands. “It’s only fair since you stole my heart.” Then, he releases me, reaches into his jeans, and pulls out a ring.
My heart drops, and I stare at him. “What? Where? How?”
“I bought this ring the day of your birthday. I knew that day there was no other woman in the world for me. I may have asked you the other day in the most unromantic way, but it’s only because I didn’t want to go another day without you knowing how I feel. I want you to be beside me when I wake up, be in my arms when wefall asleep, and next to me so you can drive me absolutely crazy when you’re awake. So, this is me, on my knees before you, in the way I should’ve asked before. Marry me, Charlotte.”
