Page 28 of Evergreen Desires
"No, I'm sorry," Jake admitted.
"That's okay." Mateo turned his attention back to me. "I don't see any cameras here around the greenhouse. I know it might not make sense in the long run, but you might want to consider installing some motion lights nearby for added security." He pointed at the greenhouse, probably trying to be helpful.
"You're right. There are no security cameras here. However, I did set up some wildlife trail cameras further out." I noticed a flicker of surprise in Mateo's eyes as I answered him. His breath quickened, and he glanced over in the direction of the trail cameras. There was a general uneasiness about him out here that he was trying to suppress. "I noticed some footprints a few days ago and wanted to take precautions. I figured it might be teenagers or something of the sort. I never expected Jake to stumble upon them or that they would be planning a break-in. I should have done more." I caught a glimpse of Jake, and our gazes held for a moment too long before I looked back down, feeling a tinge of guilt for not protecting him well enough.
"Trail cams, huh? Are they motion-activated? Did you happen to capture any pictures of the men?" Mateo's questions seemed rushed, and I couldn’t determine if it was due to the possibility of a break in the case or something… else.
"Yes, they're motion-activated, but they didn't capture anything relevant. Just a couple of squirrels, a random opossum, and a blurry image of what I think is a large fox or maybe a wolf. But we don't have wolves here in the Olympics, so that would be odd."
"Hmm. I see. If you do capture something in the future, please let me know. My guess is they won't be back now that they were nearly caught. I'll file a report and keep it on record, just in case. In the meantime, I'll make a point to drive by at night, checking for any parked cars or suspicious activity. Is it okay for me to drive up the driveways and through the farm path to the other side?"
"Of course, that's absolutely fine. Thank you for your assistance." I extended my hand to shake his. "Just be aware that we do have... bears... that occasionally roam the farm at night. So, exercise caution as you drive through. You know what they say, 'Don't poke the bear.'" I flashed a smile, attempting to appear nonchalant despite the guilt that lingered within me.
"No problem. I believe in protecting wildlife too," Mateo said with a wink as we turned to walk back towards the front. "Thanks for all the information, and I'm glad you're both safe. Please tell Will that I'll reconnect with him for the greenhouse tour at some point."
"Will do," I replied.
Hmm, that was an odd interaction. Nice guy, I like him, and I know Will does, too. But there was something about Mateo's demeanor today that struck me as off. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but there was anuneasiness lingering in the pit of my stomach. I couldn’t help but wonder if he had any secrets of his own.
CHAPTER 25
JAKE
I loved the way Beau and I seemed to fit together. Over the past week, we had fallen into a comfortable routine that often involved a lot of sex. Being the introverted person that Beau was, we spent many nights at home, cooking dinner together—sometimes with Will, sometimes just the two of us. We'd watch TV, work on the website, and enjoy each other's company. Despite the seeming mundanity of our activities, I cherished having Beau beside me every night, our bodies intertwined. I felt a sense of safety and belonging with him that surpassed any previous relationships I'd ever had. And I couldn’t forget about the mind-blowing sex that left me daydreaming throughout the day, especially when we found ourselves working closely in the greenhouse or riding on the ATV.
"My knight, did I lose you again? You've got that silly-looking gaze," Beau teased, bringing me back to the present.
I stretched up and gave him a quick chaste kiss on the cheek. "My attention is all yours."
"Yay, I've heard that before," Beau chuckled, playfully slapping me on the ass and causing me to let out a quick yip. "Well, you're not making it any easier with reactions like that." I diverted my attention to the row of plants in front of us.
"So, we don'tjustplant seeds to grow these plants?" I asked, curious to learn more about the process.
"No, we clone them. And all the plants in here are female, so there are no males to produce seeds," Beau explained.
"Cloning, like in a laboratory?" I inquire.
"Haha, no." Beau grinned, stepping in behind me and reaching around me. His warm breath grazed my cheek as he began to demonstrate and explain. "We take cuttings from the bottom offshoots of the plant, dip them in a rooting hormone, and then insert them into new pots with sterile soil. We then gently firm the soil around them so they stand up properly." Beau took a step back, and I immediately felt the loss of his warmth. "We'll work our way down this row and then back up the other side, taking two cuttings from each plant if possible. Will has already set up all the pots with soil for us. We just need to move from plant to plant down the line. Afterward, we'll water them and move them to their own table. We'll do the actual moving either when Will returns or tomorrow."
"Where's Will?" I asked, scanning the greenhouse. Will always seemed to be that constant shadow while we worked, injecting his lightheartedness at just the right moments. I understood why Beau took a liking to him, but Icould also see how he could come across as a bit much for some people. Nevertheless, he was a genuinely good guy with a good heart.
"He left early today. He didn’t tell me much about his plans, but I think he's hoping to accidentally run into the police chief at the diner. He also mentioned that the last part for your car arrived, and he's going to pick it up and have it installed today."
"He's awesome. I'm not sure how to thank him," I said, genuinely grateful for all of Will's help.
"He's the type of guy who doesn't expect thanks. As outgoing as he is, he doesn't seek recognition. He believes in helping anyone and would give you the shirt off his back," Beau remarked, smiling at me. "I'm sure he'll love the picture you took of him. That's a thoughtful gesture."
"I hope so," I replied, thinking about that candid shot I captured of him under the hood of my car, wearing a radiant smile. "I'll get a nice frame for it and give it to him. It's a small gesture, but it's the least I can do."
Beau nodded, his attention shifting back to the long row of plants in front of us. "We better get started. We've procrastinated long enough. Tell you what, I'll start on the other side so we're not tripping over each other. If you have any questions, just let me know."
"Sounds good," I said, ready to begin the cloning process and learn more about the kind of work done on the farm firsthand.
Beau walked around to the other side of the row and began the task. I called him back over three times withquestions—clarifications on which shoots to cut, making sure I was cutting at the right spot. The last time I asked was mainly to double-check myself. Eventually, I found my rhythm, working my way down what felt like hundreds of plants. We engaged in small talk and comfortable silences, simply enjoying each other's presence. It was funny how simply knowing he was close by brought me a sense of calm and eliminated the awkwardness I'd experienced in past relationships.
"Beau, you mentioned that all the plants are female. Is that because females respond better to your Squatch-I-ness?" I blurted out as we worked; it was random, but the question had popped into my head from our earlier conversation.
"My Squatch-I-ness? That's a new one," Beau said, barely containing his laughter. "Well, no one’s really talked about it in years. Will just knows, and we've always referred to it as my powers. That's what my father used to call them."
