Page 59 of Heart of Stone
I wasn’t quite sure I was following. “What do you mean? They’re both successful businesses.”
Reid nodded his agreement. “Yes. But where this retreat occupies several hundred acres of land, it’s mostly untouched. Even with all the cabins, the lodge, and the rest of the buildings on the property, it only covers a fraction of the available land. This place is all about preservation and peace and serenity. With the same amount of acreage where I live, I’d have a bustlingmetropolis. There’d be countless jobs, businesses, and growth of communities.”
“They both serve their purpose, though,” I reasoned. “I mean, obviously, I’m partial to this place. It’s changed my life for the better in so many ways, but what you do is tremendous, Reid. And it’s just as important.”
He tipped his head slightly to the side, his eyes studying me. “Do you really think so?”
“Of course, I do. Don’t you?”
“I’ve always thought about it in the opposite way. I saw what I was doing as necessary, useful, and worthwhile. I did not see that being the case with this place.”
My heart broke to know he’d had such a tainted view of this retreat for so long. “Well, I hope that’s changing for you now that you’ve had the opportunity to spend some time here. And while I know it wasn’t exactly your first choice to return here and run this place while your mom recuperates, I think you should be proud of yourself for doing it. I don’t envy you having to leave your home and friends and work for such an extended time when the place you’ve come to isn’t one that holds great memories for you.”
Silence stretched between us, Reid’s focus staying on the wall opposite the couch. And while Reid didn’t exactly share whatever was on his mind, I got the sense there was something weighing heavily on his shoulders. Finally, he turned his attention to me and offered a small smile. “It was tough in the beginning, but it’s been getting easier as the weeks pass.”
I returned the smile. “I’m glad.”
Our pizza arrived, and Reid indulged me throughout dinner with more details about his line of work. He’d shown me a couple of pictures of places he’d been responsible for building. I was blown away by his talent. He was clearly a very skilled man.
By the time we’d finished eating, it was safe to say I was bummed. I’d had such a wonderful time with Reid today, and I just wasn’t ready for it to end. I must have been wearing my disappointment on my face because Reid asked, “Was the pizza not good?”
“What? No. It was great. Delicious. Thank you for treating me.”
“You seemed a bit preoccupied.”
The last thing I wanted was for him to think I was ungrateful. “Not at all. I’m… Dinner was lovely. I enjoyed both the food and the company. I promise.”
Satisfied with my response, Reid smiled proudly. “That’s good. Because I was going to hate not being able to enjoy some dessert with you.”
“Dessert? You didn’t order dessert?”
Shaking his head, he shared, “No, I didn’t. But I did bring some with me in the mess of decorations I brought over here earlier. I just hid it while you weren’t looking.”
My eyes rounded in surprise.
Reid had spent all that time after we’d finished decorating trying to get me to admit that I wanted him to stay for dinner when he’d already had every intention of being here long enough for dessert.
“What are we having?”
That gleam was back in his eyes. “You’re going to have to put your shoes on to find out.”
“What?”
“I brought a few items, but they’re all meant for enjoying by a fire, so we’re going to have to trek out to that favorite firepit of yours to enjoy them.”
How I managed to stop myself from bursting into tears was beyond me? “Are you serious?”
“I am.”
For a long moment, I simply stared at him in disbelief. This man wasn’t making things easy on me. He was essentially my boss, albeit temporarily, but I didn’t think it’d be wise to fall in love with him.
“If I wouldn’t make things awkward, I’d crawl across this couch and hug you.”
His eyes darkened in response. Then he chuckled and suggested, “How about we just head out to have some dessert instead? I recall someone mentioning how stargazing was her favorite thing to do, so I was hoping to eat and see what I was missing out on.”
My belly dipped. He’d been paying attention. Even during those days early on when I’d assumed the man despised me, Reid had been listening to every word I’d said. I had no choice but to get myself off the couch, because if I’d stayed there, it was a sure thing that I’d start crying.
The next thing I knew, Reid and I were at my favorite firepit with nobody else around. I wasn’t sure things could get any more perfect.
