Page 94 of Bonus Daddy
“This place is magical,” I eventually said.
“Yes,” she sighed. “This is the best time of the year. The animals all have babies, and everything is in bloom. Early fall is incredible too. Those couple of weeks when the leaves change, before they’ve fallen, offer some of the most beautiful views I’ve ever seen. But then Halloween hits, and from there, it’s nonstop snow and darkness until May.”
We fell into silence again, and shortly after the house was completely out of sight, Jess stopped and turned to me.
“Why did you come here?” She nibbled her bottom lip, her darkeyes depthless in the moonlight. “Does it mean what I think it means?”
“It means whatever you want it to mean. I’m selfish. I needed to see you. But say the word and I’ll be back on the road. I will never pressure or push you.” My hands suddenly felt slick. I only hoped she didn’t notice. “I just want to be around you.”
“I’m moving.” Her tone was sad, defeated.
“I know.” I kicked at the ground, head lowered. “Lo has already sent me the paperwork I’d need to apply to the Vermont bar.”
She tilted her head back and let out a laugh. “Of course she did.”
“I just want to be with you.” I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “The rest is logistics.”
“But logistics matter,” she insisted.
I brought her hand to my chest and pressed it to my heart. “Not as much as you and the girls do.”
Blinking rapidly, she stood on her tiptoes. For a moment, she studied my face. Then, in one quick move, she pulled me down into a searing kiss.
Our mouths tangled in desperation as I grasped her hips and she clawed at my chest. This wasn’t a sweet kiss. It was pure lust, driven by the deprivation we’d sentenced ourselves to for the last few weeks. We were explosive together, and as I ground against her, keeping her locked to my body, it was more apparent than ever.
When we were out of breath, she pulled away and tugged me toward the tree line. “Follow me.”
I jogged along, sticking close as she darted behind a small barn at the edge of the wood.
“Where are you taking me?”
“The only place we can truly have privacy in this damn town,” she replied over her shoulder.
As we approached another small, darkened building, she pulled a tiny flashlight out of the back pocket of her jean shorts and opened the door.
“This is my secret spot,” she said, leading me inside.
It was mostly empty and had been swept clean, though there were a few boxes and some equipment stacked in the back.
“My mom briefly went through a pottery phase,” she explained. “She used to come out here and make misshapen coffee mugs just to get away from us.”
She shone the flashlight around the space.
“It’s too small for livestock and not quite big enough to fit the large tractor. But it’s sturdy and well-maintained.”
The ceiling was lined with decorative trusses, and several large windows on one wall were all that separated us from the maple forest.
“It’s kind of beautiful,” I said.
“My grandfather built it. I’m in love with the architecture. I always dreamed of converting it into a little house. Like a barndominium-type of thing.”
Lips pressed together, I nodded. “I could see that.”
“Come on, we’re going up to the hayloft.” She waggled her brows.
I bit back a grimace at the thought of literally rolling in the hay. I was a city boy, and never in my life had it been more apparent than now.
“There’s no hay,” she said, clearly reading my mind. “That would be scratchy and terrible. Come on.”
