Page 6 of The Holiday Boyfriend

He shot a quick glance at me before turning back to focus on the road. “What do you mean? Like them?”

Images of slow and easy days with Austin passed through my mind. It wasn't much different from how we were living now, in fact, and I didn't want these comfortable days to end.

I knew that things couldn't stay the same forever. We were both heading into our thirties, and in small towns like ours, we were already considered old bachelors.

It wasn't that I'd planned to be single for this long, but none of my relationships ever stuck. The handful of actual relationships I'd been in all ended because they felt like I wasn't making them my priority. When we talked about it, I realized that it was true, and that was an issue when in a relationship.

Hanging out with whoever I was dating wasn't nearly as fun or comfortable as hanging out with Austin, and it wasn't fair to them if I didn't feel the same connection as they did, so why stay in the relationship at all?

Austin dated here and there but nothing lasted either, and maybe they never lasted for the same reasons as mine. We didn't keep secrets from each other, but talking about relationships was something we never did. All I knew was that the men he dated were never good enough for him.

At this point, it had been over a year since I'd had a girlfriend, and while it did suck for my ever-building sexual frustration, I wasn't as lonely as I thought I would be, nor did I feel like I was missing some special connection that many people said I would.

I had Austin, and honestly, he filled something inside me that nobody else ever has. And as the years passed with just the two of us, I couldn't comprehend those who told me that I would crave a real relationship one day.

Austin is the longest relationship I have had, and I didn't think I was missing anything. So what did I mean when I asked him that question? If we would separately find a partner for ourselves, or did I mean if the two of us would become like them one day?

My mind told me the first choice was the logical one, but my mouth refused to make any noise to clarify anything. Instead, a deep humming noise that sounded vaguely like admission came from my throat.

Since I was still watching Austin, I saw the flick of confusion that passed over his face. He wasn't the only one confused, but my mouth still refused to listen to me and explain that to him myself.

All he offered me was a half-hearted shrug, effectively ending the conversation. The cab fell back into silence as we pulled up to the entrance of the farm. The first signs of daybreak hit the horizon as Austin parked the car.

The car stopping woke the couple up. “Welcome to your home for the next week,” I said, turning my head to the back to give them a warm smile.

They looked around the place with wonder in their eyes. I couldn't blame them. Snowfield Farm was a sight to see. It was part of the reason why I was so drawn to working here.

During the winter, the entire farmland was blanketed in a layer of sparkling white snow. About twenty years ago, Alice and Trish wanted to open a farm in Wintertown and fell in love with this piece of mostly flat land. Whereas most of Wintertown was surrounded by trees, it was only this area that was clear enough to create their dream farm.

Since it was still October and much too early for the snow to start, the fruit orchard Alice and Trish had arranged along the rolling hills was the first sight one saw when they entered the farm.

It would be a beautiful sight in late fall when the tree leaves were dyed in oranges and yellows, but for now, vibrant reds and purples from the apple trees and grapevines were the focal point of the farm. The sight was made even more magical by the multi-colored rays of light from the dawn sun.

“Wow, it's beautiful,” Laura said before opening the car door and taking a step out. The rest of us followed her, with her partner coming around the car to wrap an arm around her shoulders. They leaned into each other as they spared a few moments to enjoy the view.

I chuckled and followed Austin to unload their luggage. We waited to the side to give them some privacy.

“Let me call Trish really quickly to check them in and I'll head back with you to pick up my truck,” I said, leaning against the trunk and closing my eyes. The workday was going to be brutal, but it was worth it knowing that Austin was safe. I knew this was far from his last time driving in the middle of the night, but hopefully he would be more rested for those trips in the future.

A cool touch under my eye had me blinking my eyes open to see Austin looking at me with his brows furrowed and lips flatted. “You should stay and take a nap before your shift. No offense, but you look like shit.”

I choked out a laugh and rubbed my stubbly chin. “Do I look older than usual now?” I teased, flashing him my pearly whites.

“Old enough to be my grandpa,” Austin deadpanned with a straight expression, which only made me laugh louder. The couple peeked back to cast a glance at us but quickly returned to admiring the view.

“But seriously, go take a nap. I'll pick you up when your shift ends,” Austin said before turning to take the suitcase inside the farmhouse. He left no room for argument, not that I was going to argue in any case. I knew this was his way of showing his care for me, and I was loving every second of it.

SIX

JIM

It didn't take long to show the couple to their accommodations for the week. Austin helped me bring their luggage to their room before driving home to rest. Meanwhile, I plopped onto the small couch inside the employee rest area in the farmhouse. It wasn't the most comfortable, but that didn't matter when I was dead on my feet, and I was passed out in seconds.

“You alive?”

I was jolted awake by a hard jab in my stomach. Trish stood above me in her signature wife beater. Her arms crossed to enhance the muscles she'd earned from years of doing heavy work on the farm.

“Still alive,” I grumbled as I dragged my hand over my face. “But kinda wish I wasn't right now.”

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