It’s been two weeks since we agreed to be together. Two weeks of kisses and touching her anytime I want. Two weeks, which is long enough for me to know I don’t want to leave her. It’s not just her, but this town. Mom and Dad are flying in this weekend. I plan to talk to them, but first I need to talk to Gramps.
I lightly tap on his door. “Come on in, boy,” he grumbles.
“Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?”
“What’s on your mind?”
He’s been showing me glimpses of his old self, leading me to believe Saylor was right. He doesn’t want me to leave again. I hope she’s right, or this conversation could turn bad quick. “I wanted to run something past you,” I say, taking a seat beside his bed.
“Go on.” He nods.
“How would you feel about me staying here? I know we used to talk about me taking over for you one day, is that offer still open?” I ask boldly.
“Do you want it to be?”
“I do.” My voice is strong and full of conviction. I have zero doubts that this is what I want.
“Because of Saylor?”
“No, not because of Saylor. She’s an added bonus, yes, but it’s more than that. It’s this town and the distillery, and you. All the memories I have of this place. It feels more like home to me than anywhere else.”
“And Saylor?” he asks again.
I chuckle. “She’s perfect, Gramps.”
He nods. “So you think you can fill my shoes?”
“I’d like to try,” I tell him. “I was kind of hoping you’d be there to guide me.”
I watch for his reaction. He swallows hard. “Your parents?”
“Dad suspects. I assume Mom does as well. They’ve always had a hard time pulling me away from here.”
He nods again. “That they have.”
“So what do you think?”
“I think that if you’re serious, if you want this and you’re willing to stay no matter what happens with Saylor, then nothing would make me happier.”
“I want this. Like I said, it’s not just because of her. Yeah, she’s here, but if she ever decides she doesn’t want me, I’d still want to be here, in this town, running the distillery, living close to you.”
“What if you decide you no longer want her?” he counters.
I shake my head. “Not going to happen.”
“You sound certain.”
“I am.”
“Okay. I’ll have to get a few things together, legal documents and all that. We’ll make this happen,” he says, giving me the first genuine smile since I’ve been here.
“Frank?” I ask.
“Yeah, I’ll get him on it.”
“What about the divorce? I know we just signed the papers last week, but have you heard anything?”
“These things take time, but I’ll ask him when I call today.”
I hold my hand out for him to shake. He looks up at me, and I see his eyes are misty with tears. “It’s good to have you home,” he says, his voice gruff.
“Good to be home. I’m going to hop in the shower and then head to the Corner Pocket, Saylor’s working tonight.”
“Your parents fly in tomorrow?”
“Yeah, I plan to tell them then.”
He nods. “Give that girl of yours a hello from me.”
“Will do.” I stand and go to my room. It’s been a long week, and all I want to do is bury myself inside of Saylor, then fall asleep with her in my arms.
Walking into the Corner Pocket, I spot Saylor behind the bar. She sees me and grins. “Hey, Whiskey.” She leans over the bar and gives me a quick kiss.
“Missed you,” I tell her.
Her smile grows wider. “Long day?”
“Yes, but it’s better now.” My phone rings, stopping me from asking her to sneak off in the back for a real kiss. “Baxter,” I say in greeting. “When?” I listen to one of my foremen explain that the line that was down for months is acting up again. “I’ll be there soon.” I hit end and slide my phone back in my pocket.
Saylor finishes serving a young couple before coming back to stand before me. “Everything okay?”
“One of the lines is down at the distillery. We’ve been having issues with it. The guy keeps coming to repair it, but the same issues keep happening. When my foreman called the company, they said they would send somebody out. I need to be there. I don’t think the jackass knows what he’s doing. My foreman demanded a supervisor, and they assured him one would be present. I need to let them know what’s been going on. Otherwise, I need to find a new vendor.”
“I’m sorry,” she says sincerely.
“Jake here?”
“Yeah, he’s in the back.”
“Good. I don’t want you walking to your car alone. I don’t know how long this will take.”
“Hold on.” She walks to the other end of the bar and kneels down. She comes back over with a key. “Here, if I’m in bed, use this.”
“You saying you want me in your bed, Short Stack?”
“You saying you don’t want to be?” she counters.
I stand and lean over the bar. “If I had my way, we would never leave your bed.” I kiss her softly. “I’ll see you soon.”
“Be safe,” she says, kissing me one more time.
Grabbing my coat, I head back to the office. Before I pull out of the lot, I send Jake a text.
Me: Had to go back to the distillery. Can you walk Say to her car tonight?
Jake: Yep.
Me: Thanks.
Tossing my phone in the cupholder, I head to the distillery. Not what I want to be dealing with on a Friday night, but that’s part of being CEO. I’ve seen my dad do it many times, and even Gramps. It’s on me now.
I find Cal, my foreman, and two other guys standing by the machine that’s down. I hold my hand out. “Rhett Baxter,” I introduce myself.
“Mr. Baxter, I’m Bobby Lee,” he points to the guy beside him, “and you know Rodney.”
“Thanks for coming out so late.”
“That’s what we’re here for. I understand from Cal there have been some issues?”
“We had Rodney in here several weeks ago to repair the engine. He got it up and running, but it seems to be breaking down every other week or so. I’m concerned that it’s not being fixed properly. Rodney and I have discussed if the machine is viable, and he assures me it is.”
“You mind if I take a look? May take a while to diagnose.”
“By all means. Every time this machine breaks down, it costs my company money. We need it fixed.” I turn to look at Rodney. “Rodney claims it can be fixed. I’d like to hear your thoughts.” Rodney looks green, which tells me he’s been half-assing his job.
“We’ll be in that office right there.” I point to Cal’s office. I want to be able to keep an eye on them.
“We’ll get right to work,” Bobby says.
Cal and I settle in his office and wait. I keep glancing at my watch. Saylor should be closing down the bar about now. Good thing she gave me a key, not sure what time this shit show is going to be over.
“Mr. Baxter.” Bobby knocks on the door. “I found the issue. The machine is fixed. We have it back up and running. I apologize for any inconvenience this has caused. There are three valves in the carburetors, two easily accessible. The other is not. It seems as though Rodney didn’t bother to replace that one. How he was able to get it up and running each time with his Band-Aid repair, I’m not sure. I can assure you it will be addressed, as will his employment with my company.”
“Thank you.” I reach out and shake his hand. “My intent is not to cause trouble, but to ensure my company has been receiving the services it’s been paying for and that my machine is repaired correctly to prevent further failure.”
He hands me a business card. “This has my cell number. Call me personally if there are any issues. You gentlemen have a good night.”
I say a quick goodbye to Cal after checking that the machine is indeed back up and operating. Looking at the clock, it’s just before two in the morning. Hopefully Saylor is already home and warming the bed when I get there. I debate on texting her, but I’ll be there soon, and if she happens to be asleep, I don’t want to wake her.
When I turn on her road, my heart drops. There are flashing lights, cop cars, an ambulance, and a fire truck. I search frantically to assess the situation. The fire fighters have the hoses aimed at the back of the main house. Fuck! Slamming my truck in park, I’m out and running.
“Sir, you have to stand down,” an officer says, stepping in front of me.
“This is my family. My wife, my best friend and his fiancée, my wife,” I say again. “I have to get to them.”
“Everyone is fine. They didn’t make it inside, called as soon as they arrived home and saw the flames,” he explains.
I feel my heart rate slow just from knowing she’s safe, but I still need to see her. “Where is she? My wife? Saylor!” I yell for her.
“The homeowner and his fiancée, as well as their tenant and her fiancé, are over by the ambulance just as a precaution, but I assure you they’re fine. What does your wife look like?” he asks cautiously. “She was supposed to be here?”
“Saylor!” I shout again, and that’s when I see her. She’s standing in front of her motherfucking ex, Pete, and I see red. Did he cause this? “That’s her.” I point and jog toward her.
“Oh shit,” I hear the officer say, and I know he’s hot on my heels.
“Rhett,” Saylor cries, and steps around Pete. He grabs her arm to stop her. “Get the fuck off of me. I told you, you’re not welcome here.” She shakes her hand, but he holds tight.
“Get your fucking hands off her,” I say, putting my hands on her waist and pulling her from his grasp. She clings to me. I wrap her in my arms and bury my face in her neck. Glancing up, I see Jake and Molly, and they both appear to be unharmed just as the officer said. I catch Jake’s eye, and he nods, confirming they are indeed okay.
“You again,” Pete sneers. “Get away from him, Saylor. She’s coming home with me.”
“The fuck she is.”
“Is there a problem here?” the officer asks.
“Yes,” Pete and I say at the same time.
“This man is harassing my fiancée,” Pete says, pointing to me.
Saylor is still clinging to me. “She’s my wife,” I sneer. “What the fuck are you doing here?” I ask him.
“Wife?” he scoffs. “As if.”
“Ma’am?” the officer addresses Saylor.
“He,” she points to Pete, “is my ex. We’ve been over for months. This man,” she says, looking up at me, her blue eyes misty with tears, “is my husband.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? You’re married?”
“I told you that,” Saylor says, exasperated.
“I thought you were just using that as an excuse not to talk to me. Trying to make me jealous.”
I want to rip his head off, but I feel Saylor stand up taller, turning to face him. I keep my mouth shut and wrap my arms around her from behind, letting her know I’ve got her. “You cheated on me for months, you knocked up our coworker, and left me with nothing, all alone.”
“I told you—” he tries to say, and she holds up her hand to stop him.
“I couldn’t give a fuck what you have to say. I don’t feel sorry for you, Pete. Not in the slightest. You did this. What comes around goes around, and you’re getting what you deserve. Why are you even here? How did you know where I live?”
“The baby’s not mine. We can fix this and be together, just like we always said,” he says, not giving up. “And I stopped at the bar a few days ago. I wanted to talk to you. To tell you I now know that we belong together.” Rhett growls and holds me tighter. “One of the old guys sitting at the bar told me, after I paid off his tab, where I could find you. Tonight was the first chance I had to come and see you. Come on Saylor, don’t do this.”
Saylor places her hands over mine. “You did me a favor, Pete. You screwing me over led me to Rhett. I’ll never be able to thank you enough for that.” I bend down and bury my face in her neck, needing to be closer to her. “As far as bribing a drunk old man to find out where I live, you’re pathetic. You’re not welcome here. This is my home,” she looks over her shoulder at me. “There is nothing between us, not anymore.” My heart rate slows a fraction, from its rapid pace in my chest.
“I’ve heard enough,” the officer says. “Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
“You’ll regret this, Saylor. You have no one and nothing without me,” he sneers.
My head jolts up, and I’m just about to tell this motherfucker where to go when she gives my arms, which are tight around her waist, a gentle squeeze. “I have so much more,” she says calmly. “I have a man who cares about me, not for what I can do for him or how I’ll look on his arm, but because of who I am. I have friends who picked me up when you dropped me and never let me fall. I have their families who have become mine as well. I’ve never been happier or felt more wanted in my life.”
Pete steps back as if he’s been slapped. It’s more satisfying than if my fist would have connected with his face. Watching her stand up for herself, hearing her say she knows she’s more, that’s she enough, and she’s right where she belongs has me wanting to drop to my knees and beg her to never leave me. Instead, I turn her to face me and cup her face in my hands. I hold her gaze, and what I see is love and hope for the future I want with her. Suddenly, nothing else matters but telling her how I feel. “I love you, Saylor,” I say before pressing my lips to hers.