Chapter Sixteen – Adam

“And you lived in an apartment?” Adam asked, looking at the furniture that now littered the sitting room, not to mention the bedroom furniture that was already upstairs in Lynn’s bedroom. If his family hadn’t been here, he would have dragged Lynn off to bed to test it out, but since his family was here, he was trying to think of anything other than how she would look sprawled naked across the bed.

“Yes. Well, a suite really. I managed one of my parents’ hotels, and so I got a suite of rooms to call home.” Lynn was standing arms folded looking pleased with herself. And so she should, it had been a productive day. All of her furniture was safely stacked in the middle of the sitting room so there was access to the walls, which was needed because Ron had come, as promised, checked the wiring, made a lot of measurements, and then given Lynn a quote for the work and told her he could start next Monday.

Lynn had accepted the quote, as the price was within her budget and the start date exceeded her expectations. So a deal was struck. Now there was just the plumbing to take care of, and Adam was well-aware that Pete was due tomorrow, and he intended to get his chores done fast, and be here for when Pete the Plumber arrived.

“So Pete’s coming at ten tomorrow?” he asked, even though he already knew. And Lynn already knew that he knew. She covered her smile, and answered him all the same.

“Yes, he is. Why don’t you come around and hold his measuring tape for him?” she asked, raising her eyebrows and tilting her head, to let him know she could read his mind.

“I might come around, once my chores are finished, to check if he needs a hand,” Adam offered.

“Oh, I think he has two very capable hands,” Lynn said. “At least he thinks he does, and one capable mouth. But really, I think his flirting the other day was just his way of being friendly and getting an appointment to come back, although he did do a good job of fixing my faucet. He didn’t charge me either.”

“He didn’t?” Adam asked, his face turning red at the thought of another man flirting with his mate.

“You are a jealous thing, aren’t you?” his mom said, coming into the sitting room.

“No.” Adam shrugged. “I’m just making sure no one takes advantage of Lynn, since she’s new in town.”

“Of course.” His mom gave Lynn a knowing smile. “Right, we need to eat. Come on, I have a casserole in the crock pot. It should be starting to tickle your father’s taste buds, so let’s get home and eat.”

“Are you sure about me coming over?” Lynn asked. “Adam brought me a lot of groceries, I can rustle something up.”

“On that old stove? No, you are invited, so you are coming. Russell will be on his best behavior, but if he’s not, you let me know and I’ll put him in his place. We’re mates, equal in everything. Except the family business, and then he has to do as he’s told.”

“My mom is the best at making dad suffer in the smallest, most agonizing ways.” Jon came to stand next to his mom.

“I’m not sure if I want to know,” Lynn said.

“Oh, nothing bad. But he does like his coffee a certain way. And his jeans laundered so that they are soft for when he rides. So, you know, little mishaps can make life uncomfortable.”

“Do not take ideas from my mom.” Adam walked over and put an arm around her waist.

“Oh, I’m taking notes.” Lynn held up her notepad, which she had kept in hand all day, taking notes of what was where, and what needed doing in each room. The list was endless, but he promised to help her work through it, as had his mom, who was very interested in Lynn’s business.

They made their way out of the house, Lynn pulling the door closed and locking it. Then she slipped the key in her purse, and took his hand as they walked across to his truck. The rest of his family were already in their vehicles and driving home. He wanted to take a moment, the first they had alone all day.

“Does it feel more real now?” Adam held her in his arms, her back resting against his chest, as they looked at the ranch.

“You mean now that my furniture has arrived?” she asked. “Yes. It’s stopped feeling as if I was just visiting. This is the first time I have lived anywhere but a hotel for the last ten years.”

“So you grew up living in a hotel?” He tightened his arms around her.

“Yes, my mom and dad sold their house to buy their first hotel, and we had to live there. Then they bought another one, and another one. When I was old enough, I moved into one of them as the manager.”

“And now you want a home of your own?”

“Yes. Just me and the alpacas, of course.”

“Alpacas,” he repeated, with a chuckle. “My dad is going to love that.”

“It’s a good thing it’s not up to him, isn’t it?” Lynn said.

“It is. Although, you know anything over at the Homestead is yours to use. I’ll come over and cut the meadows for you, and Samuel offered to fix your barn roof.”

“He did?”

“Yes, he doesn’t say much, but he will do anything for family. And I will do anything for you.”

Lynn turned in his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body against his. “I knew there must be a reason why we are fated to be together,” she said.

“And what conclusion have you come to?” he asked.

“I think you know.” She pressed her body against his, moving up and down just enough to make him harden.

“Now, I’m thinking we should have said we were busy unpacking, instead of agreeing to go to my house for dinner. That bed of yours has been calling to me all day.”

“I know. But I want to meet your father. I’d hate to offend him. Although I am nervous.”

“Don’t be. He wants us to get along. He wants his family to be happy more than anything else.”

“I wish my mom and dad felt the same way.”

“Are they so set against you living here?” Adam asked.

“Yes. Mainly because they always thought that I would take over the hotel business. I have to make this work,” Lynn confided in him.

“And you will. We will.” He took her hand and opened the door, helping her inside of his truck. “Let’s go eat, and then come back and work off some calories.”

“Great, I have plenty more cleaning to do,” Lynn said.

“That is not what I meant,” Adam assured her.

“I know. But you are so easy to tease. Your frown makes you look so sad,” she said, pouting. “Poor cowboy has the blues.”

“I did once, but not any longer, not while you are with me. I’ll never be blue again.”

“Blue. Now that would be a good color to paint the kitchen, don’t you think?”

“Blue matches those tiles,” Adam said.

“Yes, it does. OK, one thing I can cross off my list, one decision made.”

“Two. Me and you.” He leaned across and kissed her, feeling happy, feeling as if he were on top of the world. Dinner and then bed. That would be the end to a perfect day.