Page 44 of Yours, Always
“I was born ready.” Annabelle winked before turning to address the volunteers. “Okay, guys, I’m going to get interviews with all of you before we open the maze later. Just line up over by Devlin at the cider stand and grab a cup while I get ready.” She pointed over to Devlin who was waving at them from across the lawn.
“Is Greyson here yet?” Prudence asked, craning her neck to see around the volunteers and decorations.
Annabelle glanced around. “He was here just before you pulled in. Dammit, I don’t see him anywhere.” She spun back to Prudence. “Okay, slight change of plan, we don’t have long.” She grabbed Prudence’s hand and pulled her toward the maze. “Let’s go block the exit, then I’ll send him in as soon as I find him. I’ll give the signal once he’s in.”
“What, are you going to caw like a crow?”
“No, silly, I’m going to hoot like an owl.”
Prudence laughed, needing to get her nervous energy out. “And how, exactly, are you going to hoot like an owl and not be seen as completely loony by everyone around you, AB?”
Annabelle slowed, reaching the exit to the maze, and looked at Prudence full on. “Prudence, you have no clue how many times I’ve been able to work into a conversation the mating habits and sounds of the male gray eastern screech owl. It’s really been a lifesaver,” Annabelle deadpanned then nodded once with determination. “Well, now I’m serious, an owl hoot it is.”
“All right, I’ll wait for the hoot.” Prudence wiped her eyes from laughing. “Thanks, AB.”
The mirth Prudence felt started to fade away and her heart beat faster, as they walked into the maze.
“Winters! What the fuck are you doing?”
Annabelle’s face registered surprise at seeing Sebastian. “I’m the journalist writing this story, Mr. Locke, and you know that. What are you doing here? Did you follow me?”
“Came to check out my ace reporter,” he mocked. “I saw you head into the maze when you should be conducting interviews. You’re not volunteering today, so what are you doing?”
Prudence watched them. She knew Greyson would be here soon and they had work to do but leaned against the side of the stacked hay bales, waiting it out.Heck, I’m getting a show two days in a row. I wish I had popcorn.
“How would you know what else I’m doing here today? I’ve volunteered for this maze plenty of times. I usually take this week off, but you insisted on”—she held her hands inches from his face, making air quotes—“‘all hands on deck’. And that’s not an answer, Mr. Locke. You despise small-town antics, you’re not a micromanager, and I don’t think you would willingly dirty those thousand-dollar loafers.” She gestured to his perfectly polished footwear.
“Hey, guys,” Prudence interrupted, “as much as I enjoy your bickering, Annabelle and I have work to do.”
“Sorry, Pru,” Annabelle apologized. She gave a dirty look to Sebastian before trying to move the bales with Prudence. “Dammit, I thought we could move these ourselves.”
Sebastian snickered behind them. “Why aren’t you interviewing the owner of the property?” he asked pointedly.
“You try that one, AB and I’ll work this one into the space,” Prudence suggested, pointing.
“Mr. Locke.” Annabelle struggled to move another bale, grunting with exasperation. “I’ve interviewed the owner and have taken multiple photos of the pumpkin patch already.” She turned around, planting her derriere on the hay bale trying to push it back with her legs. “I’m going to be conducting interviews with the other volunteers before the maze opens.”
“While that sounds moderately productive, it doesn’t tell me what you’re doing right now,” Sebastian stated, obviously bewildered at what he was witnessing.
Annabelle attempted to pull a bale into the correct position. Rolling her eyes, she said, “What does it look like we’re doing? We’re trying to block the exit, making it a dead-end on the other side, thus leaving the parties currently inside unable to escape.”
Sebastian shook his head, his brow furrowing in obvious confusion, now visibly irritated. “But,why?”
“I am trying to save love!” Annabelle exclaimed. “Please, just help me, Sebastian.”
Sebastian appeared taken aback by Annabelle’s words, Prudence sure was, and he stood there for a moment. “Okay then, let’s save love.” He unbuttoned his suit coat and slid it off his broad shoulders, tossing it onto a nearby bale. He rolled his shirt sleeves and easily pushed the bale that Annabelle had struggled with into place. Turning back, he hefted another bale on top while both ladies stood, watching this masculine display. He added the third and final bale to the stack, blocking the exit.
Annabelle shook her head slightly as if she were coming out of a daze. “Now was that so hard?” she asked. To Prudence, “You good to go, Pru?”
“I’ve got it from here.”
“I’ll see you later.” Annabelle turned and walked away, gesturing for Sebastian to follow her.
Now it was wait time.
She leaned against the bales, breathing in their fresh scent.Is this really happening? Am I really going to tell Greyson I’ve been in love with him since high school? It seemed almost an impossibility that they’d finally come to this point. However, after Greyson hadn’t remembered what happened between them the night of his concussion, drastic times called for drastic measures. She pushed away from the bale, starting to pace through the small path, deciding to pump herself up like she would before a big pitch.
No more talking herself out of it, like she had all through college. Most of the insecurities she carried with her then were gone. She had grown to fully love herself, to embrace what uniquely made her, well, her. She might just be a small-town businesswoman—no,Iama business woman. Period. A business owner, mind you, and a successful one at that. More successful than some Hollywood starlets, she’d wager. She ran her hands down her waist. She might be a size sixteen, but she owned her curves.Average my ass, and I have a nice ass.