Page 50 of Pinch of Love
I shrugged. “Nothing. He’s just not the greatest guy.”
“Oh, is that all?” She smirked.
“He likes to love ’em and leave ’em.”
“And you don’t?” she asked.
I drew a breath. “I don’t get ’em in the first place. Anyway, I’m gonna drop Chewie off, and then we’ll head off to breakfast. Is that okay?”
She rested her head on the seat and smiled, turning to look at me. “Absolutely. I can finally see where the grumpy hermit lives.”
I grinned and turned onto the main road to my house. “I’ll take that title over the suspected serial killer.”
She snickered, and a snort popped out. “In all fairness, that was Becky who brought it up, and she assured me that you aren’t one. So, there’s that.”
As the wind skimmed the topless Jeep, silence fell between us. I snuck a couple of looks at Maya, who looked deep in thought, staring out the window as she hugged Chewie and her chipmunk. When I pulled into the long driveway leading to my house, it looked like she had come to and glanced in my direction.
“So, this is your abode?”
I laughed. “Well, once we get through the trees. I upgraded from a tent a few years ago.”
Her eyes widened. “Seriously?”
I didn’t answer and continued winding through the pine trees until my log home came into view. It sat on Buttercup Lake and had a lot of property. If I were smart, I’d rent this one out and stay in one of my smaller rentals, but there was something about this place that brought me peace.
I’d designed it years ago but only built it two years ago.
“This is magnificent, Cash. Wow. Really something.” She looked over at me and shook her head. “I’m in shock.”
I turned back to look at my home with fresh eyes. I’d lost Rusty here, and since losing him, I felt like a piece of happiness had vanished along with him.
But she was right.
“Thanks. I designed it myself. The log home company had some doubts about timing, but they finished it six months before the winter hit, and I spent the winter finishing the inside.” I pulled in front of the wraparound porch and turned off the Jeep before I reached for Chewie.
The orange fluffball gave a little growl of annoyance as I held her close and walked up to my front door and opened it.
Setting her down softly, I whispered, “Be good and don’t pee in the house. Or only pee on the pisser mat by the slider.”
Chewie didn’t bother listening. She was already halfway down the hall before I even closed the door.
When I spotted Maya in the Jeep, she was looking at her phone.
“Everything okay?” I asked, climbing back in the Jeep.
“Yes and no.” She set her phone on her lap. “I had to deal with a Rob special this morning. I’m just reviewing the letters my attorney sent. I have to send one out to my employees.”
“Oh, no. That doesn’t sound good. Are you sure about breakfast? I don’t want to screw things up for you.”
Maya’s eyes settled on mine, and a warm smile spread across her beautiful lips. “Cash, I have to be honest. Right now, you are the highlight of my day.” She looked down at the chipmunk. “And well, this too.”
I smiled and nodded. “You might lose a signal on the stretch back into town. Do you want to stay put while you send the email to your employees?”
She nodded. “That would be great.”
I rested my head on the seat and thought about everything Maya had to deal with between her ex and her business, and I was sure I didn’t even know half of it. Yet, she was still pleasant. She still had a sparkle in her eye and a bounce in her step.
Don’t do it, Cash,I thought to myself.She’s going to go back to the Carolinas. It’s temporary.