Two days later…
Serena’s heart was racing as she pulled up in front of the farmhouse in rural Indiana. She’d had a thousand second-thoughts about showing up with no notice in the past forty-eight hours. It seemed crazy. She couldn’t know for sure if Ajax would even be here on his parents’ farm.
Maybe he’d gotten a job in another state in the last month. She couldn’t even be sure he was in the country. It was a gamble, but she’d taken it.
As she stepped out of the car, she smoothed her hands down the front of her dress, wondering for the millionth time if she’d made the right clothing choice for today.
She’d driven all day yesterday and spent the night in a hotel last night with only four hours left on her trip. This morning, she’d considered so many options. Pencil skirt like he’d seen her in the first two times they’d met? Longer loose skirt and blouse like she usually wore at home? Jeans like most people probably wore on a farm?
In the end, she’d gone another direction altogether. She’d chosen a light pink sundress. She’d bought it a while ago when it caught her eye, but she’d never worn it. It was above the knee and would have raised eyebrows in her town. It was also sleeveless and flirty with a fitted bodice and full skirt. It was youthful and innocent. She’d ditched the heels for gold sandals. As soon as she’d put it on this morning, she’d known it suited her more than anything else she’d ever worn. It felt right on her.
On top of that, her hair was down. She’d also cut it for the first time in her life. Not short. Just six inches. But it now had a blunt cut that rested just above her waist. It felt lighter and hung in long waves that blew in the wind as soon as she stepped out of the car.
She stared at the front of the farmhouse, her hands sweating, finding it difficult to move.
Suddenly, something caught her eye on the side of the house, and she turned in that direction. Someone was coming around the corner. They probably heard the car pull up.
She cupped her hand above her eyes against the glare of the sun. And then her racing heart beat even faster.
It was him. Ajax. Not an apparition. It was really him. He stopped dead for a moment and then started walking again, picking up speed until he was running.
She laughed as he closed the distance, lifting her off the ground with his arms around her the moment he reached her. He swung her around until she was dizzy.
He looked so good. She knew this was not a mistake immediately.
His grin was huge and wide and his eyes danced with happiness. When he finally let her slide to her feet, still plastered to his front, he cupped her face. “You’re here,” he whispered.
“Mmhmm.”
His mouth lowered and he tipped her head to one side, taking her lips in a panty-melting kiss. All his kisses were like this. Would they always be?
He kissed her so deeply and for so long she forgot where they were. Finally, he released her, letting her breathe, his forehead against hers, his palms on her cheeks. “You look beautiful, baby. I’ve missed you so much.”
“I missed you, too. Sorry it took me so long to get my head out of my rear.”
“Careful, you’re almost cussing,” he teased.
She flushed. “I am not.” She swatted at him playfully.
His expression sobered. “I can’t believe it. I willed you to come. I thought about tracking you down a hundred times. But I told myself to let you figure things out on your own.”
“My Aunt Ruth slapped some sense into me.”
“I love your Aunt Ruth. What about your mom?” His brow furrowed.
She smiled. “She was surprisingly okay with this. I think she was happy for me. She didn’t even frown when I told her.”
“When you told her what, baby?” He held her tighter, leaning his back against her car. “What did you tell her?” he encouraged.
“That I fell in love with a man who lives in Indiana and I needed to go be with him.”
His smile grew. She loved how his eyes continued to dance. “How long can you stay?”
“I was thinking seventy years. If that’s okay?”
His enormous smile grew even larger. His hand slid to her back. “Please tell me I’m not dreaming.”
She pinched his arm.
He chuckled. “What about Charley?”
“She gave me your address. Said you’d told her if I ever asked for it, she had your permission to give it.”
He swallowed.
She knew what he was thinking. “She gave me your address yesterday morning when I called to tell her I was quitting.”
Ajax slowly closed his eyes and pulled her tighter against his chest. “I would never ask you to quit your job. Just so you know.”
“I know. But I also knew when I got here, I would never want to leave again. Working for Charley means a lot of travel.”
He growled in her ear.
She giggled because it tickled. “So, you’re okay with this? With me showing up with no intention of leaving?” She bit her lip, waiting for him to respond. His letter had been specific. He’d made it clear that she was it for him. But she’d still worried for the last two days that he might have changed his mind.
“Baby, I’m so beyond okay. I’m the happiest man on earth.”
She slid her hands up to his shoulders. “How is your team? I know you both succeeded and got everyone out, but that’s the last I heard.”
“They’re all doing well and recuperating from lack of food and exercise. They’ll be right as rain in no time. I talk to them every day. Ryker and I have decided to go into business together. We’re going to open up a rescue operation called the Holt Agency. The entire team is on board. All eight of us will start this business from the ground up together.”
Her face hurt from smiling. “That sounds amazing. Have you told your parents you’re naming it after them yet?”
He grinned, shaking his head. “No. Not yet. Ryker and I just came up with the company name. But isn’t it perfect? Our parents spent their entire lives rescuing people. Not just children, but they’ve always been there for anyone in need. The Holt Agency is going to be based right here on the farm.”
“I love it. Maybe you’ll need a receptionist or something.” She winked at him.
“You’re a bit overqualified for that job, baby. But if you’re interested, we’ll find you a role.” He slid his hands farther around her. “I can’t let go of you. I don’t want to bring you inside and share you with my family.”
“I know,” she whispered. “But we have our entire lives together.” She glanced at the house. “Are you staying here then? With your parents?”
His eyes did that dancing thing again. “Yes, but one of my younger brothers and his wife live here on the land in another house. They’re on vacation this week, so I’m house-sitting. Watching their dogs.”
“Oh.”
He nibbled behind her ear, his lips coming to the lobe to whisper, “I’m so glad they are out of town. The house is a mile from the main house. No one will hear you screaming later tonight.”
Heat raced up her face and she shoved on his chest to lean back a few inches. “I couldn’t stay with you alone like that, Ajax. What would your mother think?” she whispered, glancing around as if someone might have heard him.
He was chuckling when she looked at him again. “Baby, you’re twenty-eight years old. I’m thirty-five. My parents are rational, modern people. They’re aware that we adult kids have sex.”
“Yeah, but…” That seemed too blatant. As much as she wanted to be alone with him, it felt too weird to do so with his parents knowing.
He shook his head. “Serena, you’re going to lose this argument. There isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell I’m letting you out of my sight for even a minute now that you’re here. You’re in my bed, wherever that bed is, from now on.”
The flush deepened, and she bit her lip, but she nodded.
“If it feels too naughty to you, then we’ll keep the arrangement short.”
She furrowed her brow, not understanding. “What do you mean?”
He reached for her left hand, slid it up to his mouth, and then kissed her knuckles. “I’ll put a ring on this finger tomorrow and we’ll find a justice of the peace if that soothes your sensibilities.” He widened his eyes as if he’d asked a question and was waiting for an answer.
She sucked in a breath. “If that was supposed to be a proposal, it sucked. You told me in your letter to demand everything I deserve from a partner. I think you can do better than that.”
He chuckled, his body vibrating. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll do that. ASAP. Roses and everything. I promise. Just don’t deny me in the meantime.”
“Deal.” She couldn’t have denied him no matter what, but she’d feel less anxious about their arrangement if it didn’t go on for months. It was one thing to have sex with him blatantly out of wedlock. It was another thing to live in sin indefinitely.
“Also,” Ajax said, “my sister is living here.”
“Kelly?”
He nodded, and she loved how his face lit up. “Yep. And her son Jock. She was living in a hell-hole. Mom insisted I invite her to come here. She’s staying with my parents in the main house. She has a job in town, and my parents love having an eight-year-old around again. You’ll meet them tonight.”
The front door to the farmhouse opened and Serena turned her gaze to find a woman in her sixties stepping onto the porch. She too shaded her eyes from the glare of the sun. “Ajax? Oh my goodness.” She came down the stairs. “Is this her? Is this Serena?”
Ajax finally released his tight hold on Serena and slid his hand into hers. He led her toward his mother. “Yep. Mom, Serena. Serena, my mother.”
Serena felt nervous meeting this woman who’d taken in this boy when he was twelve and raised him to be the man she loved so much. She was giddy to realize Ajax had told his mother so much about Serena that she knew exactly who she was.
“So nice to finally meet you, Mrs. Holt,” Serena said.
His mother smiled broadly. “Please, call me Nancy, or Mom. We’re not so formal here.” She pulled Serena into a warm embrace. “Come on inside. It’s hot out here.”
Serena’s heart was so full. She tipped her head back to meet Ajax’s gaze as she strolled behind his mother at a slower pace.
He leaned down and set his lips on her ear again. “I love this dress by the way. It suits you.”
She beamed. “I thought so. Maybe it’s a bit much for a farm, but today felt special to me, and I think I need some changes.”
He turned toward her, taking her shoulders as they reached the bottom of the steps that led up to the farmhouse. “It’s perfect. You look amazing.” He leaned in close again, his lips making her shiver yet again when they came to her ear. “I can’t wait to unzip it and let it fall to the floor later.”
She swatted at him, flushing a deeper shade of red. “Ajax,” she admonished. “Stop it. We’re about to enter your parents’ house.”
He chuckled as he took her hand and led her inside.
“Where’s Ryker? I assume since you mentioned him that he came back to the farm too?”
Ajax laughed. “Did he ever. And he didn’t come alone either.”
“What?” She glanced at him confused.
“Remember Xena?”
“Of course.” Serena stopped moving in the middle of the hallway. “No,” she exclaimed. “Seriously?”
He nodded. “Yes. I wouldn’t joke about something like that. They’re out riding horses right now.”
“Huh. I kind of thought they might kill each other that week.” She was shocked.
“You mean like the way you flattened me on my back and considered killing me that first night?” he teased.
She chewed on her lower lip, remembering that well. Finally, she licked her lips and tipped her head back. “I think I was already half in love with you.”
“And now?” He lifted a brow.
“Now, I’m totally in love with you.”
Ajax wrapped his arms around her again and kissed her right in the hallway where anyone could see them.
She let him, too, and when he pulled back and said, “I love you too, baby,” it was totally worth it.