Chapter Eight

Sissy remained stuck in her seat. Could I do it? Could I tell Joe I didn’t feel whatever it is between us?

Not without lying like Satan. She chewed on the inside of her cheek and searched for the answer. Why she didn’t just tell him, she wasn’t sure, but the words weren’t falling out of her mouth.

“Sissy?”

She held his blue gaze and knew if she lied and said she didn’t, it would be the worst thing for her. But the problem was it wasn’t only her life this would affect. Her son had a say in all of this as well.

“I can’t say that, Joe. Even before today, it was growing between us. You showing up here, finding me at your place. All of it. Day in and day out, it built. But that doesn’t matter. I have to think of Taylor.”

“I heard him. He seemed pretty damn excited about coming to the farm.”

She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Joe, it doesn’t work this way. That way. Whatever, it doesn’t work like this. I have to sit down with him and speak about it all, no matter what.”

“Let’s talk to him then. What do you want me to say, Sissy? I’ve laid it all out for you.”

“No, you told me what was going to happen. After you fuck my brains out you tell me that I’m going to marry you. Not just to me but in front of my employer. There wasn’t any asking, no discussion. Then you come here to my sanctuary and do it again. And my son overhears.”

Damn him. He doesn’t look the least bit repentant. In fact, he appears pretty damn smug.

“You’re thinking about the fucking my brains out bit, aren’t you?”

The smile he flashed dampened her panties. It wasn’t fair how much sex appeal he had.

“So maybe I handled it wrong, but I’m not letting this go, Sissy. I’m not letting you go. You can’t tell me you don’t feel something and we can talk to your son together. I get it, you were married and you lost him. I don’t want you to forget him. I want you to continue living your life. This time with me.”

Damn it, he makes this all sound so inviting.

She wanted to nod and jump into his arms but she resisted the urge. “I have to speak to Taylor.”

Joe cupped her cheek with his calloused hand. She fought the need to push deeper into his touch.

“So we talk to him in the morning.”

She narrowed her gaze. “You’re coming back?”

“I’m not leaving.”

“You want them to see your truck in the drive that early in the morning, don’t you?”

“Yes,” he replied with zero remorse.

Squeezing her eyes shut, she moved on to rubbing her temples. Her head pounded. When had her life become such a circus?

Oh yeah, the moment I came back and agreed to work for the Meyers family.

Joe readjusted her so her back rested against his front. His strong arms around her, holding her tight, she allowed her eyes to open once more. The wildness settled within her and she sighed.

He was right—she couldn’t deny it.

“I just don’t know.”

“Why?”

“It’s been me and Taylor since his father died, then we had Mom for a bit. Then she died and we were back to the two of us. I can’t bring another one into his life that is going to go away.”

“I’m not going anywhere and you’re already out there all the time. What’s the problem?”

“Exactly. I don’t want the town to think I took a job there to get married.”

“You’ve been there while I was gone. It’s a small town, people will talk but you have us to protect you and Taylor. Jen will be there as she’s taking over as the business manager, to do the books. Patrick is going to be the sheriff and Mary is a vet. We’re all coming home. We already love you and I know my parents already think of Taylor as theirs.”

Eyes open, she turned to look at the man in her house. “Okay, Joseph Meyers. We take it slow. I’m not moving out there or marrying you before Christmas. I can’t rush this. We talk to Taylor and make sure he’s okay with this.”

Joe smiled and she nudged him, rolling her eyes.

“Slow, but not too slow.” He put his head to hers. “You know I love you, Sissy, right? I love you and I always will.”

Pushing their lips together, she leaned into him, taking what he offered. As he laid her back on the couch, she pushed everything but this moment out of her mind. Tomorrow things would be faced, but right now, she was with Joe and there wasn’t anywhere else she wanted to be.