Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 57897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57897 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
I almost just took the offer for the logging company to buy the land sight unseen. It would have been the easy choice. The thought of having to pay all those late taxes and make something out of the farm was daunting, and I didn’t know if I would be able to do it. Or if there was really any point.
But Mr. Warren encouraged me. I’d always be grateful for that. He was the one who said I needed to at least go look at the land and know what it was I had inherited and what I would be giving up if I just let the sale go through. That one decision had completely changed everything.
Now just a few months later, my life was totally unrecognizable and yet felt like the one I was supposed to have all along. I was beyond happy and more in love than I thought was even possible. The farm was on the verge of launching again. Just a little bit longer and everything would be ready to start welcoming guests again.
Everyone in town was so excited. Once we were sure opening up this year was something we’d be able to pull off and the work was well underway, Jason and I started telling people the farm was opening again so they could share it with others. That was a strategic move Carter and his wife suggested to us. Rather than start advertising campaigns early on or waiting until right before the season to do a marketing blast, we should get word of mouth going throughout the town.
It absolutely worked. People started talking, telling people they knew they had heard the old farm was opening up again, and getting nostalgic. The buzz started building, and soon when I was in town and people realized who I was, they’d thank me for coming and share stories with me about their families going to the farm when they were young.
It brought tears to my eyes when people introduced me to the babies and children who would get to experience something their grandparents and parents loved so much and to think that this was the next generation of loyal visitors who would have special holiday memories defined by my family’s farm. I couldn’t wait to see them out there, exploring the trees, sipping cocoa, and standing by the fire.
And I was going to do it all with Jason right there by my side.
We passed through the new gates that led to the farm, and I glanced out fondly at the sign I’d just put up earlier that day. It welcomed guests to the farm and gave them the hours of operation. Beneath it, I’d added a countdown to Christmas. Metal hooks held pieces of wood I’d painted red and green with glimmering gold numbers I could change every day to count down the days. I was looking forward to that walk every morning and seeing the numbers dwindle down.
I hadn’t been much of a Christmas person for a while, but this year, I found myself looking forward to it more than I had since I was a little girl. I couldn’t wait to experience a real holiday season with Jason, all my new friends, and the guests who would come to the farm.
Jason parked the truck at the old house and came around to open the door for me. He took my hand and helped me down, and we stood side by side, our arms around each other’s waists, to gaze up at it. The lights glowed warmly on either side of the front door and at points around the porch. Lamps inside brightened some of the windows. It still maintained its personality and aged, well-earned character but looked fresh and beautiful.
I sighed and rested my head on Jason’s shoulder. All the work we’d done was hard and exhausting, but it was so worth it.
“If it’s alright with you, I want us to live here together after we get married,” he said.
I smiled up at him. “I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”
He leaned down to kiss me, and I melted into it. I reached between us and took his hand, leading him up the steps onto the porch and into the house. We stopped partway up the stairs to kiss, and he held tight to my hips, leading me the rest of the way to the bedroom.
The door shut behind us, and he flipped the light off, darkening the room and creating sexy shadows across our bodies as we disrobed. Our eyes were locked on each other as we slowly stripped, each enjoying watching the other and being watched. His eyes on my body as I took off the last of my clothes and climbed onto the bed was as much of a turn-on as any touch.
When he climbed onto the mattress, I lay back and parted my thighs, letting him slide between them to hover over me, his lips crushing into my own and his warm, hard body settling onto mine. I reveled in how strong he was, how soft I was under him, and how he moved my leg to curl around him as he positioned himself at my opening.