10. Lexi

Fumbling with the keys in my bag, I'm only aware that someone is behind me from the crunching of gravel on the ground of the Dizzy Duck parking lot.

"Where do you think you're going?" Holden is messing with me.

"Not that it's any of your business—okay, it might be, but I'm heading to an antique store about thirty minutes from here. It's only open a few days a week, and today just happens to be one of them." Got them I pull my keys out and turn to Holden who is smirking under this bright day with a cold nip that hits your skin with a chill.

Lines form on his forehead. "Really? For the Dizzy Duck?"

"No, my billion-dollar house on a tropical island," I deadpan.

He scoffs. "Can't believe you never told me about that. Kind of brokenhearted that you haven't given me an invite." For theatrics, he brings his palm to his heart.

My smile spreads wider as I move away from our playful chat. "But yes, for the inn."

Holden glances at his watch. "How long do you think you'll be?"

"Hmm, I don't know. Probably two hours or so, depends on what I find."

He steps forward and snatches my key fob. "Great. I have time, so let me drive us there."

I take in this change of events. "Drive us?"

He's already heading toward his SUV, expecting me to follow as he pulls his key out of his pocket and hits the unlock button without so much as checking over his shoulder. And, well, I've learned that I'm weak when it comes to his surprise plans.

"Antique stores are a new realm for me, and I have a bigger trunk if you want something. Plus, if it's for the inn, wouldn't you want my credit card?"

All logical. No way to counter.

"Valid points." I eagerly open the passenger side door.

The engine revs up, and he begins to press buttons on the dashboard. "Address, please."

I swipe my phone screen to draw up the address and show him, then he types everything in to the GPS. Off we go, and I'm still trying to grasp what the mood is between us. Friends with benefits means said friend can accompany you on one of your favorite activities, right?

"It's in an old barn that the owners spruced up. We most definitely don't need them, but they even have old wagons and barrels." My voice is cheerful to bring us to neutral topics.

Holden chuckles under his breath. "Then into the cornfields we go."

"Could be wheat," I quip, and his head turns slightly in my direction, clearly amused. To avoid his eyes, I glance out the window and stare at the woods that circle the lake. The duck-crossing sign reminds me of this quaint town that is a special place for many. "Actually, Illinois is 75% farmland."

"Someone is studious."

"Nah, I just wondered once when I left the suburbs to see an old college friend and boredom kicked in after thirty miles with no change of scene. Unless you get off a highway and go to a small town that is along a river or freight railroad track. There is, of course, Route 66 which has its quirks."

He laughs as he keeps his hands steady on the wheel. "Ah, so you were a nerd by day and party girl by night all those years ago."

My head lolls to the side against the headrest to appraise him. "Eight years ago, to be exact, that's when you got your favor napkin, and yes, I'm highlighting that you're older yet not wiser," I joke.

"Watch it. I'm beginning to tally how many spankings you'll get next time."

Sprinkles of anticipation begin to burst throughout my body. "Looking forward to it."

The corners of his mouth tug in approval. "Let's focus on this drive, shall we?"

"Agreed." Otherwise, we might not make it there without stopping for a quickie in the back of his car.

Another half-hour goes by until we're driving onto the grass and dirt parking lot where only two other cars are stationed. We both hop out and walk side by side. Holden with curiosity and me feeling like a kid in a candy store.

My sight lands on the outside stand selling fresh carrots and asparagus. "Yum. What are the chances your kids would like those?"

"About 25%, maybe 45% if we slather a bunch of butter on it."

I swat his arm. "Then we shall try." Speeding up my walk, I beeline it to the wagon with fresh apples and glass bottles of cider. This is fantastic, we can use the bottles after the cider is finished.

Holden watches with a blank look. "Didn't we come here for antiques in the large barn?" He steps forward and places his hand under my elbow to guide me away.

Throwing my finger over my shoulder, I reluctantly give up on my crusade, though I still point out the obvious. "But there's jam." I pout.

"Damn, you are like a woman possessed."

He manages to lead us, and we enter the barn where my exhilaration grows. Right away, I spot a few pieces that would be ideal for the inn. It doesn't take long for me to find myself next to a dresser, and my palm slides against the wood.

"This would be great for the large suite." I bend down to inspect further. "Need to re-sand and then paint it white, but it's perfect."

My eyes are unable to tear away from the furniture, but a blurry vision in my side eye shows me Holden picking up a jar and examining it purely to keep his hands busy.

"But there is only one, and we have several rooms," he points out.

I stand up, with my elation never fading on my face. "It doesn't matter, as each of the large suites will have their own feel. We're not going to be cookie-cutter, as every room will be distinctly different."

He sets the jar down, clearly entertained with my enthusiasm. "Who will be sanding it?"

"Me," I state proudly.

"You?"

My exploration goes on, and now it's Holden being tugged along. "Yes. I sand and upholster all the time. I can even use a hammer."

He hisses a whistle. "Oh, hammering I'm aware you can do."

I throw him a fun glare. "Shall we focus?"

"How? You're all over the place. I'm scared you'll tell me the chest over there is the key to real treasure."

My eyes widen, and then I nearly run. "This one is great." I'm serious.

"Really?" His voice is unsure.

"Of course. Place it at the end of a bed." I set my hand on the curve of his shoulder. "You have great ideas," I add.

His face is purely confused. "I don't sense sarcasm in that." Holden pretends to search around him. "I should probably take you down a notch. Make out with you behind the long mirror over there?"

I step forward, coming face to face with Holden, calming down as my fingers gently crawl up his shirt along his chest. "Could be an option," I say, my sultry voice in full swing. Another step and his body rises to attention, and if we're not careful then his cock will join in. But then I drop the cruelty of leading him along by patting his chest before I return to business. "There are 1920's light fixtures over there, perfect for candles."

Holden groans and steps back. "Don't test me, Lexi. We have an entire ride back, and if we get bored of farmland, then we can stop so I can fuck you in the backseat."

I titter as I survey further. "So inappropriate, in public and in the presence of our elders too," I tease.

He laughs. "I don't think I'm ever going to forget today. On a scale of ridiculous yet entertaining, this, well…" His voice softens the end of his sentence, and it raises my attention, only to see a glint in his eyes. "It's nice. My mind has kind of shut off, and it's been a while."

Trapping my bottom lip between my teeth, I try to dissect his words and what they really mean. "I guess you've been busy with life," I begin, and he nods subtly once. "You're welcome. I guess this is an odd outing. There's even Amish furniture over in that corner that they brought up from central Illinois." I bounce my shoulders as I try to lighten the mood of his realization.

Our eyes hold, in a moment that lets go of the back and forth of our constant wit, and instead, we're soaking in a new atmosphere between us. But it's dangerous, and I'm not even sure that I've blinked.

"Well, how does this work?" Oh, he's going right into the us discussion. I nearly lose my balance. "Do we just pay and they can deliver?" A tinge of disappointment hits me when I realize he meant logistics of our outing.

"Uhm." I tuck a few strands behind my ear. "Yeah, we can do that." My returning smile might appear pleasant, but it feels weak to me. "But the asparagus, tomatoes, cider, and jam, plus the homemade bread that I saw, we can take in the car."

"Casually threw in the jam, didn't you?"

We're back to normal us. How we can already have a normal when it's only been two weeks since I entered his life? I'm not quite sure, but I've always been one to ride the flow between people. I'll just continue that.

* * *

Two dayslater after avoiding the man of the week, I return to Holden's for the day. The cleaner is exiting the front door after she finished her weekly visit, and her intense study of me is a bit daunting. I'm relieved with a faint line on her mouth appears before she moves on without any use of words.

"Goodbye to you too," I mumble.

I really need a snack; an afternoon boost is always key to continuing the day. The view of Harry working on his homework is a welcome scene.

"How's my favorite scientist?" I greet him.

His sight jumps up once before he returns to writing in his notebook. "Not bad. Math is too easy. We're working on decimals, but I've been a pro already for a year. I have stocks to maintain."

"What?" I sputter out.

"My stocks," he tells me, as if I'm an idiot.

"Can kids even buy stocks?" I'm now bewildered.

He shrugs. "Not exactly, but my dad set them up, and I just do the heavy work. A bummer that the NASDAQ has been down for two days."

My jaw drops open because this is a complete shock, and I mouth what the fuck to myself. What ten-year-old talks finance?

Shaking my head, I make a note to check the internet later about this phenomenon. My eyes drift down to where he's writing. "Cool, kids are still using a notebook these days."

He continues to write. "Oh, don't worry, this is only a list of companies that I'm interested in investing in if the dollar-euro exchange rate picks up. At school, we have to hand all homework in via our portal app. We're entirely digital. I mean, why would you use paper for that?" He shakes his head.

Holy shit, I feel ancient.

I can't handle that realization, and it's going to take a few hours before I recognize that I'm staying with a whiz kid. This calls for a granola bar, a mini cake in a package, and I might throw in a small bag of crackers too.

Holden enters the kitchen, scruffing Harry's hair in passing. "What's up, kids?"

"You seem far too happy for my liking, there must be a catch." Lori arrives with her mundane tone, expressing that she heard her father.

Holden gives her a contrite smile. "And what if I am, no catch?"

Lori's eyes swim between Holden and me, trying to connect dots perhaps as her nose rises slightly before she drops her demeanor when she glances down at her phone.

Holden arrives next to me while I rip open a snack cake. "Your son has stocks," I say dryly.

His smile is beaming. "Great, huh? In a few years he can probably handle my entire portfolio." Is Holden joking? I'm not sure.

"Right. So, uhm, hey, the delivery from the antique barn arrived." I survey the room and feel that leaving to get another round of fresh air seems like the way to go. "Tomorrow I'll be sanding, so I'm going to run to the hardware store to pick up gloves and a sander. You guys have a yummy dinner."

"You're not joining us?" Does Holden sound kind of disappointed or am I losing my mind?

"Nah, I'm dying for a little quiet time to search the latest blogs for trends while I gulp down a milkshake and maybe throw in a salad."

He stuffs his hands into his pocket. "Oh, yeah, sure. Quiet time."

"Yep. Off I go." My feet are glued to the wood while Holden and I are stuck in a trance.

"Completely ready to get in my car and check off that list."

Blinking a few times, he blows out a breath. "Let me walk you out. I may need to move my car so you can back up. Not enough space maybe."

"Of course." My lips twitch, as I'm not sure how to act right now with extra pairs of eyes on me.

My awkward attempt to leave leads us outside, staring at my car, both of us with hands in our pockets, me in a coat and Holden in jeans. "I guess the cars are good. I did get home after you, as you were well aware of back in the kitchen," I note.

We both continue to look straight forward at our cars. "I did perhaps know that."

A long pause again, the fifth now, but who's counting?

"I heard the ducks are a killer this time of day." Yikes, I realize what I just said. "I mean, not that we want to kill the ducks. Or rather they aren't getting killed, just they overpower the roads in the masses, and we have to stop every quarter of a mile because they normally travel with baby ducks as a family," I ramble.

"Yep, those ducks." His tone is neutral.

I roll my eyes because this conversation is a cover for other things.

"Lexi?"

"Yes, housemaster?" My tone is simple.

Even after our assurance that our cars haven't moved, our standstill continues. "I want to kiss you right now and bend you over the hood of your car."

I chortle. "Thought so. Because I'm sure you've read my mind."

"Another time then."

"Indeed, another time. Not when we have little eyes at the window behind us." The one moment I slightly tilted my head to the side, I saw them in my vision.

He chuckles. "Thought that would be the case. Have fun enjoying your moment of solitude."

"I'm beginning to think solitude is overrated."

That is what breaks our standoff, and we at last turn to one another with wry smiles.

"My chaos of a life is growing on you." He tries to suppress his smile.

"Maybe." Because truly I am unsure, or rather scared that he is right.

His lips push out, and he thinks for a moment. "Be careful. And that's a warning to us both."