Chapter Thirteen

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

BEAU

F or months, every star in the sky was wished on by me. Thousands of wishes. Maybe even millions. Seeing Trevor come around the corner at Colby’s house yesterday was the fruition of so many heartfelt, full-of-longing wishes. I’ve never experienced joy so deep, so profound, as when his eyes met mine again.

And now he’s here. Staying with me. Indefinitely.

Never before has the future felt so grand. But we’ve both got a lot of work ahead of us. Trevor puts on a brave front, but I know how tender he is deep down. When he’d told me about his parents, I’d seen a pain in him that I wish he didn’t carry. One I ached to take off his shoulders.

Last night I tucked him into bed, gently kissed his forehead, swept his hair from his angelic face, desperately wishing I could’ve kept him from the very start.

But I have him now and that’s what matters most.

“Beau Callahan,” my mama shouts from across the field.

“That’s a mama yell if I’ve ever heard one. You eat the last cookie?” Lee teases as we both warily watch my mom stomp angrily across the blueberry field, hair up in a messy auburn bun and eyes zeroed in on me. I’m definitely about to get it. Crap. But her rage is softened by her messy hair, hole-filled cardigan, and rain boots. Hard to take her seriously when she looks so much like the Mama that lovingly placed Band-Aids on my knees as a kid.

“Yes, ma’am?” I ask sweetly.

“Don’t ma’am me.” Mama accusingly points her finger with narrowed, suspicious eyes. “Trevor showed up at the party last night. Then you sweep him away without so much as a peep. Where is he?”

Lee chuckles, tosses up his hands, and disappears towards the other end of the field. Lucky duck.

“He just got back into town,” I hurry to explain to avoid her impending wrath.

“You’ll bring him over for dinner soon, you understand me?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Mama’s eyes soften. She takes a careful step closer to me. “Now, is he alright? Are you alright?”

I can’t help but laugh because for the first time everything finally seems alright. The past few years have been rough, but now that Trevor’s back, maybe I can finally get my own bit of happy.

“I’m doing a lot better now,” I admit.

She grins at me, then tenderly pats my cheek. “Good. Now I’ve got to get back to the office because they’re all fighting about some television show and it’s all very entertaining. I love working with the younger generation.”

With a wink tossed at me, she stomps through the field back towards the office. A few moments later, Lee wanders back over with a teasing grin on his lips. I take my hat off to hit him with it, but he ducks out of the way before I can make contact. Doubtful this will be the last time I’ll get anything from Lee over this.

“I gotta get me someone to date,” Lee says as we kick at the dirt like kids.

“Find someone, then.”

Lee rolls his eyes. “Not as easy for all of us.”

“One day, buddy.”

Lee scoffs, then lets out a long sigh. “Sure. We should get the gang together again to welcome Trevor back to town.”

I rub anxiously at my neck. “I’ll talk to Trevor about it.”

A truck rattles down the dirt road, kicking up dust, signaling the end of our somewhat tense conversation. The upcoming weekend requires us to visit the sunflower fields for the approaching fall season. Not much to do, but I always like to be involved with anything involving the dirt at Clay Road Farms. If it’s planted, I want to know, and I want to help it grow. Just a point of pride for me.

Lee and I walk quietly up to the office, but the closer we get, the more I realize that wasn’t just any truck. My classic Chevy gleams under the bright Florida sun. The most beautiful sight greets us as we approach the office. Trevor stands by the driver’s side door, elbows resting on the open window ledge, sweet smile on his face. He looks achingly perfect in the too-bright Florida summer sun. My heart does a sweet little kick of something I’m afraid to put words to just yet at the sight of him.

“Handsome,” Trevor whispers once I’m in earshot.

Heat creeps up my neck, but I ignore it, because something about him calling me handsome makes me all sort of stupid. Checking the coast is clear, I press Trevor against the truck to give him a hello kiss. His lips easily part for mine, letting me in to taste the sweetness of him. I lean my forearm on the roof behind him to cage him in between me and the truck.

Every kiss between us is like the very first one. Trevor never fights me for dominance, never tries to take over, he just lets me lead. Pretty sure it’s because he trusts me, and his trust is more precious to me than any jewel.

“Best hello I’ve ever gotten,” Trevor teases as he caresses my bearded cheek.

“You drove my truck.”

His cheeks pinken under my heavy stare. “I did.”

“I like it. What’s mine is yours.” I kiss him again, softer this time. I rock our foreheads together once I pull away from his perfect lips. “I wanna see you drive my truck.”

“Definitely not as toe curling as watching you drive it.”

“Not so sure about that. Hungry?”

Trevor nods while patting my stomach with a smirk. “Starving.”

I twine our fingers together as I tug him towards the farm food truck. The truck is one of Andy’s best ideas. Pastries and meals cooked with some of our fruit grown on the farm, along with other locally grown ingredients. On the weekends the food truck can be bought out within only a few hours. But on the weekdays, it’s just us on the farm, so Joey, the chef, keeps a limited supply for the employees.

“Hey, boss,” Joey calls through the open truck window.

I groan at the nickname. Joey leans halfway out the window, all messy dark hair, and a dimpled grin. Trevor’s hand tightens on mine for just a second, before trying to tug loose, but I hold his hand tight. Not happening on my watch.

“You know I hate when you call me boss.”

Joey winks again. “That’s why I do it.”

“Two lunch specials.”

Rolling his eyes at me refusing to play along, his gaze goes to Trevor, only to return to me. “Sure. Nice to see you again, Trevor.”

They shake hands briefly, but I easily clock the wary look on Trevor’s face. His tells aren’t as hidden as he likes to think. Joey hums to himself as he disappears back into the truck to make our lunch. No time like now to bring some essential items up, I guess.

“You know I’m out, right? You were my wedding date, funeral date, everyone knows.”

Trevor blows out an uneasy breath. “I know. I just… I’m trying to fit into your life here. New people make me nervous… I’m always afraid.” He trails off and looks around, eyes seemingly searching for threats. “I’m always afraid someone will recognize me. Put two and two together. Not just because my face was plastered in the headlines when I sat at my parents’ trial, but also because well… I was an escort. It was fine before I didn’t think I’d ever come back but…”

“Now it’s real and you don’t want your parents' legacy to ruin it.”

Trevor laughs bitterly. “Well, yeah.”

“Can you listen to me, sweetheart?” I take his hand back in mine, and tenderly kiss his knuckles, then press his palm to my cheek. “If people find out, we’ll deal with it. I’m gonna keep you, that’s all you need to know. Right?”

Trevor shifts his palm under my hand to sweetly cup the curve of my jaw. His head tilts a little to stare up at me with a look so fond that my heart aches.

“You’re going to destroy me for anyone else,” Trevor whispers like it's a secret.

“Good, ’cause I’m the last one.”

Trevor smiles, that smile that’s just for me, and I pull him tightly against me for a fierce hug. He smells like my body wash and shampoo, something that makes the caveman inside me burst with pride. Maybe a little want too.

“Two lunch specials,” Joey calls out behind us. I turn around in time to see Joey hanging out the truck window, an absolutely delighted grin on his face. “Felt bad interrupting but don’t want it to get cold.”

I hastily grab the tray loaded with the food and guide us over to one of the picnic tables at the end of the row. A few years ago, we had an open-air building built for events, it’s just a roof with a couple of hefty support beams, but it’s worth it on warmer days like today. Under the shade it’s not too bad, especially when the breeze blows, and Trevor’s hair gets tossed about.

“Ready for some of the best food you’ve ever had?” I ask with a smirk.

Trevor looks skeptical but squares his shoulders. “Absolutely. Hit me.”

“Alright.” I push the tray between us and start pointing out the items. “Barbecue pork sliders, fried plantains, glazed wings with our specialty teriyaki-blueberry sauce, and the best pumpkin cheesecake bites you’ll ever eat.”

“Any particular order, or?” Trevor stares down at the food with wide eyes.

“Pick your poison.”

He starts with the sliders, so I start with the wings. I watch him as I eat, eager to see his reactions, to know his thoughts to something that’s a part of me. Part of my life. On the very first bite his eyes slide closed in bliss, and he licks his lips clean once he finishes the entire slider.

“That’s fucking good,” Trevor says.

I point at one of the chicken wings. “Try a wing.”

Trevor doesn’t need to be told twice. He dives into the food with all the relish of a starved man. My chest puffs out in pride when the food is so good that he can’t even carry on a conversation. Feeding people, bringing them happiness, that’s really the best part of my job. Yeah, I’m a farmer at heart, because I love the land, but giving people an unforgettable memory through food and nature, that's also my joy.

Just as we’re finishing up, a familiar flash of red hair comes into view. My eyes flick over to the truck to find Joey dipping out of my sight, but not before I catch the embarrassed look on his face. He definitely tattled.

“Trevor!” Mama shouts once she’s close enough to rattle our bones.

Trevor’s panicked gaze meets mine. “She’s right behind me?”

“Yep,” I whisper.

“No time like now I guess.” Trevor wipes his hands on a napkin, then carefully stands from the table just before he’s enveloped in my mother’s arms.

Trevor stands awkwardly for a moment, then slowly returns the hug. His head rests sweetly on top of hers like he’s savoring the brief motherly affection. Mama pulls away to squeeze his face in her hands, intently staring him down.

“Don’t go so long without a visit again,” she demands quietly, tone brooking no arguments.

“I’m not planning to leave again.”

Mama gasps and dips her head around him to look at me. “Really?”

I nod as I try in vain to hold back a grin. “He’s here to stay.”

Mama’s entire face softens. Her eyes even go a little misty. “Love really is such a wonderful thing. You make my boy so happy. You’ll have to come over to the house sometime so we can garden and gossip.”

“Garden and gossip?” Trevor repeats, voice tremulous.

“Yes, Trevor. You’ve got so much to learn about Clay Springs now that you’re one of us. Serious information sessions. We will need multiple visits.” Mama kisses him on the cheek, then turns her head to regard me. “Next week, dinner, all three of us.”

Then she’s gone again, back to the office, and I can only grin as Trevor slowly turns to aim his gaze at me.

“She’s going to make me call her ‘Mom’ soon, isn’t she?”

I bite my lip and nod. “Definitely. Got a problem with that?”

Trevor runs shaky fingers through his hair. My heart does a deep dive and flips at the sight of him so overwhelmed. I stand before my brain has even processed the movement. Tugging Trevor into my arms, I cup the back of his head in my palm. He leans against me, giving me all his weight.

“What do you need?” I ask quietly.

“Time,” Trevor replies. His fingers bite into my ribs for a moment, through my work shirt, and his shaky inhale vibrates through my chest. This man, what am I going to do with him?

“Always.” I kiss him softly and wish I could both rewind a year, and fast-forward a few years from now. Time feels so caught between us as we do our best to push forward.

“What time will you be home?”

I clear my throat as he pulls out of my grip. “Probably a little after six.”

“I’ll be waiting.” Trevor aims a devilish look at me through his eyelashes. “Still no chance of us doing the horizontal tango?”

I laugh, deep and loud. “Not for a while.”

Trevor makes an aggrieved sound. “Worth a shot.”

I walk him back over to my truck, hand in hand. With one last kiss from me, he climbs into the truck, and disappears off the property in a cloud of dirt. Never before have I been so excited at the idea of leaving work. For years and years this property has been my home, been my heart’s work. But now my life is driving away in my old Chevy truck, and I can’t muster an ounce of worry.