Chapter 31

31

T he contract was signed and the Fields of Green work crews began preparing the soil around the buildings. While the crews were at the site Destiny and Faith were busy fulfilling their maintenance contracts by mowing and trimming. They stopped in from time to time to be sure the work was progressing and to bring other supplies when needed.

Once the crews had the soil turned and ready for planting, the shrubs and other plants would be delivered along with the material used to create borders around the gardens.

Everything was progressing according to plan. Destiny gave notice at the apartment and moved some of her things to Faith's while storing the rest at her shop. When the project was completed they were going to go through Destiny's stuff and make piles to keep, donate, and throw away.

Destiny was looking forward to the process because she loved living with Faith at the tiny house. She quickly realized she didn't need as much stuff as she thought.

They spent their days working together and making sure the project was on schedule while also ensuring their other accounts were up to date. In the evenings they would watch the sunset together and recharge for the next day. They thought of that time as their little piece of heaven.

Then it started to rain.

"This is the fourth day in a row," Destiny said, looking out over the mud puddles that surrounded the three buildings.

"It's okay, Des," Faith said, reaching over and squeezing her shoulder. "We've found the places we need to put in drains so water doesn't stand in the beds."

"We figured that out the first day." Destiny sighed. "If this keeps up there's no way we'll finish on time."

"Babe," Faith said. "This isn't the first time a project has been delayed. As soon as things begin to dry out we'll catch up."

Destiny sighed again and continued to stare out the front of the truck.

"Have a little faith," Faith added with a grin.

Destiny looked over at her and smirked then a small smile appeared on her face. "I have you."

"Yes you do," Faith replied. "This reminds me of when we first met." She smiled, raising her eyebrows. "Remember?"

"I remember a muddy woman on her first day of work with the cutest smile who my co-worker wouldn't let in their truck," Destiny said.

"Lucky for me, we were working at your apartment complex."

"And lucky for me, Jonas was being an asshole," Destiny replied.

"I know," Faith said. "I still think he was trying to make sure I knew he was the boss."

"That's why I rescued you and got you added to my crew," Destiny said.

"Oh and here I thought it was because you wanted to work with me." Faith winked at her.

"I hadn't officially met you, but I let you into my apartment so you could shower and I even gave you a shirt to wear since yours was so muddy."

"You were making your move from the start," Faith teased.

Destiny chuckled and glanced over at her. "You were muddy because you fixed the leak he made by breaking a sprinkler head," Destiny added. "I remember that."

"Yeah, I think he was testing me," Faith said.

Destiny smiled at Faith as the memory flashed before her eyes. "You had a smear of mud right here." She reached over and ran her thumb across Faith's cheek.

"You did the same thing back then." Faith smiled.

Destiny's face softened as love fluttered in her chest. "I'm so glad we found each other." She leaned over and pressed her lips to Faith's in a sweet kiss.

"We can't do anything here until the rain stops," Faith said with her hand on Destiny's cheek. "What do you say we go back to the office? No one's there."

Destiny smiled. "Now who's making moves." She put the truck in gear and stepped on the gas, quickly pulling away from the site.

Faith giggled and Destiny reached for her hand. Let it rain; I've got Faith.

A couple days later, the rain stopped, the mud dried up, and the teams began to plant. Just as Faith said, they caught up and were set to have the project completed right on time.

"Let's swing by the site before we go home," Faith said to Destiny as she started the truck.

"Okay." Destiny sniffed her shirt. "Damn, babe. I smell horrible."

Faith chuckled. "It's okay," she said. "I can't smell you over the odor coming from me."

"Tiny shower that's not so tiny," Destiny said, grinning at Faith, "here we come."

Faith laughed and in no time pulled into the site. The landscaping was taking shape. There were trees and shrubs already planted along with a few flowering plants.

"Hey," Mark said, waving at them. "We need more yellow bell shrubs."

"Abel has at least twenty more waiting for us at the nursery," Destiny said. "We were running out of room at the shop."

"We'll go get them and bring them here in the morning," Faith said.

"Thanks," Mark said.

"Anything else?"

"We may need more of those mini pepper plants over by the rock cairn," he replied. "Let me see how it goes then we can always pick up a few more if needed."

"Okay," Faith said. "We'll see you in the morning."

"I'll call Abel and tell him we're on the way," Destiny said.

"I guess our shower will have to wait." Faith glanced over at Destiny with a wink.

Destiny gave Faith a sexy smile. "I hope this honeymoon thing never ends—oh hey, Abel," she said into the phone, her eyes widening.

Faith laughed and could hear Abel say something then laugh through the phone.

"We're on our way to pick up the rest of the esperanzas," Destiny said. She listened for a moment and ended the call.

"Let me guess," Faith said. "He wanted to know when we got married."

Destiny chuckled. "Yep."

Faith exited the interstate and turned down onto the street where Abel's nursery was located. "Is there anything else we need? Oh, we should pick up something for Mrs. Baker," she said. "She needs a new flower next to her favorite bench."

"Let's get something pink," Destiny said. "She loves bright colors."

Faith pulled in parallel to the loading area. She was pulling a trailer with a mower and other equipment on it, but there was room for the shrubs as well.

When they got out of the truck Abel hurried to meet them.

"We have a problem," Abel said. "One of my workers sold your esperanzas. I've called around and there are none in Austin or the surrounding area."

"You're kidding," Faith said. "They're not uncommon. I'm surprised."

"The person who bought them put one over on my worker," Abel explained. "He's new. I explained to everyone that the yellow bells were already sold and whoever this was convinced him that esperanzas weren't yellow bells."

"Isn't it on the tag?" Destiny said.

Abel shrugged. "I'll keep trying to find you replacements. Would anything else work?"

"Not really," Faith said. "We'd have to change out the others."

"Hmm." Destiny took out her phone and pulled up a website. "Would you mind if we talked to your worker? I want to show him a picture."

"Sure," Abel replied. "I'll be right back."

"What are you thinking, babe?" Faith asked.

"I think Gloria came and bought the plants," Destiny said.

"Oh, come on," Faith said. "How would she know we're using them?"

"As you said, they're not uncommon. What better way to get back at us than to delay the project past its completion date?"

Faith furrowed her brow. "That seems extreme."

Destiny stared at her and cleared her throat. "Excuse me," she said. "Look at what she did to us three years ago."

Before Faith could reply, the worker walked up with Abel. After a short conversation, Destiny's theory was proven correct. Gloria had purchased the shrubs.

"That's why there's not any in the area," Destiny said. "Damn! I wonder what she's going to do with them."

"Who cares!" Abel exclaimed. "You're the ones that need them."

"I have an idea," Faith said. "Abel, can you check further away, maybe as far south as San Antonio?"

"Sure, let me make a couple of calls," he said. "I'll be right back."

"We can go pick them up and still make the deadline," Faith said.

"That's a great idea, but when do we have time?" Destiny asked. "We're already behind with our other accounts and we need every person at the site."

Faith narrowed her eyes then smiled. "I know someone who will bring them to us."

"Who?"

"Chase!" Faith exclaimed.

"You think my brother would bring us twenty yellow bells?"

"He would if I asked," Faith said with a cocky smile. "He loves me."

Destiny chuckled. "You're not wrong."

"He'd do it for you, too," Faith said.

Abel came back and had located enough of the plants at a nursery in San Antonio. Destiny got on the phone and called Chase. He eagerly agreed to pick up the plants and drive them the hour and a half to Austin in the morning.

Once they were back in the truck and Faith had them headed towards home, she glanced at Destiny and smiled. "Look at us, solving problems," she said.

"Together," Destiny said, reaching for her hand.

"What are we going to do about Gloria?" Faith asked. She knew Destiny wanted revenge from the video and with this latest round of disruption, Faith was afraid it would fuel that even more.

"We're going to keep solving the problems she throws at us," Destiny said. "The easiest way to get revenge is to live happily ever after."

Faith widened her eyes and stared over at Destiny. "Who are you and what did you do with my girlfriend?"

Destiny chuckled. "Gloria can't hurt us. That's what you told me when we walked out of that conference room. I'm not going to waste any of my energy even thinking about her when I can spend it doing things I love," she said. "Like taking a shower with you."

Faith gave Destiny the biggest smile. Gloria might still try to make things hard for them, but she also had a lot of yellow bell shrubs to do something with and that wouldn't be easy.

She pulled up to the tiny house and took Destiny's hand as she walked around the truck.

"I hope that's the last problem we have to solve today," Destiny said.

Faith opened the front door pulling Destiny through it. "Your only problem is deciding what you want to have for dinner." She captured Destiny's lips in a hungry kiss as she pulled her shirt over her head.

"Who needs dinner," Destiny mumbled, taking her sports bra off and shimmying out of her shorts.

Faith laughed, undressing as she walked through the kitchen to the bathroom. She reached into the shower and turned the water on, letting it warm up. Destiny's arms wrapped around Faith from behind. Faith moaned, leaning back against her. "Be careful where your lips touch me. All you'll taste is dirt and sweat."

"I don't care," Destiny said, pushing them under the water.

Faith turned in Destiny's arms and kissed her with passion and desire. How quickly Destiny could light a fire inside her. "I love you," she said breathlessly.

Faith reached for the body wash and poured a generous amount in her hand. She rubbed her hands together and placed them on Destiny's shoulders. Her hands slid down Destiny's arms then back up and around her neck. She smiled and looked into Destiny's eyes. They were dark with desire, but were also shining with love.

Faith ran her hands down Destiny's chest and cupped her breasts. Her nipples were already hard and Faith gave them a gentle pinch.

"You look at my body with such wonder," Destiny said. "Can you see how much I love and want your touch?"

"Can you feel how much I love you in each touch?" Faith knew the answer to her question and let her hand slide lower until she cupped Destiny's sex.

Destiny moaned and widened her legs as she leaned against the shower wall.

Faith slowly ran her fingers through Destiny's slick folds, keeping her eyes on Destiny's.

"Babe," Destiny moaned, her eyes fluttering closed.

Faith slowly pushed one finger then another inside Destiny and felt her muscles almost relax with relief. Destiny's hands were on her shoulders holding on and Faith wasn't about to make her wait.

She began a slow rhythm to the music of Destiny's moans. Faith could feel Destiny's fingers squeezing her shoulders as she got closer to the edge. "Let me see your beautiful eyes, babe," Faith whispered. She wanted Destiny to see her love as the orgasm swept through her body.

Faith pushed in deeper one more time and curled her fingers. She saw the flash of pleasure light up Destiny's eyes as her fingers dug into Faith's shoulders.

"Good God, babe," Destiny groaned, resting her head against the shower wall.

Faith kissed Destiny's neck and giggled. "Oh, how I love to hear you make that sound."

"Mmm," Destiny mumbled. "It's my heart talking to you."

Faith pulled back and kissed Destiny softly. Their hearts had been talking all along. That's why they were together now and would be from now on.