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“I can help you out, if you’d like?” I offer, because from the quick glance, I’m pretty sure it just needs a small tweak and a re-screw.

“Oh, that would be lovely,” Rainbow says as she loops her arm around Daisy’s. “We’ll be inside if you need us. Dahl and tea will be ready soon.”

Daisy takes a quick look at me, and I give her a nod, telling her that I’m fine, and I watch them both walk inside, talking about herbs and tea and a myriad of other things.

“Rainbow’s dahl is some of the best you will ever try,” he says to me.

“So I’ve heard. I’m looking forward to it,” I tell him, smiling, before I look at the gate. “Do you want me to have a look?”

“Sure.” He sighs like he’s given up. “I’ve been trying to fix this for weeks, but working with the tools isn’t really my forte.” He steps back as I roll up my shirtsleeves and get to work. I’m a businessman. I work on computers and with numbers every day, probably not unlike Daisy’s father. But my dad made me learn every tool and every home and outdoor task since I was a kid. By age five, I could pick a lock. At eight, I was mowing lawns and cutting trees at the distillery. By ten, I could change a car tire. By fifteen, I could service a vehicle, sleep in the forest without a tent, and chop a load of wood for a fire. I have learned many things, some of which I still do today, and as I pick apart the lock and reattach it, using different screws to adhere it to the gate, I feel confident in my abilities.

“A real-life MacGyver,” he murmurs, making me chuckle.

“Not really, just lucky with a few tools is all,” I tell him before I stand up and test the lock, the gate now fixed.

“I have read up about you.”

I’m not surprised. One simple online search yields thousands of results about me, some of them true, while others, not so much.

“I would expect any father to do some research on where their daughter is working,” I tell him, nodding.

“You’re extremely successful. You and your father.”

I nod. “We are. We worked hard for it, though.” I want him to know I’m not just some rich kid living off Daddy's money. I met a few of those in college, and most of them are assholes.

“You have an office here in New York as well?” he asks.

“I have a full office and staff team in the city, so I divide my time between here and Whispers, usually.”

“How is Daisy doing in Whispers?” With that question, I notice he’s looking at me more carefully.

“She’s doing great at the distillery. The spa is amazing; she’s done a really incredible job. Whispers and she seem to go well together.” I wonder where he’s going with this.

“I’m a little familiar with the area. My wife was born into a commune from up that way.”

I raise my eyebrows. I’ve heard that there are communes around, but we never see anyone in Whispers who is from that lifestyle.

“Really? I didn’t know,” I tell him honestly, because Daisy never mentioned it.

“Daisy doesn’t know where it is, and I would like to keep it that way, if you understand my meaning,” he says, his gaze on me now hardened. I don’t know much about communes, but I know they’re an alternative way of living, some more restrictive than others. Cults being the more extreme end of that spectrum. I think about Soren. His visits still feel a little weird to me. My security team didn’t find much about him, though, so I assume he also lives off-grid. He certainly looked like he does.

“Do you know a man named Soren?” I ask him, my interest now piqued.

“A crystal supplier of Rainbow’s. I don’t know him well and tend to leave Rainbow to manage her own business contacts. But I think they know each other from the commune days, so again, he’s probably not someone worth having around much, if you can help it. They all get a bit territorial. Rainbow got out and never went back, something I don’t think was well received. So we keep away. Not wanting to bring up old issues.”

I nod, still not really understanding it all, but pocketing the information away.

“Well, I don’t know the location of any communes, so I certainly won't be taking her near any. Daisy is safe with me,” I assure him, and his eyes narrow.

“From the way you’re speaking, it seems you have feelings for my daughter. Is that right?” he asks, watching me like a hawk. Waiting for me to trip up. But I rarely trip up. Daisy is the only person with the talent to do that.

“I do,” I say confidently, taking in a breath, not prepared for this conversation so early on in meeting him. But he’s obviously worried about his daughter. I look back up to the house, not seeing her, yet my heart chakra feels like it’s pulsating. A month ago, I didn’t even know what a fucking chakra was, and now I feel it in my body. She’s under my skin. My feelings for this girl are building to a level that almost scares me, and I hope I get his approval.

“You will look after her? While she’s in Whispers?”

“I will look after her for as long as she lets me,” I tell him, letting it be known that I’m in it for more than just the timeline of her working arrangement. We haven’t talked about it. Daisy and I are just getting to know each other and enjoying each other, but the weeks are going by fast, and I already know I don’t want it to end. But given how much she misses her parents, maybe Whispers isn’t the place she wants to be, and I would never make her choose. My answer must appease him because he gives me a small smile.

“Well, she tells me you are a Jets fan, so you get my approval,” he says quickly with a clap on my shoulder, grinning before picking up the tools. I smile. I now see where Daisy gets her sassy and sarcastic sense of humor. It’s all him. An accountant. Who would’ve thought.