Page 33 of Chasing the Sun

“And it’s too warm for a hoodie!” I shouted at his back, but I doubt he heard me. Levi was already bounding across the lawn toward Elodie’s place.

I watched through the window as she stepped out onto the front porch to greet Levi. That soft, easy smile. The kind of smile that could make a person feel like they belonged somewhere—like they were wanted. Her smile was bright and wide for my son, and an aching spot ballooned in my chest. I wondered what it took to earn a smile like that.

Not that I wanted one, or that it would ever be directed at me.

I continued to watch as she said something to Wes, whowas working alongside a few of his men. He got one of her smiles too.

Oh, for fuck’s sake.I scrubbed a hand down my face.I am a pouty little bitch this morning.

Still, as Levi walked beside Elodie and disappeared behind a rolling hill on the farm, I couldn’t stop the nagging feeling in my gut.

One little recon mission.Just enough to confirm what I already knew—she was going to fail spectacularly.

I picked up the phone and rang the reception desk.

“Hello, Drifted Spirit Inn. This is Helen.”

“It’s me. I need to pop next door for a minute. Breakfast is ready and warming. I set aside two blueberry crumb muffins for you. Be back in ten.”

Helen’s chuckle floated across the telephone line. “You really are the best boss. Take your time.”

I grumbled and hung up.

Brushing the last remnants of powdered sugar from my hands, I removed my apron and hung it on a hook.

If I still had a snowball’s chance in hell of making things right with Stan—of proving his best option was to sell the farm to me—I needed to know what Ellie was really up to. It would also make it that much easier to swoop in and rescue it when she inevitably fucked it all up.

It was something that had been beaten into me in the Army. The ends always justified the means. No room for excuses.

If I wanted to take down the enemy, I needed to know her better than I knew myself. Unfortunately for me, the enemy was a five-foot-seven knockout with wild hair and a fiery personality. Knowing the enemy meant stepping straight into the lion’s den. Or, more accurately, straight into the orbit of Elodie Darling and her goddamn sunshine.

I stalked toward her cottage.

It was time to find out exactly what Elodie Darling was up to—and how to make damn sure she didn’t get too comfortable.

With confident strides, I paced across the lawn toward Wes’s truck. His work pants were dusty and well worn from his time working in the construction field. As I swung a leg over the fence that divided the properties, my movements caught Wes’s attention.

“There he is!” Wes called as an easy grin spread across his face. He walked toward me, hand out. “Figured you’d be researching chiffon pastry or some shit.”

I gripped his hand, pushing into him. “Shove it. You know my cakes are amazing.”

He grinned. “I won’t argue with that.”

My eyes swept over the farmland as it bustled with activity from Wes’s crew to laborers clearing the fields. “Sure is busy around here,” I grumbled.

Wes rocked on his heels. “Busy is good. I like to work, and this place needs plenty of it.”

I harrumphed, glancing at the old cottage and noting that Wes and his team were practically rebuilding it from the inside out.

I jutted my chin toward the cottage. “Heard she’s a real battle-ax.”

“Ellie?” Wes frowned at me, shaking his head. “No, she’s great, man. I’ve known her since we were kids.”

Taken aback, I folded my arms. “You don’t think it’s odd? Her coming in here and telling Stan how to run things?”

Wes’s attention on me made it clear he was trying to figure out what my problem was. “I don’t know.”His carefree shoulders lifted. “Maybe it’s good for old man Stafford to have a project.”

I suppressed a snarl. Seemed like Elodie and herideashad put sparkles in everyone’s eyes but mine.