Page 8 of Stripped Down at the Fair (Sweetheart County Fair #2)

DUSTIN

“ I ’ve got a job for you.”

Crap. I’d been hoping to get out of here and have dinner with my girlfriend. Yes, I was already calling Cate my girlfriend after only two nights together.

But my boss’s voice as I packed up my tools said no such luck. I couldn’t imagine what else he’d need me to do, though. Most everything had been packed up and driven off on big trucks. I was helping two of the drivers load the last of the ticket booth before Sam approached.

“Yes, sir,” I said, straightening and turning to look at my boss.

“We won the bid to build some cabins in a town called Wildwood Valley, about six hours away. I know it’s a distance, but it’s a two-month job, and I’ll double your wage. Don’t worry, I’ll put you up. Got a deal with the developer for you and the guys to stay in the only inn in town.”

My smile faltered—probably something he’d notice because it was so unlike me. Before meeting Cate, I would’ve jumped at the opportunity to live somewhere else for a couple of months. With the pay being double, it would’ve been a no-brainer. What had changed?

The answer to that was simple. Cate had me wanting to put down roots.

“If you don’t mind, I’d rather just stay here,” I said.

The surprise immediately registered on my boss’s face. “I’m afraid that’s not an option. I need you to lead up the team. You’re my best man. Don’t let me down.”

Fuck. I’d just met Cate. I couldn’t leave her for two months. Sure, she could stay in my cabin here, but six hours was a long drive for weekend visits.

Still, I needed this job. I’d learned from an early age not to let down the people depending on me, and besides, we’d need my paycheck. Even after Cate was making a decent living on her own, I’d always be there for her. Just like I’d been there for my mom when she needed me.

“I’m your man,” I said, forcing a smile that showed enthusiasm I didn’t have.

Although he still didn’t smile, there was a slight flicker in his eyes and a twitch at each corner of his mouth. “I knew I could count on you, Dustin.”

He gestured to indicate less chaotic surroundings. While we’d been standing there, the last truck had started up, carrying the last of the equipment off. I supposed that was a relief, at least.

“Finish up here and meet me at the office tomorrow at nine,” Sam said. “We’ll come up with a plan. Be packed and ready to leave after our meeting.”

Without waiting for a response from me, he turned and headed toward the employee parking lot.

I couldn’t go home just yet. Cate was waiting for me. We’d planned to ride home together, so she was killing time at her easel until I came and got her.

Home. I’d already started to think of it that way. I’d even been daydreaming about building a bigger place once we were ready. Maybe closer to town to make it easier to get our kids back and forth to school once they were old enough.

I took a deep breath and walked slowly in Cate’s direction. I could see her, off in the distance, sitting alone in front of her easel. But even walking slowly, I made it to her all too soon. It wasn’t that big a fairground.

She was so absorbed in whatever she was drawing, she didn’t look up at first. I stood there, watching her. I’d give up everything I had for her, including my job, but we needed money to live. I’d never put the burden on her to support us. Not even for a little while.

I cleared my throat. When she looked up, her expression brightened immediately. It broke my heart that I had to give her bad news. When her smile fell slightly, I realized I couldn’t delay any longer.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

Shit. How was I going to tell her this? Would she mind? Would it be a deal-breaker? God, please don’t let it be a deal-breaker.

“I have to go out of town,” I said. “Starting tomorrow. For two months.”

Her smile completely vanished. She looked down at her easel for a long moment, then set her pencil in the attached holder. Finally, when she looked up at me, I saw something different on her face. Determination. Strength. She was steeling herself to be dumped.

That wasn’t what was happening here at all.

“It pays double my normal hourly wage,” I said. “I’ll understand if you don’t want to wait for me, but I can’t risk my job. And double pay for two months would get us way ahead as we start our life together.”

Her eyebrows rose and a hint of a smile returned. Just a hint, but I grabbed onto it.

“So, you want me to wait for you?” she asked.

She was full-on smiling now, which I assumed was a good thing. I’d ask if she wanted to wait for me, but that was clear.

“I want you to wait for me,” I said. “Here in Sweetheart Bend. You can stay in my cabin.”

“Like house-sitting?”

I shook my head. “Like you live there. It’s your home too. When I come back, we’ll get married. If that’s what you want.”

I waited to make sure, but her smile grew even bigger. She was full-on beaming.

“You want to marry me?” she asked.

“Are you kidding? I’d marry you right this second, but I have to head out of town tomorrow. When we do get married, I want to spend every night with you in our bed.”

She stood, pushing her chair back, and I started around the easel to help her fold it up. But she stepped in front of me.

“You’ll spoil the surprise,” she said.

“Surprise?”

I looked around. There was nothing but her chair and easel. Just land with no sign of the fair that had once stood around her. The crew had packed up everything and left, and pretty soon, we’d be gone too, leaving it abandoned until the next big event.

“Close your eyes,” she said.

That command had my mind automatically sliding into the gutter. I knew what I wanted the surprise to be, but that kind of surprise would have to wait until a little later, when we weren’t standing in the middle of a big, empty field.

I felt her move. Somehow, I knew she was standing next to her easel. A light swishing noise told me she was lifting the pad from it.

“Okay, open them,” she said.

My eyes popped open. In front of me was a large drawing. Not a caricature, but a regular drawing of the two of us. In it, we were standing side by side, arms around each other, gazing into each other’s eyes. The image showed exactly how I felt about her in ways I couldn’t put into words.

“That’s us.” I lifted my gaze from the drawing to her face. “We’re going to hang it somewhere in the house.”

She looked down at it. “You think so? I don’t know if it’s gallery-worthy, but I’ve been working on it between customers the past couple of days.”

“So you started working on this before we…”

She nodded. “I guess I’ve been fantasizing about you since the first day I saw you. As it turned out, the reality was better than…”

She didn’t finish the sentence. She didn’t have to. The drawing said it all.

“Let’s go get some dinner and have the best night of our lives.”

As we walked to the car, though, I knew it would only be the first of many. Even distance couldn’t separate us.

But no way could I make it two months without seeing her. I’d find a way to sneak in a weekend here and there. Even if I had to drive an entire day just to see her for one day, it would be worth it.