Page 23 of Griffin
“I don’t think you have to worry. I have a feeling the town will line up out the door.”
I appreciate his positivity.
“I hope so. That would be fun to have a line of people waiting. But I highly doubt the population of Whispers is in that much need of bread.”
His eyes flick to me. “Did you see how fast those cupcakes went? And there were only a few caramels left, too.”
I grin, rolling my lips, loving that he noticed. “I have a feeling you ate the most.”
He remains quiet, which is how I know I’m right.
“You seemed to make some friends today?” He looks over at me from under his brow. Again, it’s brief, a glance, but it lights me up inside.
“The women were all so warm and welcoming. We swapped numbers.” I can’t even tame my smile. I’ve finally made friends. It’s been a long time since I’ve had to, even longer since I tried.
“Good.”
“I mean, you could’ve given me a heads-up that there would be a Hollywood movie star there…” I chuckle.
“Sutton and Charlotte are my neighbors.”
My eyes widen. “Surprisingly down-to-earth too. They talked about bees a lot…”
“Yeah, Sutton has an unhealthy obsession with them.”
“It sure is a specific hobby. Probably okay as long as you’re not allergic.”
“Of which he is…” Griffin sighs and shakes his head, and I frown in confusion but let it be.
“It’s beautiful out here.” I lean my head back on the seat and look out the window in awe of the scenery, trying to get my mind on anything other than the mammoth of a man next to me and how good his hands felt on my body. I try to focus on the rolling green hills, the lines of trees for privacy, the grass so green it makes you want to stop and lie on it and bask in the sun.
“Mm-hmm. It is.”
“You said you were neighbors with Sutton? Where do you stay when you’re here?” I look at him, his eyes firmly on the road, not meeting my gaze. But I feel our connectedness. He’s one hundred percent with me, not thinking of other things, not looking out and around trying to ignore me. He’s totally present.
“My place is down the road, up the back behind the pines. I like my privacy.” He nods, and I take another moment to drink him in. Shirtsleeves rolled to his elbows. Jeans fitting him just right. Thick arms, solid body. I don’t think he works out as such, but being a builder has him lifting and moving around all day. His body is a byproduct of his job.
“If you weren’t building mansions for billionaires, what would you be doing?” I’m interested to hear what a man like Griffin would want to do with his life if he could change it.
He shrugs, thinking about it for a few seconds. “Something quiet. Maybe restoring old cabins. No deadlines. No clients.”
“That sounds… peaceful.” I smile softly. I can see that about him. Wanting peace. Wanting space. After my upbringing, that sounds like it would be good for my soul too.
“What about you? If you weren’t baking?”
I pull in a breath. No one has ever asked about what I like or what I want to do. I’ve always known. I always followed my passion. But no one else around me seemed to care enough to ask.
“I think I was always meant to bake. My grandma instilled it in me from a young age. I can’t imagine my life without some type of baking. I like making something from nothing.”
“I understand that.” I suppose that’s kind of what he does when he builds. He builds homes from basic materials. He houses people, and I feed them.
“Do you get lonely?” I feel like it would be. A big house way up here in the middle of nowhere. Always traveling, never settled. He looks out the window and thinks about my question, which gives me pause. I have a feeling Griffin keeps himself isolated. Not sure why. His friends seem amazing.
“I’m never here for long enough.” He’s right. He isn’t. I know he’s leaving town again tomorrow, having only been here a few days. He’s always busy, always ready for the next destination. I get exhausted thinking about it.
The truck hums beneath us, the road winding through the trees. “You ever think about staying? Here in Whispers more permanently?”
He doesn’t answer right away, but I wait. “Sometimes… But I don’t know if I’d know how.” Shifting his gaze to me, his eyes search mine for a millisecond, causing me to hold my breath. “What about you? Get lonely?”
