show them all Appleby, Iowa.
“Well, we’re not meeting her in Peoria,” he said.
“That’s where Kennedy said she stopped,” Chase said.
“But she won’t still be there twelve hours from now.”
“Kennedy told her to stay put.”
“You’re assuming she’ll listen to someone tell her to do something she doesn’t want to do.”
“Another headstrong woman who does whatever she wants.” Chase sighed. “No wonder she fits in down here.”
20
Paige, of course, couldn’t sleep.
She typed out four messages to Mitch.
And deleted them all.
She dialed his number.
But didn’t let it ring.
She wasn’t sure what to say or what to do. She wanted to yell at him for not telling her about the grand opening. She wanted to cry, thinking that he didn’t think she’d want to know about that.
Most of all, she just wanted to be there. She wanted to turn over in the hammock, take his face in her hands, and tell him that anything that was important to him was important to her. Anything that acknowledged how wonderful he was and how talented and hard-working and dedicated he was was something she wanted to be a part of.
She didn’t need to be there for every project he completed or even every “good job, Mitch” he got. But this… this was a new chapter for the family business. This was something they’d entrusted to him, and he’d delivered on. Something he’d gone above and beyond on, and everyone was really seeing that. Mitch was often in the background. She knew he liked it that way. He didn’t need the things he did called out and praised all of the time. But sometimes, he deserved that.
She was so happy his family was seeing how much he truly did for them and how much he was contributing to this new venture. She was so thrilled he was getting the recognition he deserved for his hard work.
And she absolutely wanted to be there to help heap on that praise.
She suspected he was also pleased. He was humble, for sure, but she knew it meant a lot to him to do things for his family and to give them things. This had to be so rewarding for him. To truly have taken this kernel of an idea they’d had and turn it into something actual and amazing.
She just wanted to hug the stuffing out of him. And then give him a really hot congratulatory blow job.
That was definitely something she could do for him that no one else in the family could to thank him for a job well done.
She needed to be with him, and she was pissed and frustrated that there were twelve hours and six inches of snow in her way.
Finally, she called her mom.
“Hi, honey.”
“Hi, Mom. Is it too late?” It was almost ten o’clock at night. She’d left Autre around six that morning. Between the slow down because of the storm, getting stuck, and then getting settled in the B&B, it had taken her longer than the twelve hours the online map showed between Peoria and Autre.
“Of course not. Josie told me where you are and everything.”
Paige pressed her lips together. Why had she called her mom? What was Dee going to say? She wasn’t going to care about a bunch of otters. Or that Mitch had done this really amazing thing. She might even be annoyed that Paige was choosing to go back to Autre instead of to Piper and Ollie’s wedding.
Because Dee didn’t really know Mitch. She didn’t understand how this could be a big deal for him. Or for Paige.
And that was Paige’s fault. She’d kept her family from getting to know him when he’d been in Appleby to visit, because she hadn’t wanted them to think anything serious was going on.
Now she wished they all knew him. She wanted her family to understand why the big moments in Mitch’s life were important to her too.
She was such an idiot.
“Yeah, I’m fine, and I should be able to get home tomorrow, but…” She blew out a breath.
“But? What’s wrong?” Dee asked immediately.
“I want to go back to Louisiana.”
Dee was quiet for a moment. “Oh.”
Paige couldn’t tell if the “oh” was twinged with simple surprise, or anger, or disappointment.
“Is everything all right there? Is everyone all right?” Dee asked.
Paige took a breath. “Yes. They’re all good. In fact, they’re opening up the new otter exhibit. It’s a new part of their business.” God, she hadn’t even really told her mom about the tour company or the otters or the petting zoo. She