Well Built
Page 40
He already knew he was in love with Ella. Hell, he even understood that she was the reason he hadn’t committed to any other woman in the past, because Ella gave him everything he needed. Everything he’d ever wanted. Except her love. Her heart was the one thing she’d kept under lock and key.
Then again, he hadn’t said those three little words to her, either, mostly because he already knew how it would all play out. Instead of being overjoyed, she’d panic. Instead of jumping into his arms and declaring her love, as well, she’d push him away. He knew this because the few times he’d mentioned taking their relationship outside the bedroom, it hadn’t gone well. Her doubts and fears had been immediate, and her fallback excuse was always the same: You’re going back to the city, where your life is, and I’m staying here, where I need to be for my father. A long-term, long-distance relationship isn’t fair to either one of us.
It always came back to that, and it was difficult to argue about her father and not come across as an insensitive asshole. But something had to give somewhere, and now that his time and work here in Woodmont were done, Kyle’s biggest fear was that he was going to be the one Ella cut loose. Unless he did something about it. He just wished he knew what would or could change her mind.
With a sigh, he glanced over to the storefront for the bakery, smiling when he saw his mother bustling around inside. It hadn’t taken her long to jump in and get involved and enjoy the prospect of being a business owner. She was a better decorator than she’d given herself credit for, because she’d gone with an awesome magical tea party theme inside the bakery with Alice in Wonderland elements, and everyone who glanced inside oohed and awed and couldn’t wait until the place opened.
The industrial baking equipment he’d ordered would be delivered and installed that week, and every day, huge boxes of supplies and stock arrived, which kept his mother busy from morning until evening as she and the few other women she’d hired worked to put the place together for the grand opening that was happening in two weeks’ time.
His gaze drifted to the main part of the building, which was over ten thousand square feet of venue space on its own, including a fully functional kitchen for catering. His mother had opted to go with a rustic, shabby-chic kind of look for the interior, and Kyle had to admit that he’d been more than a little leery when she’d used the word “shabby” to describe how she wanted to decorate the place—until he realized she meant vintage. Overall, the space had a pretty country vibe to it with just a touch of elegance, which suited the small town more than sophistication or glamour would have.
And then there was his secret project. A labor of love, literally. Over two thousand square feet devoted to Ella to make her dream come true. While his crew worked on the renovations for the venue and bakery, he’d spent his time in the sectioned-off area that was right up against the grocery store. Once the walls had gone up to split it off from the other part of the building, Kyle had spent most of his time creating all the shelves and displays that would allow her to expand to her heart’s desire, and enable her to also help all the artisans in the area who wanted to get their merchandise into the hands of customers. The storefront was made of glass windows for shoppers to look inside, along with a separate door leading into the place. All that was left to do was break out a small section and install a large doorway that would connect the market to the new square footage, if that’s what she wanted to do.
Surprisingly, she’d only asked him once what the space was for, and he’d been vague with his answer, telling her it was all part of the venue. She’d given him a slightly confused look because it seemed so out of place in comparison to the event center, but she hadn’t questioned him again.
The object of his thoughts walked out of Fisher’s Grocery, and much to his shock, she headed to where he was still leaning against the truck’s tailgate. Very rarely did she seek him out on the weekends while he was working, so this was a rare and welcome treat.
She stopped a respectable distance away and gave him a warm smile. “I believe congratulations are in order,” she said, as she glanced up at the CELEBRATIONS sign that had been installed earlier that morning.
Per his mother’s request, the name of the venue and bakery had been engraved into a large piece of distressed wood. The old-style script had been painted a deep rose color, and the edges of the sign were outlined with an antique-looking moulding that tied it all together.
Ella looked back at him and pushed her fingers into the back pockets of her jeans when she should have been right next to his side, with his arm around her shoulder, as they looked at the new building together. That familiar frustration gnawed at him, but he didn’t let it show. Not here and not now.
“The signage looks great, and the venue and bakery look phenomenal,” she said, complimenting him. “You did good, City Boy. I think your mom is going to have a lot of success here.”
“I hope so. Regardless, she’ll be doing what she loves.” Ella’s words meant a lot to him, and he was grateful knowing that while he was working in the city, she’d be right next door if his mother needed help with something in a pinch.
That was one good thing that had come of him renovating the building. While Ella was reluctant to spend too much time around him while he was there, she had no issues talking to his mother or visiting Patricia while she was setting up the bakery or assisting her when there was something she needed a hand with. For his mother and Ella, at least, they’d rekindled that close bond they’d shared when he and Ella had been dating in high school.
“So, does this mean your work here is done?” There was a sadness in her voice, but a reluctant acceptance, too.
“With the venue and bakery, it is.” With her, not so much. Not if he had his way.
But he knew this wasn’t the time or place to have that discussion. Instead, he decided it was time to make Ella’s dream a reality. “I have something for you,” he said, pushing away from the tailgate. “Hang on while I get it.”
She tipped her head curiously, causing the tail of her braid to swish over her shoulder. “Okay.”
He rounded the truck, opened the passenger door, and retrieved the small square box he’d tucked into the glove box before leaving the city on Friday night. Daphne had helped him out with the presentation, insisting that the small white box needed a bow for some flourish, and she’d tied a big, fat pink ribbon around it. Kyle had to admit it looked pretty, and he was glad that Daphne had given it a woman’s touch.
Then again, he hadn’t said those three little words to her, either, mostly because he already knew how it would all play out. Instead of being overjoyed, she’d panic. Instead of jumping into his arms and declaring her love, as well, she’d push him away. He knew this because the few times he’d mentioned taking their relationship outside the bedroom, it hadn’t gone well. Her doubts and fears had been immediate, and her fallback excuse was always the same: You’re going back to the city, where your life is, and I’m staying here, where I need to be for my father. A long-term, long-distance relationship isn’t fair to either one of us.
It always came back to that, and it was difficult to argue about her father and not come across as an insensitive asshole. But something had to give somewhere, and now that his time and work here in Woodmont were done, Kyle’s biggest fear was that he was going to be the one Ella cut loose. Unless he did something about it. He just wished he knew what would or could change her mind.
With a sigh, he glanced over to the storefront for the bakery, smiling when he saw his mother bustling around inside. It hadn’t taken her long to jump in and get involved and enjoy the prospect of being a business owner. She was a better decorator than she’d given herself credit for, because she’d gone with an awesome magical tea party theme inside the bakery with Alice in Wonderland elements, and everyone who glanced inside oohed and awed and couldn’t wait until the place opened.
The industrial baking equipment he’d ordered would be delivered and installed that week, and every day, huge boxes of supplies and stock arrived, which kept his mother busy from morning until evening as she and the few other women she’d hired worked to put the place together for the grand opening that was happening in two weeks’ time.
His gaze drifted to the main part of the building, which was over ten thousand square feet of venue space on its own, including a fully functional kitchen for catering. His mother had opted to go with a rustic, shabby-chic kind of look for the interior, and Kyle had to admit that he’d been more than a little leery when she’d used the word “shabby” to describe how she wanted to decorate the place—until he realized she meant vintage. Overall, the space had a pretty country vibe to it with just a touch of elegance, which suited the small town more than sophistication or glamour would have.
And then there was his secret project. A labor of love, literally. Over two thousand square feet devoted to Ella to make her dream come true. While his crew worked on the renovations for the venue and bakery, he’d spent his time in the sectioned-off area that was right up against the grocery store. Once the walls had gone up to split it off from the other part of the building, Kyle had spent most of his time creating all the shelves and displays that would allow her to expand to her heart’s desire, and enable her to also help all the artisans in the area who wanted to get their merchandise into the hands of customers. The storefront was made of glass windows for shoppers to look inside, along with a separate door leading into the place. All that was left to do was break out a small section and install a large doorway that would connect the market to the new square footage, if that’s what she wanted to do.
Surprisingly, she’d only asked him once what the space was for, and he’d been vague with his answer, telling her it was all part of the venue. She’d given him a slightly confused look because it seemed so out of place in comparison to the event center, but she hadn’t questioned him again.
The object of his thoughts walked out of Fisher’s Grocery, and much to his shock, she headed to where he was still leaning against the truck’s tailgate. Very rarely did she seek him out on the weekends while he was working, so this was a rare and welcome treat.
She stopped a respectable distance away and gave him a warm smile. “I believe congratulations are in order,” she said, as she glanced up at the CELEBRATIONS sign that had been installed earlier that morning.
Per his mother’s request, the name of the venue and bakery had been engraved into a large piece of distressed wood. The old-style script had been painted a deep rose color, and the edges of the sign were outlined with an antique-looking moulding that tied it all together.
Ella looked back at him and pushed her fingers into the back pockets of her jeans when she should have been right next to his side, with his arm around her shoulder, as they looked at the new building together. That familiar frustration gnawed at him, but he didn’t let it show. Not here and not now.
“The signage looks great, and the venue and bakery look phenomenal,” she said, complimenting him. “You did good, City Boy. I think your mom is going to have a lot of success here.”
“I hope so. Regardless, she’ll be doing what she loves.” Ella’s words meant a lot to him, and he was grateful knowing that while he was working in the city, she’d be right next door if his mother needed help with something in a pinch.
That was one good thing that had come of him renovating the building. While Ella was reluctant to spend too much time around him while he was there, she had no issues talking to his mother or visiting Patricia while she was setting up the bakery or assisting her when there was something she needed a hand with. For his mother and Ella, at least, they’d rekindled that close bond they’d shared when he and Ella had been dating in high school.
“So, does this mean your work here is done?” There was a sadness in her voice, but a reluctant acceptance, too.
“With the venue and bakery, it is.” With her, not so much. Not if he had his way.
But he knew this wasn’t the time or place to have that discussion. Instead, he decided it was time to make Ella’s dream a reality. “I have something for you,” he said, pushing away from the tailgate. “Hang on while I get it.”
She tipped her head curiously, causing the tail of her braid to swish over her shoulder. “Okay.”
He rounded the truck, opened the passenger door, and retrieved the small square box he’d tucked into the glove box before leaving the city on Friday night. Daphne had helped him out with the presentation, insisting that the small white box needed a bow for some flourish, and she’d tied a big, fat pink ribbon around it. Kyle had to admit it looked pretty, and he was glad that Daphne had given it a woman’s touch.
