Page 62 of Love's Harvest
“Oh, Poppy!That’s wonderful,” said Sarah, giving her a big hug.It sounded as if they, too, were building a love to harvest.It was a concept she loved.
Sarah left the store, raced home to put her things away, and returned to the hardware store, excited for her holiday retreat.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
On the morning that she was to leave for Aaron’s cabin, Sarah packed the girl’s clothes and special toys in matching overnight bags and waited for her mother to pick them up.When her parents left for Florida, it would be a sad day for her and her girls.But it was only right that they had time to relax and play in the sun after years of hard work at the store.
Still, when her mother entered the house to get the girls, Sarah felt a pang of worry about how she’d handle everything.She kissed Mia and Emily, gave her mother a hug of appreciation, and held onto Luke’s collar as they left the house.Luke didn’t know it, but he was about to have a fantastic time roaming in woods with two playmates.
Alone in the house, Sarah quickly straightened it and then took her time packing.It would be for only three nights, but she wanted to be sure to pack correctly.She hadn’t been to Aaron’s cabin, the one he’d bought in high school with money he’d earned working with Brad, and he’d made a lot of changes since then.She heard it was beautiful.
Finally, she loaded her suitcase, grocery bags, and Luke into her car and took off.She’d had a few dismal New Year’s Eve celebrations these last few years and was now ready for something different with a man she was in love with, not that she’d told him with those three special words.
Sarah drove around the near end of the lake and up the side of it across from the Lilac Lake Inn.David Graham’s parents had a house right on the lake.The Graham nursery acreage climbed the hill next to Aaron’s land.
She turned into the gravel driveway of Aaron’s house and made her way up to where a lovely log cabin style home sat.Sarah stared at it with disbelief.In high school, Aaron’s cabin had been tiny and not very sophisticated.This home was gorgeous with large windows overlooking a sweeping front porch and the woods beyond it.
As she got out of the car, she turned and could see a streak of blue in the distance and realized it was the lake.Such a stunning view.
Aaron came out the front door of the cabin and walked down to her car, followed by his two black Labs.“Welcome to the cabin!”
He put his arms around her and lowered his lips to hers in a welcoming kiss that sent tingles through her body.
When he pulled away, he smiled at her.“Better let Luke out of the car.”
“Oh, yes,” said Sarah suddenly aware of the noises the dogs were making.She opened the car door and watched Luke jump out.Tail wagging, he greeted the other dogs before sprinting away.
“Let him go.He’ll be safe in the woods,” said Aaron.“Let me help you carry your things inside.There’s a little bit of snow on the ground, but more is coming.”
Sarah let Aaron carry the bulk of her heavy things while she followed with bags of groceries and special treats.
Aaron set down the suitcases inside the door.“I have a guest room upstairs or you can sleep with me.”He gave her a sexy look and waited for her answer.
“I want to be with you,” Sarah said, feeling her cheeks go hot.
“Good,” said Aaron.“That’s what I want, too.I’ll carry the suitcases in there.Why don’t we put the food in the kitchen and then follow me.”
Aaron took a couple of the food bags from her and led her through a living room with a huge river stone fireplace to a modern kitchen with warm cherry cabinets and rich green counter tops.She set the bags on a center island and gazed around.
“This is gorgeous.And, you have every convenience I can think of,” she said, noting the warming oven, the indoor grill, and the two dishwashers.
“I decided if I was going to make this cabin larger, I would protect the investment by making it a dream home for any interested buyer and enjoy it for myself.”
“Okay, you’d better show me more.I’m in love with it already,” Sarah said.
“Follow me to the master suite,” he said.They walked through a dining area of the open living space and into a hallway that led past a half bath, a laundry and into a large room that contained a massive king-size bed, facing a television screen above a built in fireplace.On either side of the fireplace French doors led to an outside patio that housed a sizeable spa.
She followed Aaron past a dressing room with a huge walk-in closet into a bathroom with two separate sinks, a soaking spa tub and a shower for two.
“Wow!You’ve thought of everything.Who wouldn’t love all of this?”
A look of pride crossed Aaron’s face.“We sometimes give prospective customers a tour of the place to show them what we can do at The Meadows or any place they choose.As Dani would point out, it’s the finishing details that help make it special.”
“Every bit of it is beautiful,” said Sarah.“I love my little cabin, but this is way beyond that.”
A look of pride crossed Aaron’s face.“Upstairs, there are three bedrooms and two baths.Again, it’s a house suitable for many people.That was the whole idea.”He grinned.“Let’s see what you treats you brought.”
Sarah laughed.Aaron was well-built and not the least bit fat, and he loved to eat.
