Page 64 of Love's Harvest
“I sell it to Beth Beckman for her shop at Beckman Lumber but I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if I sold you a small amount too.I don’t make enough syrup to make a big business out of it.”
“I’ll ask Beth about it,” said Sarah.“I don’t want any hard feelings.”
Aaron checked his watch.“Are you hungry?I’m grilling steaks for dinner, but I could use a bite to eat for a late lunch.”
“Sounds good to me,” said Sarah.Her cheeks were stinging a bit from the cold breeze that had picked up since they’d been gone.
It took a while to make it back to the house, but Sarah didn’t mind being next to Aaron, listening to him talk about plans for expanding the residential development he and Brad Collister owned.
“We want to keep the neighborhood like it is.It’s a high-end market, but that allows us to build a product that is in sync with the natural habitat around each house.People who’ve already bought there want to keep the same atmosphere.”
“Absolutely.You don’t want to ruin it by getting greedy about money,” said Sarah.
“Yes, that’s it,” said Aaron with a hint of admiration in his voice.
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Inside the house, they hung up their outerwear and took off their boots.Then while Sarah made sandwiches, Aaron turned on the gas fireplace, which Aaron explained was fueled by the propane gas tank sunk into the ground.
“What about the stack of wood I saw by the barn?’asked Sarah.
“That’s chopped and ready for the sugar shack,” he said walking into the kitchen.
Sarah handed him a plate.“Here’s your sandwich.Ham and Swiss on Rye.Right?”
He grinned.“You got it.”
They sat on bar stools at the kitchen island eating when the gray skies that had followed them into the woods opened up, sending snowflakes hurrying to the ground.
“Looks like it’s going to hit pretty hard.The forecast said 5 to 6 inches, but I sometimes get more up here,” said Aaron.
“It makes me feel cozy inside,” said Sarah putting their dishes in the farmer’s sink.
Aaron came over to her and wrapped his arms around her.“I can make you very cozy by the fire, and no one will interrupt us.”
She looked up at him and saw the glimmer in his eyes.
A bolt of longing went through her.
“Yes,” said Sarah.“I’d like that.”
As they walked to the fireplace, Sarah saw that Aaron had already placed a soft Indian design blanket on top of the large blue Oriental rug in front of the fire.
A large, long brown leather sofa sat farther back on the rug giving them space to maneuver.
They sat on the blanket and then lay down on it, face to face.
Staring into Aaron’s dark eyes, Sarah saw love there.Gentleness and shyness too.She knew no matter what happened between them she’d remember this moment because she could sense its importance.
She’d known from the way Aaron had invited her to his cabin that it meant more than a casual visit.And she wanted it to be that way.To have a few days with him alone to see if what she’d always imagined about living with him was true.
They’d grown apart and now were together again.This time with him was deeper because of their earlier separation and what each had gone through.
Aaron caressed her hair and tucked a strand of it behind her ear.“All the better to see you,” he murmured.“I thought you were hot in high school, but you’re beautiful now.Motherhood has made it so.”
“You’ve seen me, Aaron.I show those scars,” she began …
Aaron stopped her with a kiss.
