Page 21 of Hensley Manor
“Where to next?” I asked, after we left a craft store. Ian had purchased items for everyone to make their own ornament to go on the Christmas Eve tree, which I thought was a nice touch.
I still dreaded Christmas, but I could appreciate the hard work Ian was putting into making sure everyone had a great one.
“I need to schedule the catering for the party,” he answered, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk and looking around. I liked the way his forehead scrunched in the center as he thought. “My chefs can make enough to feed the guests, but since everyone in town is welcome to attend, we’ll need help. Plus, I’d like for them to enjoy the evening, too.”
I followed him to a restaurant in the center of town. Glancing at the menu, I saw they served a variety of things; ham or turkey sandwiches, grilled chicken salads, soups of all sorts, and a selection of meats. He placed an order for sandwiches and appetizers to be delivered on the day of the party, and then we went back outside.
“Would you like to stop in for coffee?” Ian asked, nodding to the coffeehouse across the street.
“I never turn down coffee.”
Smiling, he looked both ways before crossing the street. Once we were across, he opened the door for me, and we entered the shop. The aroma of coffee beans and dessert wafted to my nose, and I breathed it in. Very few smells excited me more.
Well…that was until I’d met Ian. Two days with him and I knew I’d never smell sandalwood and pine again without associating it with him.
I ordered the darkest blend of coffee in the biggest cup they had before pulling out my wallet to pay. Ian placed his hand over mine, and my heart—that had already been beating faster in his presence—nearly shot out of my chest.
“It’s on me,” he said, flashing a warm smile.
“Thanks.”
He ordered a blond roast and paid for the drinks before leading me over to a table near the window. The view was nice; a snowy hill in the distance, blankets of undisturbed snow, and trees with sunlight peeking through the branches. It looked too beautiful to be real.
Much like the man sitting across from me.
“I appreciate you coming with me today.” Ian placed a hand on the table, our fingers only inches apart. “I usually run errands alone, so it’s been a nice change.”
“No problem at all.” I stared at his fingers, wondering what they’d feel like grazing along my chest. Damn, I just wanted him to touch me. I wanted to touchhim.
The barista called our drink orders, and I jumped up to get them before returning to the table, placing Ian’s in front of him and sitting back down. He thanked me and took a drink, his brow drawn tight again.
What was he thinking?
“Are you an only child?” I asked, tearing open a sugar packet and dumping it into my coffee.
“Yes. It was lonely at times, but I found ways to occupy myself. Then, in the months when people traveled to the manor, I enjoyed socializing with the guests.” He stirred sugar into his coffee before adding a splash of vanilla creamer. “What about you?”
Such a simple question, but one that was damn hard to answer.
“No, I’m not,” I said, after swallowing the sudden lump in my throat. I took a drink so I’d have more time to compose myself before expanding on the answer. “I had a sister.”
Ian’s eyes flashed to mine. No doubt he caught my meaning. “I’m sorry. You don’t have to talk about it.”
I nodded, thankful he wasn’t pressing me on the matter. Five years had passed since the accident, but it still hurt like it was yesterday. Nothing had been the same since that day. It was like my entire world had been turned upside down in a single moment, and I hadn’t figured out how to right myself yet.
“Jolie and Tracy told me what you did for them. That was really nice of you.”
Ian’s blush deepened. “Oh, it was no bother. The room they’re staying in has been closed to guests since I took over the bed and breakfast six years ago. It’s the only room without its own private bathroom, and it doesn’t have a fireplace. It’s also smaller. But I couldn’t turn them away and made sure it was fixed up before they arrived.”
“They said their families cut them off when they got together, and spending Christmas at the manor feels like coming back home.”
I wanted to ask about his own life. When did he find out he liked men? Did he have a supportive family?
He beat me to the punch.
“Some families are like that, yes.” Ian tapped a finger on the table. “My father wasn’t as approving as my mother about my sexuality. He told me if I wasn’t the only heir to the company, he would’ve left it to anyone in the family but me. But he had no siblings and was too proud of a man to tarnish the Hensley reputation by making a public fuss about it.”
“Damn.”
