“It yook just wike me!”
“It does.” I laugh.
Laney and I dress the table with plates, napkins and silverware. Ray and Dillon come in with a plate of meat from the grill and place it on the table with the salad we made and a loaf of bread. We all gather around to get seated, and I start to feel the tears again along with a swell in my throat. I never imagined this would happen to me. A simple dinner with a family. I get overwhelmed with emotion, but desperately try to hold it back. Thankfully Ray starts talking business and distracts me from my thoughts.
“Tell me about Mr. Hanson,” Ray asks Dillon as he cuts into his steak.
“So, he called the other day and asked a bunch of questions about the ranch and then asked if he could come for a tour and see if it’s something he’d be interested in.”
“That sounds promising. Good news.”
“I’m hoping he’s interested and then spreads the word. We need new business. With Amy here now helping, I can start focusing on pulling more clients in. I’m hoping this Mr. Hansen is a start.”
“This steak is so good,” I practically moan but try to control myself. It melts in my mouth.
I can see Dillon from the corner of my eye smirking at me. He understands my love for food now. As I’m chewing the steak and tasting every bit of flavor, I feel his hand on my thigh under the table. I glare at him and he gives me a squeeze and then moves his hand down to my knee and rests it there.
“So, Amy. I know Dillon thanks you plenty for all the work you do all around here.” My face immediately turns bright red. “I just wanted to say thank you as well. The guest house looks really nice. All the cleaning up you did.”
“Thanks.”
Dillon sets his fork down and turns towards me. “I was going to talk to you about it later, but since we’re on the topic, I just wanted to tell you that the work you do is the work of a full-time employee. I want to add you to payroll so you’ll have money to……buy your books and shit.” He waves his hand around.
“Sit!” Daisy yells.
“Dillon!” I scold him.
“It’s not Dillon, Caiden says it all the time. She got it from him.” Laney rolls her eyes.
“You don’t have to pay me Dillon.”
“You earn it Amy. You work hard. We’ll just have to figure out how to get your social security card and then work on getting you a driver’s license. I’ll just pay you cash for now.”
I thought about my social security card many times. I want to be someone. I want to have identification.
“Thanks. I like the idea of being able to earn my keep. I won’t feel like I’m taking advantage.”
Dillon squeezes my knee to get my attention. “You’re not taking advantage. I like having you here,” he whispers in my ear.
“I tiyud.” Daisy says rubbing at her eyes.
“I’m going to lay her down upstairs.” Laney takes a sleepy Daisy up the stairs and it dawns on me that they will be sleeping in Laney’s room.
“Nighty night Dais!”
“Well, I think she has the right idea. I think I’m going to retire, leave you young kids to do what you do. See you in the morning.”
“Night Dad.”
“Night Ray.” I smile and give him a small wave. As soon as he disappears up the stairs, I turn to Dillon. “Dillon? Where am I sleeping,” I whisper.
“With me.” He winks.
“Really?” Part of me is very excited. The other part becomes very nervous. I’ve never slept in his bed. It’s been a while since he stayed with me in Laney’s room and we weren’t intimate at that time.
“Are you uncomfortable with that?” He puts his arm around me and studies my face.
“No. I guess not.”
“If you’re uncomfortable, I can sleep on the couch.”
“No. I want to.” I chew on my lip as I peek up at him.
“Relax Amy. You’re overthinking.” He pulls my swollen bottom lip from my teeth and then lightly caresses it with the tip of his finger.
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. Come on, let’s clean up.” He gives me a chaste kiss on the cheek.
We clean up the dishes, turn the lights out, and lock up the house. Dillon grabs my hand and leads me upstairs to his room. His room is the master bedroom of the house. It takes up the entire back side and has an attached master suite. The other two bedrooms are at the front of the house. The stairway comes up the middle with a loft space surrounding it. His room is huge with French doors that open to a balcony overlooking the rolling hills and mountains. You can almost see the lake through the trees.