Ford felt even happier than when they initially got the news they could continue as planned. Having the support of at least some in the town let him know they were doing the right thing for Amber Falls.
“Thank you!” Ford took the offered hand as well.
They all stood up, and the man walked them to the front door.
“Thanks again.” Sawyer said as they made their way down from the veranda.
“Anytime. Have a great day!” The man gave them another brief wave from the door as they got in the car, then turned around and went back inside.
Now, they just needed to see what was what at the construction site. Thus far, everything was working out quite nicely today.
Gosh they’d needed a win, badly.
22
Sawyer
They arrived at the construction site but had to stop and wait for a truck blocking the entrance labeled ‘Water Removal and Restoration’ that was entering the parking lot.
“Do you think it’s possible Larry didn’t do this?” When Sawyer glanced over at Ford after he heard the question, he saw that Ford was biting his lips.
Sawyer turned to him while they were waiting for the other vehicle to move. “Because there’s no clear evidence pointing to him, right?”
Ford nodded. “But who else could it be?”
Sawyer shrugged. “I know you don’t want to hear this, babe, but with no way of proving Larry is involved, we have to be open to the possibility that there could be other people out there not happy with the resort or are just homophobic asshole. We’ll just have to keep our guard up in the meantime and see what the police come up with after their investigation.”
Ford stared out the window, his body tense. “It just seems to be too much of a coincidence,” Ford muttered. “That’s all I keep thinking.”
Sawyer nodded in agreement. It had to be Larry. Who else would know how to cause that much damage to the pipes and dump the sand in there? They would have to know how to operate some of the heavy machinery on site.
When the truck finished driving through the gate, he pulled in, too, and parked.
“Let’s go,” Sawyer said.
He opened up the car door, and Ford followed after him, then they headed to where Drake was standing further down the lot, speaking with a man. When he got closer, he read the logo on his shirt and saw that he was from the restoration company.
Drake looked up and nodded as they approached. “I’d like you to meet Ford and Sawyer. These two are in charge of getting the ski resort up and running.”
The man turned to them. “Nice to meet you both. My name is Grant.” He put his hand out for a handshake. “I was just telling your contractor here that we’re looking at full restoration to take approximately two weeks. That will dry everything and make sure there’s no risk of mold growth in the future. My crew can get started today if that will work for you.”
He turned to Ford, and Ford just shrugged. “Don’t think we really have any other options here.”
Sawyer agreed. “Okay. Please start right away.” He could worry about the delay, but quite honestly, Sawyer was preoccupied, and two weeks would fly by. His whole life had changed in less time than that.
The man nodded, turned, and left them, calling out to his crew and giving directions for them to proceed with the undertaking.
When they were alone again, Drake spoke up. “I discovered something else that you should see.” While talking, he led them to where all the piping that had been replaced was being held for disposal.
Drake bent down to pick one up and then straightened again. “The contractor you used previously recycled some piping from that was here. Most likely it had run in and around the foundation that had been found, so I’m guessing he knew about it, but never reported it and covered it up. These pipes are old.”
If it came from the previous building, over fifty years, Sawyer thought.
Drake went on. “The pipes would have never passed code.” Drake looked thoughtful. “Honestly, whoever did this did us a favor because if the pipes burst at a later date when the resort was up and running...” Drake’s voice trailed off.
He didn’t need to finish the sentence. It would have been a disaster.
“That’s… wow…” Ford voiced his thoughts. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah,” he went on. “Between the freezing and thawing of the ground and the new water systems installed, it wouldn’t have held up to the pressure.”
Ford looked at him. “I think this is one of those times that irony works. Someone was trying to sabotage us, and”—Ford’s face scrunched up thoughtfully—“they actually helped us?”
Sawyer chuckled. “I guess they did.”
“But we’re back on track, so you don’t need to worry,” Drake chimed in. “We’ll get this fixed up in no time. I already have men getting new piping put in. We can work around the water restoration, so the delays should be minimal.”
“Thank you, Drake.” Sawyer smiled at the other man. “We’re glad you’re in charge, and we’re confident everything is getting handled the right way.”
“Honestly, I have to apologize. I feel like my men and I should have caught the piping issue, but we missed it.” Sawyer could tell Drake was pissed off at himself for that.
“It happens and no one is upset with you.” Ford was the one to speak up after picking at one of the pipes with his fingernail.
Sawyer looked at the spot that the paint had flecked from. “These pipes look like they’ve been painted to look newer. I would never have noticed it and I definitely see how it could have been missed, especially if others had been replaced.”
“Well, rest assured, we have double-checked everything.” The look on Drake’s face said they may have triple-checked actually.
“I’m sure you have.” Ford shot Drake a reassuring smile, but Sawyer could tell the contractor was going to be even more vigilant moving forward.
Drake’s phone started to ring, and he fished it out of his pocket and glanced down at it before silencing the call.
“Holler if you need anything. I need to return this call and then get back to work.” Drake smiled, but looked distracted and took off.
Ford turned to Sawyer. “How are you feeling about everything now?”
Sawyer tilted his head to the side. “Pretty good. But I’m convinced more than ever that Larry is the one wreaking havoc. I’m sure he knows that delays equal losses, or maybe he foolishly hoped we would hire him back.” Sawyer released a sigh. “But I think we should be good on time.”
Ford nodded. “I think you’re right.” Ford leaned in, placing his head on Sawyer’s chest.
Sawyer rubbed up and down Ford’s back.
“We’ll be fine,” Ford whispered.
Sawyer’s heart clenched. He hated that Ford was so stressed.
“We will.” Sawyer kept stroking Ford’s back. “We’re a team here and can handle anything that’s thrown at us.”
When they parted, Sawyer smiled and brushed his lips against Ford’s.
“Let’s get out of here.” Sawyer brushed Ford’s cheekbone. “How about I take you to lunch? It’s been a busy start to the day already. We’ll eat and then come back here to get some work done”
“It’s a date.” Ford smiled up at him.
Sawyer took Ford’s hand in his, and they left the construction site and headed back to the car. Before they reached it, Sawyer’s phone started ringing, and he grabbed it out of his pocket. “Hello?”
“Hello, Mr. Lancaster?”
“Speaking,” Sawyer said.
“We just wanted to let you know your car is ready for pick up. We are here until five if you would like to come by and get it.”
“Oh, that’s fantastic. I’ll be over to pick it up in a bit. Thank you.” Sawyer hung up the phone. “Change of plans. My car is done. Let’s go get it, take it home, then go back out for lunch.”
They hopped in the car and left the construction site, more convinced that thi
ngs could only look up from there.
Sawyer looked down at his menu. He could feel Ford’s eyes on him, and he looked up, brow raised, even as his lips twitched. “You’re staring,” Sawyer teased.
Ford snickered and shrugged. “I’m happy. It feels good to have things kind of back to normal. I know it doesn’t make sense, but picking up your car felt like a step in the right direction. The ski resort’s back on track, Cynthia is...”—Ford lips twisted—“well, you know.”
Sawyer nodded, “Hopefully back in New York where she belongs.” He looked closer at Ford and then asked, “How are you, babe? I know how hard things have been, and it’s a lot of stress for anyone to be asked to handle.”
“I know I’ve been quite a bear with a sore foot to be around, but it’s just it felt like one thing after the other was going wrong, and we couldn’t control it. It probably sounds stupid but the meeting at the historical society, you getting your car back,” Ford sighed, “It made me feel like a huge weight has been lifted, and we are going to be okay.” His lips spread into a grin. “I guess something just needed to go right,” His boyfriend smiled, “Plus I’m here with the man I love… about to have lunch.” He reached across the table, and Sawyer took his hand.
“We haven’t had a moment, have we?” he asked.
Ford shook his head. “Not really, but it’s okay. We are just starting to build an amazing life together, me, you, and the three amazing kids that we’ve been blessed with.” Ford held his gaze. “I know that we have many more moments, a lifetime of them hopefully. We’ll catch up.”
Sawyer’s heart jumped. He’d never met anyone with a bigger heart. Falling for Ford was the best decision he ever made… not that he’d consciously done it. Somehow, Ford had slipped under his defenses. But Sawyer wouldn’t have it any other way. He couldn’t imagine his life, especially the past few months, without Ford. Ford was his future, and wherever he was, that was his home.
Sawyer traced his fingers over Ford’s.
“I know you’re worried about everything that’s happened.” Ford seemed to be capable of reading him even better than before, and the tables were being turned since it seemed he was attempting to comfort Sawyer. “I have been, too, way more than anyone else. But we have to do just as you said. Let it go and not worry because everything will be alright. This is just the start of our journey, babe, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Sawyer’s brow shot up.
Ford chuckled. “Okay. Okay, maybe it’s not exactly how we thought it would go, but I have you, a love that I never thought possible.”
Sawyer’s stomach felt like a host of butterflies had taken up residence while going over the large drop on a rollercoaster.
“Everything that we are going through will take care of itself, babe, and...”
“We’ll have forever to bask,” Sawyer finished for Ford.
“Yeah, we can do all the basking.” Ford grinned. “Now I just have to remember to take my own advice the next time there is a problem and focus on the fact that we are together, united in whatever comes our way.”
Sawyer grinned at that, gosh he loved seeing a smile on Ford’s face. It was better than the creased forehead and worry lines that had become the recent norm. And he hated that it had been that way. It was like someone had reached into his chest and was using his heart as a stress ball. Sawyer just wanted to fix everything. He used his thumb to tease the inside of Ford’s wrist. “How about when things quiet down, me, you, a weekend away. No kids.”
“You know I don’t mind if the kids come along,” Ford started.
“I don’t doubt that, love, but I’m selfish. I want you all to myself, just the two of us. I think we could use some time alone, maybe a hot tub, naked... a lot of naked time.”
Ford’s pulse raced under his thumb, his eyes darkened, and Ford’s head bobbed up and down, a grin appearing on his face.
“I think I can fit you into my schedule.” Ford’s eyes danced.
“Oooh, I know how we fit.” Sawyer’s cock stirred just thinking how well he and Ford fit. Sawyer realized with everything that had happened, they hadn’t done more than get each other off quickly or not at all before falling into bed.
A smile tugged at Ford’s lips and he licked his lips.
The more Sawyer thought about it, the more he decided they needed time alone. “And we know your parents would absolutely love to have the kids.” Sawyer shook his head, a smile on his face. “They’re always ready to spoil them rotten.”
“That they are,” Ford replied.
Sawyer grinned. “So, it’s a future date.”
Sawyer looked forward to having Ford all to himself where he could show him how much he loved him, leave him thoroughly sated and breathless throughout the weekend. He was looking forward to it.
“Whatever you’re thinking, my answer is yes.” Ford got up and leaned forward, brushing their lips together. “Yes.” When he returned to his seat, he asked, “Have you decided what you want yet?”
Sawyer shifted in his seat and chuckled, shaking his head. “Nope. Someone was distracting me from the menu.”
“Got a problem there, babe?” Ford looked at him above the menu, eyes dancing.
“Everything’s just peachy, my love.” Sawyer counted back from ten willing his cock to behave.
Yeah, he definitely needed time alone with Ford.
A waitress walked up and poured cold water on the mounting tension between them. She smiled down at Ford. “Hey, Ford. Whatcha having?”
“Hey, Grace. How are you doing?” Ford smiled up at the young brunette. “How’s nursing school going?”
She heaved a sigh. “Great, but so much work, oh my gosh.” Her face lit up. “But I love it. I just hope I can get a job locally, you know? I would hate to have to move away.”
“I’m sure you’ll make it happen. You always did have a one-track mind and could tackle any problem that came up.”
Sawyer listened to the conversation and smiled. That was Ford. He remembered everything people told him, and he genuinely cared.
Gracie turned around, and he followed her gaze. Apparently she was being called from the kitchen.
She turned back and faced them. “So, what would you guys like?”
“I’ll have a burger, please, with sweet potato fries,” Ford said, then asked, “Is Ginger around?” Ginger was the owner of the dinner and she was the adopted mother of anyone younger than her. Yeah apparently he’d started remembering everything he was told to. That was life in Amber Falls.
Gracie shook her head. “Not today.”
Sawyer continued to look down at his menu before finally settling on a BLT with a side of fries. He rattled off his order and handed the menus to the waitress.
“Thank you, Gracie,” Ford said as Grace took the menus and left their table.
“Now…where were we?” Ford asked once again, reaching out and touching Sawyer’s hand. Sawyer grinned and took Ford’s hands. It was just good to take a moment and be them, on a date… just them, in love. They kind of passed go without collecting two hundred.
“How are you doing with everything?” Ford had that concerned look again. “I feel like you’ve not taken a moment, your dad… losing him.”
Sawyer leaned back. “Nope, we are not going there, not even a little.”
Ford leaned forward and took his hand again. “You know I’m not going to rush you, but, babe, you can’t avoid it forever. You know that, right?”
“Are we going back to the office after this, or just heading back to the house?” Sawyer asked, his changing of the subject none-too-subtle.
“Got it, babe.” Ford grinned. “I have to look over the budget and do the portfolio for the month. I also need to pick out a designer from the list your people in New York forwarded since I’m not having any luck getting in touch with your first choice. We need to find a head chef...” Ford let out a noise after he trailed off.
“The list goes on,” Sawyer chimed in. “Have
I told you how amazing you are?”
“Not today.” Ford smirked.
“Well, sweetheart, you’re amazing.” Sawyer made sure Ford saw how much he meant that. “And I love you so much.”
“I love you too.” Ford’s eyes sparkled. “What do you have going on today?”
Sawyer dragged a hand through his hair. “I have a conference call with Mark. We need to settle on a VP to take over a lot of my former duties, especially the traveling part.”
“How is he doing?”
“Well, with everything going on, we haven’t talked much, at least not about anything not having to do with work.” Sawyer sighed. “I’m going to fill him in on the vandalism at the ski resort site and go through a lot of other things that have been happening. There’s a list.” Sawyer groaned. “A long list.”
“I’m sure everything will go well, love.” Ford patted his hand. “Let me know if you need backup?”
“You know you’re my favorite backup.” Sawyer snickered. “How about if he threatens to sell my shares, I call you in for help.” He laughed, and Ford chuckled.
“Deal,” Ford said.
Their food came, and they dug in while talking about the kids and life in general. Sawyer knew he could only avoid dealing with his dad’s stuff for so long. But he wasn’t ready.
23
Ford
Ford and Sawyer peeked their heads into Gavin’s room. “All set to be tucked in?” Ford asked.
Gavin snickered. “I am a little too old for that, but if you insist.” Ford could see the laughter in his eyes, and he knew that Gavin enjoyed it, even if he didn’t want to admit it.
“You’re never too old,” Sawyer nudged him, “I like to be tucked in.”
They entered his room together, and Gavin tossed his covers back, climbing underneath his bedding. Both Ford and Sawyer settled him underneath the covers and Gavin released a yawn.
“So are we doing anything next week?” Gavin asked.
Ford frowned. “Doing anything? Like what?” He patted Gavin’s thigh. “Probably work and school… thus is our lives,” he let out an exaggerated sigh.
Forever With His Boss Page 19
