Page 25 of The Burbs and the Bees
“Hey, Alyson, do you have any younger sisters?”
“Sorry to disappoint, but no,” I say. “Only child.”
“Why don’t you go take care of the pigs and check on Barack and Freddy?” Jay suggests. “And grab some fresh eggs and put them on Alyson’s counter.”
“Sure thing, big bro.” He tosses a long strand of hay into his mouth and twirls it with his
teeth. “I’ll be around if you need me,” Tyler says, his gaze directed at me.
“She won’t need you,” Jay says, his brow raised like he’s giving his brother some kind of warning, which Tyler seems to ignore. I think I might love their relationship.
“Of course not. Not when she has you.” Tyler fists his hands. “I’ll leave you two to…” His words tail off as he bumps his fists together.
After he walks away, Jay curses under his breath and pinches his eyes shut. “That kid is going to be the death of me.” He laughs. It’s low and deep, and pleasure washes through me. Jeez, what the hell is wrong with me? When was the last time a man’s voice made me tingle?
Oh, never.
“He’s sweet,” I say.
“You’re a farmer now, Alyson. You have to tell me the truth. He’s a smart-ass, admit it.”
“I am telling you the truth.” I remove the nearly full bucket out from underneath Sidney. “What did he mean by bumping his fists together?”
“You don’t want to know,” he says quickly and dumps the milk from the small bucket into the one with the paint strainer, but then realization hits. Holy crap. Tyler is talking about us…having sex.
Don’t think about it. Don’t think about it.
Damn, I thought about it.
A strange, sexually frustrated laugh gurgles in my throat. Cripes, get it together girl. You are not here to indulge in a brief fling. Not that there is anything wrong with that; it’s just not me. But Jay here, well, he makes me want to be that girl.
“You’re right; he is a smart-ass,” I say.
“Every time he opens his mouth, manure spills out. I just need to keep him on the straight and narrow and get him through his senior year unscathed. He’s giving me a run for my money, though.” He shakes his head, but there is a deep sadness about him. “I don’t know how my father ever put up with me.”
“I’m sure you weren’t that bad. How could you be? Look at you now. You’re a good big brother.” I’ve never really had to be responsible for anyone but myself, and I admire the way Jay cares for his family. It can’t be easy on him. Does he also have a wife to take care of? Or maybe he’s still single. He’s not wearing a ring, but that doesn’t really mean anything.
“Just so you know, I never said anything to him about…” He mimics Tyler and bumps his fist together. “He likes to torture me.”
“Oh, yeah, no. You don’t strike me as the kind of guy to say something like that.” I bump my fists together, too. “You’re probably already married or engaged or taken or something.”
Subtle, Alyson, real subtle.
“I’m not any of those things with anyone and plan to keep it that way,” he says firmly. His words are a bit slow, like he’s trying to get a point across. Okay, I get it. I was wrong. It wasn’t attraction at first sight on his part, and he’s not interested in me, which is good. But not to be interested in anyone like that… This guy must have been hurt.
“Oh, I didn’t mean anything by that,” I say. “I’m not interested in… You know.” I bump my fists again and squirm a little under his scrutiny.
“Good to know.”
“Not interested at all…” I begin and try not to stare at his crotch, which is pretty much in my face. If I stuck my tongue… “…in marriage or commitment,” I add. “Nope, not for me.”
“Right. Same.”
“I just want to get this cow milked.” I pat Sidney’s side, and she moos. That’s right, Sidney, go ahead and agree with me. I am not here to sow wild oats with my neighbor or however that saying goes. Actually, I think that old adage might just apply to guys. Nevertheless, not interested at all.
Farmers are honest folk.
I glance down, pretty sure if I were wearing pants, they’d be on fire.
