Page 14 of The Burbs and the Bees
“There are customers, and I might as well make myself useful while I’m still here, right?” I purse my lips and steal a glance at the closed double barn doors. “Um, do you know where the key is?”
“Your uncle kept one in the house, but honestly, he never locked the doors to the market or the main house.”
My jaw drops. “You’ve got to be kidding me?”
He laughs. “You’re in rural Nova Scotia, Alyson. A long way from New York. Most folks don’t lock their doors.”
“I’ll be locking mine.”
“Suit yourself.” He shrugs one broad shoulder. “But I have a key; Jack gave me one in case of an emergency.”
“I’d like that back, please.” It’s not that I don’t trust him… Okay, maybe it is. I don’t trust those I don’t know. Heck, I don’t trust half the people I do know.
“It’s yours. I’ll bring it over tomorrow.” He slides another glance at the SUV as the doors yawn open. “Well, I’ll leave you to your first customers,” he says and finally holds the pie out.
Damn. Damn. Damn.
I am so screwed.
Ask him for help.
As kids pile from the car and run to the playground area, I open my mouth and shut it again. I have such a hard time asking for help. I hate exposing my weaknesses. But would anyone really expect me to suddenly operate a working farm and market with no experience? Jay here certainly wouldn’t. He just told me that.
I make a move for the pie, but he backs up an inch.
“I could do it for you,” he offers. “I mean, I’m sure you’re more than capable, but the credit card machine is anci
ent.”
“I wouldn’t want to put you out.”
Christ, girl, accept his offer already.
“I don’t mind putting out,” he says and when he drags his front teeth over his bottom lip, my pulse jumps. Holy… Is he still talking about helping in the market, or something else altogether?
Damned if I don’t want it to be both.
No, no, no, I don’t. I am not looking for any sort of relationship. I need to find myself before I find myself with someone else. I can’t lose focus on my goals.
“Well, if you insist.”
His soft chuckle wraps around me, and I hate it. Hate that he knows I’m vulnerable, but I appreciate his help, nonetheless.
“Thanks for the pie,” I say and step toward him, but my damn heel has a different plan for me. It sinks into the mud, and I fall forward, face-planting on the wet ground before Jay’s boots.
Well, this has been fun…
Chapter Four
Jay
After helping Alyson up from the muddy ground, I lead her inside the market and wet a few paper towels from the kitchen area so she can clean herself off. She wipes her face then catalogs the market as her first customers of the season enter. They browse the produce as I browse Alyson in her muddy high heels and even muddier shirt. What the hell is she doing in Jack’s clothes anyway?
Wait! Is that really the first question I’m asking myself?
Since I can only focus on one thing at a time—I’m a guy, after all—and her sexy legs are sleek and bare, they’re dragging my concentration, despite the fact that there are a billion other questions bouncing around in the back of my brain. Namely, Jack had a niece? He never talked about family, and at times, he seemed so lonely. Why hadn’t he reached out to her before now, and what the hell was he thinking, leaving the place to her?
As if feeling my eyes on her, she lifts her head and gives me a somewhat shaky smile. It lights her blue eyes, and while my body takes notice, my goddamn stomach tightens at the vulnerability she’s trying to hide. If she knew what was good for her, she’d up and leave right now—but I suspect she’ll wait until morning. I can’t think of any reason why she would want to stay.
