Page 87 of The Burbs and the Bees
Making love?
“Alyson?”
“Yeah?”
“What are you doing over here?”
It takes me a second to focus in on his words. “I wanted to check on the U-Pick.” I reach out and dust off his sleeve like touching him is the most natural thing in the world for me to do. “Not much action, huh?”
“No, not yet.” He looks over my head as a car slows down on the road but then keeps on going.
I pick a few strands of hay off his shirt, and he wipes his brow. “How’s the barn coming?”
His smile returns. “We’re making great progress.”
A big bang echoes in the air, and we both turn toward the sound. “What the hell was that?” I ask.
“Sounds like it was coming from your place. We better check it out.”
The hairs on the back of my neck stand up as we walk to my property. I shake the sun from my eyes and glance out into the pasture. “The animals are fine. Maybe Tyler is shooting off fireworks again.”
“He’s not. He’s still at the barn with Beck.”
“I’m going to have a look around, okay?” He glances at his watch. “Why don’t you go inside and get ready for the day? I’ll check in on you later.”
I stand there for a second, and so does he, heat pulling us together.
“I want to kiss you,” he murmurs and steals a glance around, his tongue touching his lower lip. Everything inside me jumps to life, and my heart flutters. My God, it’s hard to keep my head on straight when I’m around him. “But I know you don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea.”
“Jay,” I murmur, going up on my toes, the desperate need to kiss him winning the battle and pushing back all other worries. As his lips hit mine, another thought hits. Isn’t he worried about someone getting the wrong idea?
He groans into my mouth, his hands cupping my ass and lifting me until my sex is centered on his growing erection. I’m not sure how long we stay like that, clinging to one another like we’re the only two people in the world and our lives depend on it, but when Cluck comes running out of the bushes, Jay puts me down.
“He must be here to check on the noise, too.” Jay gives me a slap on the ass. “Come on, Cluck, let’s go investigate.”
I shake my head, a stupid grin on my mouth as I watch the two go. A man and his cock on patrol. Does life get any stranger than this? I think not. I also think I like it. A lot.
My phone pings, and I ignore it. Dad’s been calling for days. I’ve not answered, but I have texted back that I’m fine. He must not believe me, and if I hear his voice, I might not be able to keep mine steady when I tell him I have my life all figured out. The truth is, I don’t have it all figured out, and he knows me well enough to pick up on every nuance in my speech. But how can I hide the fact that I’m falling for a man who’s not interested in my heart?
Well done, Alyson. Well done.
I head to the market and open it for the day. Cindy soon shows up, and between cooking, serving lunch, waiting on customers, and refilling potatoes, carrots, and apple bags, the hours fly by.
When I finally get the chance to look up, it’s closing time. Jay hadn’t come by to check on me, so I’m assuming all was well on the orchard, and the noise was nothing to worry about. Which is the best news ever, considering I have so many other things occupying my thoughts.
Cindy leaves, and I step outside, breathing in the fresh air. I reach into my coveralls, and my fingers connect with Bryce’s offer. I tug it out, look at the semi-decent number. In two more weeks, I can leave here with my trust fund in place and prove to everyone that I have what it takes to stick to something. But if I leave here, that means I’m putting Uncle Jack’s prized possession into the hands of a man who rubs me the wrong way. I’ll also be leaving the man who rubs me in all the right ways.
Goddammit.
I glance up, and none other than the sleazeball Bryce Kent coasts into my driveway. I take a breath and prepare myself as he slides from his vehicle and leisurely strolls toward me.
“Are the papers drawn up?” he asks.
“Look, I haven’t made my mind up yet.”
He rocks on his heels and completely ignores me as he catalogs the property. “Yeah, right there,” he says like I’m not even standing there. “Once I get that house and market down, there will be plenty of room.”
Unease worms its way through my veins. Last time he was here, he said something about knocking the old homestead down.
