by Hope Ford
Caroline’s eyes light up, and she smacks her forehead. “Oh my gosh, why didn’t I think of that? They’ve grown so much, I bet they have exactly what we need too.”
“Caroline, phone’s for you,” Ezra, one of the waiters, hollers from out front.
She starts to leave and stops with her hand on the door and turns back to me. “I need you to go check out the produce stand and see if there’s anything we can use. You heard the prices this grocer offered. See if they can do better for us.”
“You want me to go check it out? I’m just the line cook.”
Caroline nods. “Capable enough, aren’t ya?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, all right then.” With that, she smacks the door and walks through it.
Okay. I guess I’m going out to the Rosewood Produce Stand. I picture Honey holding peaches out to me and stifle a groan.
This is such a bad idea.
4
Honey
The low rumble of a motorcycle engine gets my attention right away. When I see that it’s David parking the bike I turn away so that he won’t see the big ridiculous smile on my face. Of course, I can’t help taking another look over my shoulder at him. He looks so sexy in his dark jeans and tight black T-shirt. It shows off his muscular form and masculine, intriguing tattoos. His beard makes him look like a total hard-edged badass.
Watching his big strong hands securing his motorcycle makes me think of what they might feel like against my skin, and I feel my body shiver with a white-hot bolt of desire.
I duck around to the back and quickly check my hair. I decide to add a little mascara and some pink cherry lip gloss.
I remind myself to be friendly and to make good eye contact so he’ll know I’m interested in him. At least, that’s the advice Ginger is always giving me, and Ginger never has trouble getting men to ask her out.
I return to the front and see that Ginger is using her customary charms on David, no doubt to ensure the best possible sale. I wish then more than ever that I’d taken the time to tell my sister about him.
I approach, my excitement from only moments ago withering. Maybe Ginger is more his type. I slow my pace but keep walking toward my sister and him. My sister’s back is to me, but a small thrill goes through me, and I’m pleased to see that David is watching me as I approach. It’s almost as if I can feel his appraisal as if it’s his hands stroking up and down my body instead of his gaze. I barely resist raising my hand and waving it across my overheated body. I watch him, and he watches me. He may have only just met my sister, but he isn’t yet enamored with her as most guys tend to get.
“Ginger, I’ll take this one,” I tell my sister, who steps aside easily and begins to help the next customer. She gives an extra glance pointed in my direction, and I know I’m going to have to explain later. Ginger’s almost always the upfront person. I do more of the behind the scenes work. Ginger is playing it cool, but she knows me too well not to think something is up.
Guess my crush on David is out of the bag after all.
David
Even though I know I have no business being happy to see Honey, I can’t help it. Her sister Ginger is nice, but Honey is who has captured my attention, and no one else is going to compare.
“Can I show you around?” she asks.
I nod, not trusting my voice. I follow behind her, and today she’s wearing short overalls and a T-shirt. I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t take my eyes off her shapely ass. My hands itch to reach out to her. I hear her talking about the peaches, apples, tomatoes, and a list of other things, but I can’t seem to concentrate. Not when she’s this close. So close that I can reach out easily and pull her toward me. Just the thought of feeling her body pressed to mine has me biting my tongue to hold in the groan. Fuck, what I wouldn’t give to take her out in the field and take her right now. Just thinking about it has my cock lengthening in my jeans. I start to count backwards from a hundred. It definitely wasn’t just an instant attraction that I could forget. No, if nothing else, seeing her again is making every thought in my head of having her intensified.
She shows me around and explains that even though her produce stand is relatively new, it’s been going well. I’m here to do a job, I remind myself. Maybe if I talk shop I can quit imaging her naked with her breasts pressed against my chest.
“Actually, Caroline from the diner sent me over,” I mutter.
“Oh,” she says, looking at me quickly over her shoulder and then turning away. Did I see disappointment in her eyes? Was that a hint of frustration in her voice? Is she upset that I didn’t come of my own accord? Has she been hoping to see me, just like I’ve been hoping to see her? Surely not. She is overalls, sunshine, and freckles. I’m big, gruff, rough around the edges, and I don’t know the first thing about a woman that is sweet and way too good for me. She has to realize that I’m no good for her. And definitely too old.
I force myself to get back to the task at hand instead of trying to find hope in a situation that is not going to work. “Yeah, we got a delivery today, and Caroline wasn’t pleased. She decided we need to find another supplier. Your vegetables and fruits definitely look better quality. Do you think you could supply the order that my boss has in mind for the restaurant? It would be a much larger order than you might be used to getting.”
She points to their massive farm behind her. “Yeah, I think we can handle it.” There’s no way I will doubt her. Her family’s land seems to go on for as far as the eye can see. In the distance, I can see a man on a tractor, and Honey raises her hand to wave at him. My fists flex at my sides, and I unclench them, reminding myself that she’s not mine. She can wave at anyone she wants. Plus, it could be a relative, her dad or brother. Or it could be a farmhand that’s in love with her and wants her as his own. My heart constricts at the thought, and I mutter the word “mine” before I realize I said it out loud.
“What was that?” she asks, smiling up at me.
I force my thoughts to something simpler. Shaking my head, I put in a standing order, deciding that if Caroline was confident enough to send me to check it out she must also trust me enough to get her business set up with the produce stand.
I don’t know if she’s doing it on purpose or what, but Honey is driving me crazy. She smells like a mixture of sun, vanilla, and the sweetest peaches I’ve ever smelled before. The way she blushes so easily, and that stubborn stray strand of hair she keeps trying to tuck behind her ear has her lifting her arm often enough that I get a good look at her full, bouncy breasts. I have got to get the hell out of here before I forget just how wrong I am for her, throw her over my shoulder, and take her in the field behind us. I wouldn’t even care who saw us, because I know that there would be no doubt in anyone’s mind who she belonged to then. Shit. I definitely need to get out of here and get back into town.
5
Honey
Even in the open air, I can tell he’s wanting to run. From me or from what I’m not sure, but I know I don’t want him to leave. Not yet. My eyes move up his broad chest, wide shoulders and then his face. His gaze is steady and unreadable.
I touch his arm and ask him about the tattoo on his right forearm, just to have an excuse to touch him. The hard way he looks at my hand on his skin has me snatching it away too quickly. I am doing my best to flirt with him, even though it’s awkward for me. “Sorry,” I apologize.
There’s a vein vibrating in his neck, and his eyes are wide, as if he may bolt at any minute. He’s so much taller and bigger than me, but I still feel like I should throw my hands up and let him know that I’m not a threat.
He blinks twice and rolls his shoulders. “No. I’m sorry. I got it years ago in Vegas,” he says, holding his arm out and rolling it so I can see the flag and mountains. I want to reach out and touch him again, but I don’t let myself.
He’s so quiet now that I wonder if I just made a mess of things. Maybe he doesn’t like to be touched. I smile at him, although I know it doesn’t quite r
each my eyes, before I walk back toward the front of the stand.
I risk a glance over my shoulder, and sure enough, he’s still following me. He seems to be at least appreciative of my body; I catch him checking me out a few times, and I can’t help but be encouraged that he seemed to want me to be the one to show him around when most guys tend to be really happy to get Ginger’s attention.
“So any more questions I can answer for you?” I ask him, almost blatantly begging him to ask me out. I’m definitely interested.
He’s now looking everywhere but at me. “No. I think that’s good.”
I pull the pad of paper and pen out of my pouch at my pocket. I take down the information of what all he wants each week and have him verify it. We barely finish up business before he’s telling me goodbye and striding away.
I probably shouldn’t, but I stand in the same spot, perplexed, watching him walk over to his motorcycle and then speed away. Man, it seems like he couldn’t wait to get away from me.
“I knew you liked the bad boy type,” Ginger says with an overlarge smile when I return to the stand.
“Any woman with eyes can see why David is enticing.”
Ginger agrees a little too quickly for my taste, but she backs up her agreement by declaring, “He’s all yours.”
Mmm, I wish he was all mine.
David
The next day, I’m driving in to work and recognize Honey’s truck parked outside the Pantry.
How often is she just giving away her product? She’s too kindhearted for her own good.
I left her at the produce stand yesterday and have regretted ever since the way I was brisk and aloof with her. She probably thinks I’m crazy at this point. But the alternative would have been worse. She’s tempting. Too tempting. And when she touched me, I knew that I had to get outta there.
I park my bike and approach the back of the truck where she’s standing in the bed of the truck bent over moving the crates closer to the edge.
“Good morning, Honey,” I say with a smile on my face that I’m sure will be there all day long.
Honey straightens and looks down at me over her shoulder. She smiles pure sunshine at me. “You say my name like it’s growing on you,” she said.
“It’s a great name. You want some help?” I offer before my mind gets away from me and I start telling her just how perfect her name is for her, having inspired many daydreams about where I’d like to drip honey on Honey and then lick her clean.
She answers by handing me a crate of red apples. I stack the crate on another and take the heavy pair into the Pantry. When I return for another load, I find that she’s pushed the crates to the edge and is picking up a crate. I stack another set and walk to the side so I can watch her sexy hips and ass sway as she carries a crate ahead of me.
Everybody at the Pantry is really friendly, but they are especially pleased to see Honey.
“Thanks for the help,” Honey says when we return the empty crates to the bed of the truck. “You cut my work by half at least.”
“No problem. I’m over an hour early for work, so I have the time.”
The flannel button-up blouse she’s wearing is open just enough to give me a peak at her cleavage. I bite my lower lip hard to keep myself from leaning over and tasting her smooth skin.
“You’ve got a nice bike. It’s a Harley, isn’t it?”
I nod. “Yeah. I got it a few years back when I started traveling.” I almost told her after my divorce. But I’m sure she doesn’t want to hear about that. I sure don’t want to talk about it.
“You look good on it.”
“Think so?” I grin and shove my hand through my hair instead of setting it on the gate of the truck and leaning in closer to Honey. If I let myself get any closer, there would be no stopping me.
Honey’s blushing smile is so sexy.
Time to go.
“Guess I’ll see you on your next delivery.” I turn and head for my bike.
“Seriously?” Honey asks, giving me a start.
I turn back to look at her and am surprised by the direct look she’s giving me. “I’m sorry?”
“Yeah, you should be. What are you waiting for, David? I’m not blind, I see the way you look at me when we talk. You like me, and I obviously like you. When are you planning on asking me out?”
It’s not hard enough you’re fucking gorgeous, you have to have fire too? Shit.
“I’m not planning on asking you out, Honey. I’m not blind either. I’m just a line cook at a diner. A drifter the rest of the time. And I’m too old for you. I have nothing to offer you.”
Honey narrows her eyes on me. “For a guy who’s supposedly so laid back and who writes his own rules, you sure do jump the gun. I don’t recall asking you to offer me more than an invitation. Since that’s a little scary for you, how about I do the inviting? If it’s not too terrifying, I’d like to meet you at the diner for a slice of pie. You already said you’ve got an hour before your shift starts.”
I can feel how stupidly wide the grin on my face is, and there isn’t a damn thing I can do about it.
“Let’s do it.”
6
Honey
“Good.” I give David a smile that belies my confidence.
My legs were so weak when I confronted him I thought I’d fall over and humiliate myself at any second. Somehow, I not only remained standing, I also got myself a date with him.
If he wasn’t still looking my way I would have held on to the truck to lend me some balance on my way to the driver’s seat, but he was still watching me.
Men respond to confidence. I am confident. The hard part is already over, Honey. Just get in the dang truck!
I turn on my heel and stride to the driver’s side door, practically crashing into it. Without looking back, I get into the truck and close the door.
In the rearview mirror, I watch David straddle his bike and whimper with desire at all the naughty thoughts swimming through my brain. It should be illegal to be that damn good-looking.
“Yes!” I hit my steering wheel in celebration and of course honk the horn accidently.
David is grinning at me again when I check to see if he was still close enough to notice. He was, since he hadn’t yet pulled away.
Instead of giving in to embarrassment, I laugh and pull onto the street. David follows and parks next to me at the Virgin Street Diner. I slide out of my truck and land next to David, who is standing so close I can almost feel his body heat.
Without breaking eye contact, he closes the door for me.
I lick my lips, wishing that when he said, “Let’s do it,” that he was referring to shameless, sizzling, body-thrashing sex—but that’ll have to wait.
David
We sit at the restaurant and talk. I can feel everyone in the room talking about us and know that I’m ruining her reputation just by eating pie with her.
“It’s crowded in here today, isn’t it?” I tug on the collar on my T-shirt. “They might need me back in the kitchen early.”
“You don’t like being around a lot of people? Or you don’t like being around a lot of people with me?” Honey asks, once again being direct.
I realize she’s actually made me blush. “You’ve got a great reputation here. I don’t want to screw that up for you, Honey. Plus, I’m sure people are wondering why you’re eating pie with an old man.”
“If people want to change their opinion of me based on me eating pie with you, then I don’t care much what those people think. So you shouldn’t either. Forget them and taste this.” She holds out a bite of the peach pie.
I already know what it tastes like. After seeing her holding those peaches that first day, I’ve eaten more peach pie than anything else. I take the bite anyway and love that it wins me one of her gorgeous smiles.
“Is all of your family into biking?”
“Biking?” I chuckle. “Sounds like I’m a mountain biker when you put it like that. No, just me. My brother and sister are
at the hardware store most the time.”
Her gaze flashes to mine. “Wait? Are you Reuben and Millie’s brother?”
Cherrywood Lumber and Hardware store is our family business. When Mom and Dad passed, they left it to the three of us. But since I’ve been out of the picture for a few years, I didn’t feel right coming back and messing with what Reuben’s got going on. Which is why I’m working at the diner. But I don’t tell her all that. I just nod my head. I’m incapable of forming words right now because she’s licking her spoon as she takes a bite.
“So you made it sound like you haven’t been in town long. Did you used to live in Cherry Falls?” she asks.
“Born and raised.”
“Wow, and I’ve never seen you before. So why’d you leave and why are you back?”
I open my mouth and close it again. This isn’t something I really talk about.
She puts her fork down and looks at me apologetically. “I’m sorry. Just tell me it’s none of my business.”
“No. It’s fine. Uh, I just don’t talk about it a lot. I was married”—her eyes get big, and her eyes go to my hand—“but now I’m not.”
“What happened?” she asks and then waves her hands in front of her, her face flaming red with embarrassment. “Forget it. I’m sorry. My sister says I shouldn’t always say what I’m thinking.”
I laugh, because honestly, she’s too adorable not to. “It’s okay. She, uh, cheated on me, and I filed for divorce after that.”
She shakes her head. “And now you’re back in Cherry Falls.”