“You’re being too vague,” I tell him. “And what exactly did you purchase? A fleet of food trucks?”
“Even better. I bought…” He chuckles and shakes his head. “A farm.”
“Wait a minute, a farm?” Ali’s frowning. “Why in the world would you do that?”
I’m quiet, my mind searching, thinking of old businesses in the area. It hits me fast. Pretty sure I know exactly which farm he’s talking about. “The old Carmel Valley Farm?”
Cam nods, pleased. “That’s the one. You’re now looking at the new owner. Well, Mason and Max are a part of this too. This is why I’m meeting with you two tonight. I wanted to see if you’d like to be owners as well.”
“I don’t have any money. Not investor-sized money,” Ali says. “I don’t even have a college degree.”
Much to our parents’ disgust and disappointment. They were upset when Ali dropped out of college last spring, before the semester was even over. She claimed she needed the break. From what I’ve heard, she spends most of her days holed up in the guesthouse, watching Netflix or constantly on her phone.
“You don’t need one to work at the farm, little lady.” Cam smiles. “You’ve got all the experience I need—you can be the farm’s social media manager.”
Ali’s eyes sparkle with interest and she sits up straighter. “That sounds interesting. Tell me more.”
“It’ll be the usual. Posting on various social media accounts, specifically Instagram and Facebook.”
“TikTok is where it’s at currently,” Ali says with a nod as she grabs her phone and starts scrolling. “I’ll start searching farm life now.”
“I knew you’d be good at it,” Cam says, making Ali smile. Poor girl hasn’t felt good about much since she returned home. “And we could work up a contract where you buy into the business in increments. I want us all to be part owners. It’ll be our family farm. Carrying on our legacy.”
“The thing is, though…we’re not farmers,” I remind my brother.
“We grew up on a ranch,” Cam points out.
“Yeah, but it’s not an actual real, working one. Dad isn’t Kevin Costner playing John Dutton in Yellowstone.” I do love that TV show, though.
“Which is too fucking bad. The Dutton family is badass,” Cam says with a laugh.
The Carmel Valley Farm has been around since I can remember. When we were little, it was a place families took their children to year-round. You could pick fresh vegetables. There was an apple orchard where they’d give you a bucket, and off you’d go. In the fall they offered hayrides and a pumpkin patch. I remember they even sold Christmas trees at one point, though the Sullivan Family Tree Farm eventually ended that.
In my early teens, business seemed to fall off, and fewer and fewer people took their families there. After I graduated high school, the recession hit and took the farm out of business once and for all. It’s been sitting empty ever since.
And it looks it, too. Some of the buildings aren’t in the best shape, and the land is completely overgrown. The apple orchard hasn’t been tended to in years, and looks downright wild. It’s kind of a mess.
“This is going to be a huge project,” I tell Cam.
He nods, his expression turning serious. Finally. “I know.”
“So where do I come into this?” I ask warily, smiling up at the server when she appears at our table with my drink and the appetizers.
We all remain quiet as she sets everything on the table. Once she’s gone, Camden starts back up again. “Silent investor, as you always are. You’re a busy guy, I get it. But I was hoping you’d like to invest into the new family business and help us grow.”
“What about the food truck?”
“We’re going to serve barbecue at the barn. Max and Mason will still run the food truck and the takeout shack we’ll eventually open up,” Cam says. “We’ll start out serving food at the barn during the weekends, Friday through Sunday.” Excitement lights up Cam’s eyes and he’s wearing that million-dollar smile once more. The one that convinces everyone his farfetched ideas are the best they’ve ever heard. “We’re planning on having a couple of shops on site. There will be an ice cream store, plus a store featuring merchandise, handmade goods, stuff like that. We’re going to have a pumpkin patch just like the old days, along with some goats and cows. Chickens. It’ll be like a real farm.”
“This sounds like a lot of work. You’re not playing at having a farm. You’re going to be running an actual farm,” I say, reaching across the table to grab a homemade mozzarella stick and dunking it in the marinara sauce before I cram it into my mouth. Holy shit, that’s delicious.
“And you sound skeptical.” Cam is still grinning. “I get it. I’m taking on a huge project, and I don’t know fuck all about farming.” He sends a sympathetic look in Ali’s direction. “Sorry.”
She waves her hand. “Please. You guys curse in front of me all the time.”
Poor Ali. She’s not wrong.
“It’s a huge undertaking, and I don’t know how you’re going to do it all.” I believe in my brother. Cam is smart and determined. Whatever he sets his mind to, he gets it done.
But a farm? With shops and animals and growing fruits and vegetables? He’ll have to hire a large staff. He’ll need someone to run that staff—and the farm. He knows about barbecue thanks to the food truck and growing up watching our father. The rest of it, he doesn’t know shit.
“I’m not going to do it all,” Cam says, grabbing a mozzarella stick for himself. “I’m going to hire plenty of staff.”
“Including someone to manage the farm?”
“There are couples all over this country who live on-site and will help manage a farm, plus there are a ton of teenagers in the area I can hire to work the store and the ice cream shop. Whatever. I’ve been researching this for months, Theo. I know what I’m doing,” Cam says, sounding vaguely offended.
“If you’ve been researching this for months, why didn’t you mention it to me sooner?” I ask.
“Because I knew you’d react like this.” Cam drops his half-eaten mozzarella stick onto his plate. “I have a plan in place. Mason and Max are on board. I told Mom and Dad all about it yesterday, and they support me.”
“I support you,” Ali says, making Cam smile.
“Everyone does.” Cam frowns. “Except for you.”
“I never said I don’t support you,” I tell him. “And what about Sullivan’s Tree Farm? Aren’t they basically doing the same thing? Why would you want to compete with that?”
“They’re seasonal. We’ll have the farm open year round, and we really won’t focus on Christmas as much as they do. Trees are their thing, and I’ll let them have trees. Everything else is fair game.” Cam sits back in his chair and smirks, looking very pleased with himself.
This is just—a lot. A huge endeavor. Are you sure you want to take this on?”
“I’m so sure, I’ve already made the offer and it’s been accepted. I’m doing this,” Cam says firmly. “Want to see my business plan?”
There is nothing I love more than reading someone’s business plan—no fucking joke. “I do.”
“I brought it with me. I’ll give it to you after dinner. You can read it over later tonight and let me know what you think tomorrow.”
“Can’t wait.” I smile, wanting my brother to know that even though I have doubt, I do support him. He’s a smart guy. Ambitious. He goes after what he wants, even if the idea sounds farfetched. Like starting up a food truck. I thought it was ridiculous when he first came up with it, and my brothers now have a successful business. Instead of expanding into more food trucks, which is the natural progression, Cam goes out and buys a freakin’ barn.
Not the typical path I would take, but I have to give it to him. He’s got good ideas, and he knows how to execute them.
We make small talk until our dinner arrives, and halfway through the meal, Ali suddenly makes an observation. “I think your girlfriend is here.”
/>
She directs this statement at me.
My fork drops with a clatter onto the edge of the plate, and my gaze immediately goes to the table of women across the room. That’s where I see Kelsey standing by the table, her hand on Stella Ricci’s shoulder—who is still seated—before she walks away.
I watch her, completely fascinated. She’s dressed in black, her long hair tumbling down past her shoulders in luxurious waves, and more than one man turns his head to watch her as she passes by their tables. She disappears into a short hallway that I know leads to the bathrooms, and without thought I rise to my feet, ready to chase after her.
“Did you not realize she’s here?” Ali asks.
“No,” I tell her distractedly, leaving the table and making my way through the restaurant toward that hallway. I’m lying, but I didn’t want to explain myself.
“Theo! What are you doing here?”
I glance over my shoulder to see Stella turned around in her chair, watching me with surprise in her eyes. I offer a little wave but otherwise say nothing. She flashes me a knowing smirk and turns to face the table once more.
Huh.
I can’t let that smirk bother me. I’m a determined man, eager to find his woman. Of course, when I stop in front of the bathroom doors, Kelsey is nowhere to be found. Because she’s in the women’s restroom.
So I wait.
I lean my shoulder against the wall and check my phone. I have a few notifications, but nothing crucial. She’s in there so long, I’m scrolling through my inbox when the door finally swings open and there she is.
She stops short when she sees me, her eyes wide, and her freshly glossed lips pop open. “Theo.”
“Kelsey.” I shove my phone into my front pocket and stand up straight. “Hey.”
“What are you doing here?” She doesn’t sound happy to see me.
What the fuck?
“Having dinner with my brother and sister.” I pause, gauging her reaction. It’s not any better than it was a minute ago. “What are you doing here?”
“Meeting up with friends.” She shrugs, her expression impassive.
“Yeah, I saw Stella.”
Her eyes widen a little bit. “Just now?”
I nod. “She saw me first. Said hi.”
“Oh.”
That’s it. Just that little oh. Wonder what she means by that.
Maybe I’m overthinking this entire conversation.
“Ali noticed you and mentioned to me that you were here,” I tell her. “So I had to come find you.”
“Right.” Kelsey crosses her arms. “You’d look like a bad boyfriend if you didn’t.”
I don’t know why, but what she just said makes me feel like shit.
“I haven’t talked to you at all since Saturday.” I take a step closer to her, catching a hint of her delectable scent. Instantly my body reacts, wanting more of it.
Wanting more of her.
“I’ve been busy.” Another shrug. Her entire demeanor is completely closed off, yet I approach her anyway.
“Too busy to text?”
“You could’ve texted me.”
“True.” I stop just before her and reach out, tucking a strand of silky hair behind her ear. “I’ve missed you.”
She rolls her eyes.
“It’s true. You usually text me every single day, Kels. Without fail. Until last weekend. I wonder why?” I trace the curve of her cheek with my index finger until she dodges out of my touch.
My hand falls, and I fight the disappointment that wants to take over me.
“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking,” she starts before clamping her lips closed. Someone walks by us, a woman who enters the bathroom. Kelsey waits until the door shuts. “And I’m wondering if our plan is a little—messed up.”
I frown. “What plan?”
“The wedding plan.” She averts her gaze, like she can’t look at me.
“You mean you being my date?” She nods. “And us pretending we’re together?”
Kelsey nods again.
Though really, are we pretending anymore? We’re friends who’ve now become lovers. Dangerous, I’m sure. Dangerous in the fact that we can’t go back to being just friends. And while I mourn the loss of that friendship, I’m also excited to see where we go next.
Is she, though?
Doesn’t seem like it.
“Yes. I don’t know if this is a good idea.” She waves a hand in between us.
“What exactly are you referring to?” I arch a brow. What is up with everyone being so damn vague tonight?
“This.” Another hand wave. “Us.”
“Really.” I glance around, realizing no one else is near, save for the woman in the bathroom. There’s a door just behind where Kelsey is standing, with one of those standard red exit signs lit above it. “We’re not going to make a decision like this in front of the bathrooms at Tuscany, Kels. Come on.”
Grabbing hold of her hand, I lead her through the side exit door to discover we’re in a typical narrow alley in downtown Carmel. There are white lights strung above us, and potted plants and flowers strewn everywhere, along with a quaint wooden bench to the left of us.
There’s not an ugly spot in this town, I swear.
“Do we really need to have this conversation now?” she asks, still appearing wary.
“Yeah. We do.” I don’t let go of her hand. In fact, it’s like I can’t let go. Her skin is so soft, and her fingers just feel—right in mine.
Fucking stupid. This is the kind of thinking that got me into trouble before. I fell so damn hard for Jessica, and look where that got me. I can’t go making the same mistake twice.
Not that I believe Kelsey would ever cheat on me, but we’re not even in a serious enough relationship to call us seeing other people cheating.
Shit. I’m being ridiculous right now.
“Aren’t your brother and sister waiting for you? And which brother are you with?”
“Camden.”
“Oh.” Interest flits across her face, faint but there. “I really wanted to meet him.”
“You can right now.”
“Theo…” Her voice drifts and she closes her eyes for the briefest moment, shaking her head. “I’m freaking out.”
“No shit?” I keep my voice light, even though deep down, I’m freaking out too. But one of us has to pretend we’ve got it together.
“Yeah.”
I step closer, until I’m in her personal space, my chest brushing against hers. “What are you freaking out about? The fact that we had sex twice this weekend?”
She tilts her head back with a faint nod. “Don’t forget what happened in your parents’ guesthouse.”
All the memories come flooding back. How beautiful she was. How responsive. I’m not a spontaneous person. I’m not the guy who normally fucks a woman in a public place.
Yet I did with Kelsey. It’s like I couldn’t control myself. And neither could she. What does that mean?
I don’t even know. I’m not sure if I’m prepared to examine it closely yet either.
“As if I could forget.” Reaching out, I touch her cheek again, letting my fingers drift across her petal-soft skin. I’m tempted to kiss her, but she’d probably run. “Are you scared that we’ve taken our relationship to the next level?”
“I’m scared that I’ll lose your friendship forever,” she whispers, her voice shaky.
Ah, shit. My heart wobbles at her confession. I don’t want to lose her friendship either. Not at all. That’s been my biggest fear as well. “You won’t.”
She sighs. “You can’t say that so easily, Theo. Sex changes everything.”
“Sometimes for the better.”
“And sometimes for the worst.” She rests her free hand on my chest. “I like you. A lot. I consider you my friend.”
I steel myself. This feels like I’m about to get dumped.
“What happened over the weekend wasn’t friendly at all.” She curls her fingers into
the button placket of my shirt, and I swear she’s trying to touch my bare chest. “I don’t have friendly thoughts about you anymore, Theo.”
I’m frowning. “What do you mean?”
“I mean I can’t stop thinking about what happened between us.” Her voice is the barest whisper. I tilt my head closer so I can hear better. “And how much I want it to happen again, despite knowing it’s probably a mistake.”
Her mistake comment is like a kick in the dick, but otherwise, I’m on board with everything she’s saying. “I can’t stop thinking about you either.”
Her entire face lights up, but then she tamps it back down. As if she doesn’t want me to know she’s excited by my revelation. “Really? Then why didn’t you text me?”
“I was waiting for you.”
“And I was waiting for you.” She shakes her head. “What are we doing, Theo?”
“I’d say we’re letting things happen…naturally.” I give in to my urges and brush my lips against hers. A gasp escapes her and I nip at her lower lip with my teeth, making her gasp again. “Want to meet up after dinner?”
She runs her hand up and down my chest. “Are you almost finished?”
“Yeah.” I kiss her again, and she parts her lips for me so easily. Too easily. I take advantage, sliding my tongue into her mouth, teasing hers. She kisses me back, her hand sliding up my chest to curl around my nape and we kiss for long, unbroken minutes. Until my phone starts buzzing in my pocket.
I break the kiss first to check my phone. A text from Ali.
Quit messing around with your girlfriend and come back to the table!
Grinning, I shove the phone back into my pocket. “My sister is demanding I come finish my dinner.”
“I should go back too,” Kelsey says with a sigh. Her expression has turned dreamy, and all that tension I could sense radiating throughout her body earlier has dissipated.
“Want to go back to my place once we’re done?” I ask, steeling myself yet again for her rejection. She’ll probably suggest we meet back out here and she’ll offer up a blowjob, then bail on me. I don’t mind the idea of a blowjob, but not out here. And I don’t want her bailing. I want to take her home. Have sex with her in an actual bed, where I can really take my time with her.
Wedding Date (Dating Series Book 6) Page 13