by Gorman, A.
I’d been wrong.
After my father’s cancer took him away, I had relied on Jesse to help me through it. Other than my brother, he was all that I really had left in this world. And he’d done everything right…for a while. But we started to drift apart shortly before graduation. The night of the prom, I’d caught him in the arms of Haley Grant outside the school gym. My now ex-best-friend.
Angry beyond measure, I’d taken a baseball bat to his prized truck soon after and earned myself a night in jail at the hands of my then Deputy Sheriff brother, Nathan. Nate still likes to tease me about the time he put his own sister in the slammer. That jackass. Then again, if our parents were still alive, I’d have probably gotten worse.
But if you ask me? Jesse deserved the trashed truck and everything else I’ve dished out in the six years since. My heart still hasn’t healed from his betrayal, and I’m not sure that it ever will.
Chapter Two
Jesse
The sweat trickles down the back of my neck as I slam the posthole digger back into the ground. I whip off my t-shirt and tuck it into the back of my gym shorts. This is the third time I’m having to fix this same stretch of fence since I took over the farm. The soil here is so damp that all of the wooden posts my father put in the ground years ago are starting to rot. And every time one does, I have to replace it.
This time, the fallen post also meant that two of my horses got out and wandered across the creek to Starr Farms. Of all the neighbors’ properties around us, why do my animals continue to escape to that one? It’s almost as if they’re drawn to that infuriating woman. I can’t blame them, since I used to be infatuated with Nessa too.
Aw, hell. Who am I kidding? I still might be.
But her stubborn ass never listens. She didn’t want to hear what I had to say back then, and she doesn’t want to hear it now. I don’t even understand what happened between us after her father died. I was expecting the tears and even the anger. But I hadn’t been prepared for her to pull away from me.
And I wasn’t the only one she’d done that to. She started to shut out everyone—her friends, her brother, and me. Then the night of the prom, she left in the middle of the dance without saying a word to me. When I showed up at her house the next day to demand an explanation, she beat the shit out of my truck. I had to work overtime the whole summer to afford to fix it.
I can’t say that I handled our breakup perfectly, either. She got angry, and I got angry right back. Our mutual anger is all that we share these days. Well, that and several state livestock records, but I plan to fix that this year. My top hog is looking fabulous, so I finally stand a chance at beating Nessa. I can’t believe how excited that makes me. It’s almost ridiculous.
“Yoohoo! Jesse!”
Oh no.
I hear a high-pitched voice calling in the distance. How does she always seem to find me on this gigantic farm?
I duck down, hiding next to the brush and hoping that Shana won’t notice me. Her voice gets louder as she approaches, calling my name.
But I’m not answering. I’ve been actively avoiding her for months. It was one damn time. Just once, I finally let her sweet talk her way into my bed, and now she thinks we’re dating. Worse, I’m pretty sure she’s been telling people around town that we’re in love. No one believes her. She’s always been an egg short of a dozen, if you know what I mean.
“Jesse! Where are you?”
As quiet as I can be, I inch backward toward the creek. I have no idea where I’m going, but I have to get away from her. This woman cannot distract me today. After I fix this fence, I have way too much to do to get ready for the fair. Sure, it’s barely a thirty-minute drive to the fairgrounds, but I’ll be staying there overnight for a few days. I have a lot of preparations to make before I can leave the animals.
The water is cold when I practically dive in. I don’t care. It might make me crazy and look like a coward, but I have to get away from Shana. It’s barely up to my neck in the middle of the creek, and I find a floating log to hide my head behind just as a brunette’s head pops over the hill.
“Jesse? Are you there?”
“Shana? What the hell are you doing out here?”
Shit.
I know that voice, too. It’s coming from the bank behind me, and I have no doubt that Nessa can see me cowering behind this log. I’m directly in her line of sight, even if I’m facing the other way. I slowly turn my head and see my arch nemesis—slash lost love—watching Shana with narrowed eyes. She’s ignoring me now, but I know she knows I’m here.
“I was looking for Jesse,” Shana huffs. “Todd said he was out here.”
I make a mental note to fucking kill my brother when I get back to the house. What was he thinking sending Shana across the farm to look for me?
“He’s not here, and I doubt he’d want to see you even if he was,” Nessa returns. “Can’t you take a hint?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
Yes, she does. I made a point to vocalize my feelings at the Apple Blossom Festival when she tried to convince my mother to invite her to dinner. A dinner that probably would have ended with me throwing myself off the roof of the barn.
“Yes, you do. He made his feelings clear at the festival when he said he wasn’t looking for anything serious with you.”
I can’t help but smile to myself as Nessa said the words I was just thinking. Looking back later, I might laugh about this situation. But right now, it’s not very funny as my ex-fling and my ex-everything are standing on opposite sides of the creek and my dumb ass is stuck hiding between them. It’s not my best moment. In any way.
“How do you know what he said?” Shana asks in an annoyingly high-pitched voice.
“Everyone knows. He said it loud enough for the angels to hear it. He doesn’t want to see you anymore. You’re not doing yourself any favors by chasing men who don’t want you, Shana.”
“Well, you’d know all about Jesse not wanting you. Right, Vanessa?”
I don’t look over at Nessa because I’m afraid there may be an expression of hurt on her face. Or worse, that there won’t be.
“Get lost, Shana,” Nessa says without missing a beat. “Take your stalker ass off somewhere else.”
Shana huffs then stomps away. I hear her heavy footsteps retreat, and even after a moment of silence, I still don’t move. I’m half-hoping Nessa will go away too and I can wallow in my embarrassment alone.
I’m not so lucky.
“She’s gone.”
I try not to cringe when I turn, knowing I’ll have to explain myself to the one woman I don’t want to unburden myself to. But I got myself into this mess after all. I deserve it.
Nessa is standing with her hands on her hips. Her jeans are dark, snug, and low. She’s wearing one of those flannel shirts that she likes to tie up to her navel when she works. Today it’s pink and black plaid. I’ve seen the pattern on dozens of women, but there is only one who can literally wear a garbage bag and look sexy.
And that woman is staring at me with a scowl on her face.
“You’re an idiot.”
Tell me about it…“Thanks.”
“You should have known better than to fool around with that floozy. She’s always been a fry short of a Happy Meal.”
“I don’t need a lecture.”
“Apparently you do, since you thought it was a good idea to fuck the only woman in town who already owns a wedding dress.”
“I didn’t say I fucked her.”
Nessa raises her brow, but I can tell she sees right through me. She always has.
“It’s none of your business who I sleep with,” I point out for no good reason other than to annoy her as I wade toward the shore.
“Then you can hide from her on your own next time.”
I know I should apologize, but I can’t make myself say the words. Instead, I stomp out of the water while trying to remember why I called Nessa this morning. I feel like there was something I wanted to say to her. Oh,
that’s right.
“Where are my stallions?” I bark, crossing my arms to show that I’m serious.
Nessa’s gaze doesn’t meet mine, however. Her eyes travel south of the border and go wide just as her mouth drops open.
“I think you have a third stallion loose,” she says with a smile.
And that’s when I look down and realize I’m stark fucking naked. I didn’t even feel my gym shorts sliding off when I exited the creek, and I was too wrapped up in my thoughts to notice the breeze blowing between my dick and nuts. I look to the sky and sigh. This day really isn’t going as I’d planned.
“Maybe it’s more like a tiny pony, though,” Nessa says, tilting her head to the side as she studies my crotch.
“The water was cold.” I don’t know why I’m defending myself, but I do. “You know it’s usually bigger.”
Nessa gives a half-shrug. “I don’t really remember.”
“Bullshit.” Now my manhood is on the defensive. She’s lying, and I know it. “You remember. Like the time we snuck off to that bunch of trees behind you? When I bent you over and had to gag you with my shirt to keep your brother from hearing you screaming my name?”
That does the trick. Nessa’s face starts to turn red, and satisfaction blossoms within me. I’d hide from Shana again and streak across the field if I got to make this woman blush in the end.
“Fuck you, Jesse,” Nessa barks, spins around, and stalks away.
“You already did!” I shout at her back. “That’s what we’re talking about!”
She flips me off but doesn’t turn around. I wish she had, though. I’d love to get one more look at her flushing cheeks since I know it doesn’t happen very often. Things rarely get underneath Nessa’s skin. But I sure do. And I love every minute of it.
Almost as much as I still love her.
Chapter Three
Nessa
Over the next few hours, I do my best to pay attention to my list of chores instead of picturing Jesse’s naked body. I attempt to block out the memories of our time together. Especially the one he reminded me about. Man, that really was hot. We’d spent the afternoon plowing up the fields on our father’s tractors, looking over at each other when we were in sight but unable to talk.
By the time we’d finished with work, talking was the last thing we wanted to do. I’d dragged Jesse over to the trees, and he’d worked two amazing orgasms out of me. When my brother had come looking for us, Jesse really had been forced to shove his sweaty shirt in my mouth. It was either he gag me or stop, and I sure hadn’t wanted him to stop.
“You okay, Miss Nessa?”
“Shit!” I squeal and drop the bucket of water I’m hauling across the yard.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” Howard gives me a shy smile.
“It’s fine. I’m okay. I just…I was distracted.”
“Wouldn’t have anything to do with your little tryst down by the creek with Mr. Anderson now, would it?”
“No.” I feel the scowl spread across my face. “It wasn’t a tryst. I was saving his stupid ass. Not that he deserves it.”
“If you say so.”
I ignore Howard’s accusatory tone and carry the now-empty bucket back to the well pump to re-fill it. I can’t be this distracted when we’re about to leave. I have way too much to get done.
Just before dinner, I check the mail. When I pull out the envelopes, I stop to frown at the letter on the top. After seeing at least two dozen of these, I recognize the handwriting immediately. I almost don’t bother reading it since I know exactly what it will say and exactly who keeps sending them.
Mr. Stokes. The weasel who won’t take no for an answer.
No matter how many times I refuse, that slimy man continues to hound me. It started a few years ago, after my prize hog won first place in the fair and Mr. Stokes tried his damnedest to convince me to sell him the pig. I wouldn’t, of course. I raise livestock for a living, not just for the shows. And I don’t trust that man as far as I can throw him. He’s always given me the heebie jeebies. Not willing to waste time on this fool, I shove his letter into the recycling bin.
The next day is a blur as I help load up the livestock and everything I’ll need to stay in my camper. I’ll be putting my men up in a hotel, but I always stay on site so someone is close to the animals. My camper isn’t much, but it’s big enough for one person. I just hope I don’t get stuck right beside Jesse’s camper again this year. It would be my luck.
“We’re loaded up,” Howard calls into the house. “You ready?”
“Yep! Be right there!”
“I’ve sent Johnny and Lyle ahead with the trailers and camper. It’s just us, so take your time.”
“No need. I’m coming.”
I grab my pocketbook and head outside, jumping into the driver’s seat because nobody drives my beloved pick-up truck but me. This baby was my gift to myself when the farm turned its first profit after the death of my father. It wasn’t easy taking over at the age of eighteen, but despite everyone’s dire predictions, I’ve managed to do better than my parents ever did. Probably because I’m not afraid of innovation. Unlike my neighbor, who is completely stuck in the past.
Speaking of the devil.
“Is that—”
I see someone coming down the adjacent road, a dirt cloud following him. The Anderson farm borders Starr Farms, and we share a road for about a half mile before we reach the highway. We no longer fight over the short stretch of dirt and gravel, but it’s just another reminder that I’ll never escape Jesse Anderson.
But that doesn’t mean I have to let him beat me to the road.
I slam on the gas and grip the steering wheel for dear life. My teeth clench, and my heart races, knowing that this is entirely immature. Yet I do it anyway. This man has always brought out both the best and worst in me.
“Uh…Miss Nessa,” Howard says beside me, grabbing the oh-shit handle above the door.
I barely hear him over the roar of the engine. A quick glance to the side and I see that Jesse is speeding up too. He wants a race? I’ll give him one. And I’ll win.
The gravel flies as I zoom down the road. Almost there. The fork in the road is coming up, and I don’t slow down. I can’t. Jesse has taken so much from me already. He can’t have this.
And then it’s too late.
By the time I realize we’re way too close for me to get ahead, hitting my brakes only causes my truck to swerve. Jesse must have done the same thing, because one minute we’re neck and neck and the next our trucks are sideswiping each other. I hear the scraping of the metal, and I know I’ve messed up.
Big time.
When our trucks come to a full stop, I jump out and start shouting. I don’t know who I’m really yelling at, but Jesse does the same thing. Before I know it, we’re standing toe to toe, blaming each other for our own stupidity and calling each other names that we definitely wouldn’t repeat in front of our mothers. This goes on for a good ten minutes, and neither of us stops to take a breath.
“You’re such a dipshit!” I shout, shoving Jesse in the chest. Even in my rage, it’s hard to ignore how firm his body is under my fingertips. And the way he doesn’t even sway from the force of my hands. It’s hard to tamp down the urge I have to grab his shirt and haul those lips to mine.
Oh, damn. Is it just me or has the air gotten thicker all of a sudden? Stupid southern humidity is messing with my brain.
Before Jesse can return an insult, flashing lights and a siren fill the air. Just great.
“Todd!” Jesse barks, spinning around to face his brother. “You called the cops? What the hell?”
“Someone had to do it!” Todd throws his arms up in the air, but a wide smile is on his face.
I’d like to knock that smile plum into next year.
I turn and see, of all the police that could show up, it’s the Sheriff’s patrol car that rolls to a stop, and the man in question steps out with a scowl on his face.
“You called my brother?” I want to lunge for Todd, but Howard holds me back.
“Really?” Silence settles around us as Sheriff Nathan Starr walks up to us and shakes his head. “Of all the stupid things that you two have done, this one takes the cake.”
“It wasn’t my—” Jesse starts to say but is promptly cut off.
“Save it for the judge.”
“Judge?” I straighten up, and my face slips into a frown. “You’re arresting us? You can’t be serious. We’re on private property. We haven’t made it to the highway yet. It’s a civil matter, if you think about it.”
“Thank you, Judge Judy,” Nathan replies. “I’m not going to waste my time booking you idiots. But since I doubt you’ll agree on who pays for the damages, you’ll both undoubtedly end up in court. You can plead your case to the judge then.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Jesse insists with a shake of his head. “We’ll figure something out on our own.”
“Oh, this I’d love to see,” Todd interjects his unwanted opinion. “You two haven’t been able to agree on what color the sky is since the night of senior prom.”
“Hey!” I shout without realizing it. “Don’t bring that up right now.”
“You don’t want to talk about the past? Fine. But then you need to get over it. This feud is getting old, and your brother and I are both tired of it.” Todd crosses his arms over his chest.
Jesse and I are silent because we’re both old enough to know better, yet we don’t behave that way. One part of me agrees with the annoying brothers. The other part still gets a thrill from causing Jesse trouble.
“We’ll handle the damages,” Jesse says in a low voice that serves to warn off any further discussion on the matter.
I look down to see my brother shove a yellow paper into my chest and then do the same to Jesse. “What’s this for? We agreed this was a civil matter. We said we would handle it.”
“For being a pain in my ass. Again.”
“Public disturbance?” I read the paper aloud and start to argue, but the patrol car door slams shut. End of discussion, I guess. “I can’t believe he gave me a ticket.”