“Did I offend you?” Maiken asked.
Normally, I would’ve melted like warm butter on a biscuit when I heard his voice, but I spotted Liam pointing a finger in Celia’s face.
Maiken followed my line of sight.
“Excuse me.” I rushed over to Liam and Celia, clenching my teeth. I hardly got angry, but my brother could be a donkey’s butt, and he knew better than to treat a girl like he was treating Celia, who was snarling at him. At least she wasn’t shrinking under him, something I would’ve done if a boy acted high and mighty and belligerent with me.
That’s not true. You stood up to Chase. One time only.
Maiken followed on my heels.
“What’s going on?” I directed the question at Liam.
Celia dashed a tear away with her fingers. “It’s nothing. I have to go.” She jogged back to the building.
Liam stormed into his truck and started the engine.
I was about to hop in when Maiken’s voice stopped me. “Quinn, did I say something wrong?”
I shouldn’t have been agitated that he’d said I was different. But different to me meant weird, shy, and slow. I might’ve been shy, but I wasn’t slow or weird.
“No,” I lied. I didn’t see the point in explaining myself because he would probably laugh at my reasoning. Besides, the nerve he’d hit was a little sore.
“Quinn,” Liam said. “Let’s go. Maiken, be at the farm store at seven tonight. You can meet my dad and fill out the paperwork.”
I waved at Maiken as I got into the truck. I had every intention of grilling Liam on why he and Celia were arguing, but I knew he wouldn’t tell me. So I strapped myself in and sent a text to Celia to call me later.
Boys. Argh! I was beginning to think branching out and having fun, as Momma had put it, was more of a headache than anything, particularly if my heart was on the line.
The farm store was empty save for Mr. Thompson and me. He stood behind the counter, perusing my employment application as though he’d found something interesting.
This was my first job, so I didn’t have any references or other employment. “Did I miss a box or a line?”
He lifted his brown gaze, wearing a mean expression, much like the one I’d seen on Carter the other day when he’d assumed I was ogling his sister. I hadn’t exactly been drooling over Quinn. If I were being honest, I was kind of scared of how Quinn was making me feel. The boy-girl thing was new for me.
I remembered when my brother Ethan had first started chasing girls at the age of thirteen. He would always brag about this girl or that girl and how pretty she was or how one girl in particular, Hannah, had made his stomach queasy in a good way. Maybe I was a late bloomer. Maybe Quinn was my Hannah.
“So, you’re a Maxwell.” Mr. Thompson sounded apprehensive as if I were a demon about to wreak havoc on his farm.
It was my turn to knit my brows together. “Is that a problem?”
He shrugged. “It won’t be if you work hard and don’t bring trouble with you.”
I wasn’t sure why he assumed I would bring trouble. “With all due respect, sir, I don’t see how loading Christmas trees for customers would be a problem.”
He studied me, creases fanning out from the corners of his eyes. “There’s bad history in this town with the Maxwell boys.”
I’d heard of some of my cousins’ high school brawls, in particular the one that had landed Kody in a coma. But I wasn’t planning on following in their footsteps.
“Sir, I promise I will be the model employee.” My tone was respectful, even though I didn’t like that he was comparing me to my cousins.
The doorbell dinged.
Mr. Thompson slipped my application into a drawer beneath the counter. “The job starts tomorrow.”
Liam waltzed in, wearing a thick flannel shirt over muddy jeans. His boots were equally as dirty, and work gloves covered his big hands.
“What time exactly?” I asked Mr. Thompson.
“We have basketball practice, Pop,” Liam said. “So five.”
Mr. Thompson grabbed his ball cap. “That works. Son, show Maiken around to get the lay of the land.” Then his stocky form faded as he went into a back room.
Liam swatted my arm. “Come on. We’ll start with the Christmas trees.”
I shoved my hands into my coat pockets as we headed out, the bell ringing as we did. “Your dad doesn’t like my cousins. Does he?”
He chuckled. “Let’s just say that my dad prefers to see fights in a ring and not on his farm. We had a high school kid work on the farm a few years back, and he had enemies. The end result was a broken fence and cops. It’s bad for business.”
I had no plans to fight anyone.
“Dude, just do your job, and he’ll leave you alone. Heck, if you’re the perfect employee, he might even offer you a permanent job as a farmhand.”
Uh, no. I wanted to make money, but shoveling shit out of a pigsty or corralling a herd of cows wasn’t my ideal job. I wasn’t afraid of hard work, nor was I some rich kid who thought I couldn’t get my hands dirty. I’d changed enough diapers and helped Mom and Dad with other chores around the house and yard. But farm animals, in particular horses, didn’t excite me. One had almost bitten off my finger when I was a kid.
Liam waved a hand in front of my face. “Dude, you look as white as the snow on the ground. Are you afraid of animals?”
“I like dogs,” I said. We’d had a dog when I was a tike, but with eight kids in the family, animals were too much trouble according to Mom.
Liam busted out laughing. “Our animals won’t hurt you. They’re more afraid of you anyway.”
We walked along a short wooden fence. A gravel lot was on one side, and rolling snow-covered hills were on the other. Eventually, we came to a stop outside a lit pergola that was home to a myriad of different sizes of Christmas trees. The strong scent of pine hung in the air.
A German shepherd trotted up to Liam. “Hey, Bo.”
I held out my hand for Bo to sniff me. Instead, the dog licked my hand.
“See, man,” Liam said. “No worries.”
I wanted to say that Bo was a dog, not a horse, but a car turned into the parking lot. Tires crunched over the snow as the headlights blinded me.
“Bo, go see Quinn.” Liam held out his hand toward a hut about ten yards down. The dog obeyed, wagging his tail as he took off.
I wasn’t wagging a tail, but my body perked up at the mention of Quinn’s name. I peeked around the pergola to get a glimpse of her, but I didn’t see anyone in the hut. I made a mental note to apologize to her before I left or at least find out why she’d gotten so quiet when we’d walked out of the gym. I knew she had been preoccupied with Liam and Celia, who had been arguing. But that was after she’d gotten quiet when I said she was different. My assessment of her didn’t mean she was weird. Different was good in my world. She doesn’t know that.
The SUV came to a stop next to Liam and me. Then Chase Stevens hopped out of the driver’s side.
Every muscle in me tensed as Mr. Thompson’s words flitted through my brain.
“Maiken, why don’t you go see Quinn,” Liam said. “I’ll handle this customer.”
I had to give Liam props for reading my body language, although he already knew Chase and I were destined to brawl. We’d almost fought on the court earlier that day. Still, I didn’t want to start off at a new school fighting with someone, but I wasn’t about to take Chase’s shit either.
I stood rooted to my spot close to a tree. Hell if I was leaving. Granted, Liam and I had just spoken about how his dad didn’t like fights on the farm. But I wasn’t a dog Liam could bark orders to.
Chase pulled down his knitted cap as he pursed his lips. “Liam, what the fuck is he doing here? Are you two best buds now?”
I got the impression Chase and Liam were or had been tight at one point in their lives.
“What do you want, Chase?” Liam asked. “Your mom already bought your tree.”
Chase scanned the lot. “I’m here to talk to Quinn.”
I snorted. He’d already apologized to Quinn in the gym earlier that day. So what could he possibly want to talk to her about?
Liam widened his stance. “What’s the sudden interest in my sister?”
If Chase so much as spat out that he wanted to ask her on a date, I would punch him. He wasn’t touching her.
“That’s none of your business, Thompson,” Chase said in a somewhat reserved tone.
Liam took one step then two until he was nose to nose with Chase. “My sister is my business. If you don’t want Carter and me sticking a crowbar up your ass, then I suggest you tell me now.”
Bo barked, causing all three of us to look at the German shepherd that was walking up with Quinn.
Quinn clapped her hands. “Hush, Bo.”
Bo sat on his haunches as Quinn asked, “What’s going on?” The wind lifted strands of her hair off her shoulders.
Liam moved back from Chase. “Nothing. Chase was just leaving.”
Quinn raised an eyebrow. “Why don’t I believe you?”
The four of us were in somewhat of a circle with Bo’s nose poking through in between Quinn and Chase. Actually, Chase was too close to her in my book.
I drilled my gaze into Chase. “We were talking about basketball. Weren’t we, Chase?” I wasn’t a liar and hardly stretched the truth, yet there I was lying to a girl I’d only recently met.
“We were,” Chase confirmed as he removed an envelope from the inside of his coat pocket. “Quinn, first, I want again apologize for the way I treated you in school this morning.”
The lights on a tree blinked behind Quinn, or maybe blaring colored lights were flashing in my head.
Chase cleared his throat. “That wasn’t proper on my part. I would also like to invite you to my family’s holiday gala.” He handed the envelope to Quinn. “I would like for you to come as my guest.” His tone was disgustingly sweet.
I felt the need to wash the slime off me.
With a shaky hand, she took the envelope. “Th-thank you.”
“She’s not going to a party with you.” Venom dripped from Liam’s voice.
Quinn jerked her head at Liam. “You don’t speak for me.”
Chase plastered on a cheeky grin.
My eyes widened at how confident she was when speaking to her brother. I liked her shyness. That was one feature that made Quinn so unique and appealing to me, but seeing her stand up to her brother told me she wouldn’t let someone like Chase walk all over her, and that made me relax a tiny bit.
Then her eyes found mine as though she wanted my input.
I couldn’t speak for her or tell her what to do, even though I wanted to say, “don’t go with him. I’ll be your date.” But I’d never asked a girl out before, and I wasn’t about to start now just because I was jealous of Chase, which was surprising me. I’d never been jealous before. Yet in that awkward moment, I wanted to tell Chase to take a hike because if he so much as held her hand, I would seriously poke out his eyes.
Liam’s face contorted as he glowered at Chase. “What’s your angle? You’ve never been interested in my sister. You’re up to something.”
“What would I be up to?” Chase asked. “It’s my parents’ party. And why can’t a guy ask a girl out? So what if she’s your sister. She’s pretty.” He lowered his gaze to Quinn. “You are.” He sounded genuine. “I’ve always had a thing for you since we were little.”
I mentally rolled my eyes. He was playing the I’ve known her longer card.
Quinn toyed with the envelope. “Why haven’t you asked me out before now?”
I closed my hands into fists, and Liam hunched his shoulders. Bo nudged his nose into Quinn’s hand.
“Honestly, because of your brothers. Why don’t you think no guy has approached you other than the airheads who thought the rumor of you being easy were true?”
“A-all thanks to y-your sister.” She pursed her lips. “I don’t know if I believe you.”
Oh man, maybe I was a weirdo, but Quinn’s stuttering was doing things to my body in a good way.
Chase grabbed a strand of her hair that was blowing in the wind.
Every muscle in me went on high alert. Even Liam appeared ready to pounce. Bo, on the other hand, barked.
“Quinn.” Chase’s voice was soft. “It’s only a party. Adults will be there. We can hang out. Nothing more.”
The guy had me believing his story.
She backed away from him slightly, causing him to let go of her hair. “Can I think about it?”
Chase smiled. “Sure. Don’t wait too long. My mom needs a head count.”
“I’ll g-give you my answer at school tomorrow,” she said rather shyly.
Chase sighed, glancing at Liam and me as though he were about to do something that would incite us.
I held my breath because if he so much as kissed her, I might get fired before I even started my new job.
He patted Bo on the head. “Great. See you tomorrow.” He waltzed to his car with his chest puffed out. Silence as thick as fog on a humid Southern night weaved around us until Chase was gone.
Liam growled. “Are you nuts, Quinn? He’s up to something.”
She shoved the invitation into the back pocket of her jeans. “So is it true that no boy has even approached me until now because of you and Carter? Never mind. I know the answer.” Then she jabbed a finger into Liam’s chest. “I can handle myself. Besides, it’s not like Chase would try anything stupid with adults around.”
Liam huffed. “Come, Bo.” He stalked off with Bo trotting after him.
I wanted to believe her last line. But given that Chase and Tessa were kin, and Tessa had it out for Quinn, my money was on Chase doing something to hurt Quinn. For that, I probably should go to the party.
A car passed on the country road as Quinn and I stood in silence.
“Are you going to the Stevenses’ party?” Quinn finally asked. “I saw Tessa give you an invitation.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to ask her if she wanted me to go, but I was afraid she would say no. I wasn’t afraid of much except horses and heights, yet I was standing in front of a girl who was making my insides go haywire, especially the more her cherry scent wafted around me.
“I don’t do parties.” Liar. You went to a couple of your friends’ parties in the ninth grade.
She looked in all directions except at me.
“Quinn,” Liam called. “Dad needs you down in the barn. Why don’t you take Maiken and show him around?”
“Come on,” she said. “I-I’ll introduce you to my prize possession.”
I stabbed a thumb at my car. “I should go. I have a lot of schoolwork to catch up on.” It wasn’t that I didn’t want to spend time with Quinn. I wasn’t sure I was ready to be around horses if that was what she’d meant by prize possession. I mean, a barn had horses in it.
Stop being such a pansy. If you’re going to work here, then get used to animals.
She gave me a sad smile. “I’ll see you at school, then.” She started for a winding cement path with rolling hills on both sides.
My heart flipped out of control. The last thing I wanted was to make Quinn sad, so I jogged up to her.
I puffed out my cheeks, almost dizzy that Chase of all people had asked me to his party. He was handsome, but looks weren’t everything. He’d sounded sincere and had even apologized, which was startling. Still, Chase could be up to something, but I didn’t get that vibe. Maybe I was blinded by his sweet tone, and he’d been brave to ask me out in front of my brother, the same person who was responsible for making sure no boy in school asked me out. That told me Chase really liked me. Yet a little voice in the back of my head was telling me to tread lightly. After all, he was kin to my arch nemesis.
“So are you going to accept Chase’s invitation?” Maiken asked as we headed to the barn.
For a split second, I thought I heard a tinge of jealousy in his ton
e, but I quickly erased that notion. No boy had ever been jealous over me. Besides, we hardly knew each other. He wouldn’t ask me out anyway, not if my brothers had any say in the matter.
I wanted to stomp my feet like I’d done many times as a little girl when my brothers bossed me around. I loved that my brothers were protective, but they were not about to tell me whom I could and couldn’t date.
I’d always wondered why boys hadn’t approached me. Maybe it was time I asked a boy out. Momma wouldn’t approve of that, though. She’d always said ladies didn’t ask men out.
“Did you hear me, Quinn?” Maiken asked.
The strong scent of manure carried on the wind the closer we got to the barn, drawing me from my reverie. Or maybe Maiken’s husky voice was what had gotten my attention. Either way, I disposed of thoughts of Chase’s invitation, at least for the moment. I would have time later to think. Right then, I had a dreamy boy at my side, holding his nose as though he were about to gag.
One of horses nickered when we approached the barn door.
Maiken let go of his nose, and fear jumped off him as he looked inside.
“It’s just Apple. She smells me. I’ll introduce you.” I went in, but Maiken didn’t. I held back a giggle since it wasn’t proper to ridicule him. People had fears of all kinds. I was afraid of snakes. We had plenty of garden snakes around the farm, yet I could never get used to them slithering by me or making me scream anytime one came out of nowhere.
“Did you know that horses have eight basic sounds they convey? One is the greeting nicker, which Apple is doing. She does it anytime people walk in, especially me. I promise Apple is not going to hurt you.” I held out my hand. I wasn’t spewing facts because I was nervous but to help him understand and hopefully ease his tension.
He rolled his shoulders back. “I’m not afraid.”
Baloney!
Dad called my name.
I tossed a look over my shoulder. Stalls lined both sides of the barn with horses barricaded behind wrought-iron bars. Dad had remodeled the barn two years ago when we took in some rescue horses from a farm upstate that had been leveled by fire. We’d expected the owners to eventually retrieve their property, but they’d asked Dad if he wanted to keep the horses after they decided to move west.
My Heart To Touch: A Maxwell Family Saga - Book One Page 7