by M. E. Parker
“Perfect,” I said smiling at her. She walked towards the door.
“Shit, what’s he doing here? I can’t believe he just showed up like this. Crap!” She whispered. “What took you so long? What were you two doing down there?”
When she reached the door, I said, “Claire, umm…do you…well where are your panties? I don’t think I can go down there with you knowing you’re not wearing any.”
Her cheeks turned crimson. “Damn Jack. This is a nightmare. They are in the top drawer of my desk.”
“Stay put. I’ll get them.”
I came back into the office with the little red scrap of silk hanging from my finger. She snatched them from me and slid them on. “Seriously what took so long?”
“He wanted to talk. Also, we drank whiskey.”
“Jesus Jack, I’m sorry. How bad was it?”
“It could have gone a lot worse.”
“What did you tell him?”
I led her out of my office. “Everything’s good Claire. I think he just wants to make sure that you’re okay.”
“Bullshit. He wants me back in Boston.”
I sighed, “Just hear him out, Claire.”
I let her walk down the stairs in front of me, giving her some space.
When she got to the bottom of the stairs, she said “Daddy? Is everything okay? What are you doing here?” Her voice was anxious.
“It’s fine baby girl. Come give your old man a hug, will ya?” Claire looked back at me for a second with a raised eyebrow. I winked at her and then watched her cross the room to embrace her father. They hugged for a long time. I stood at the end of the steps feeling like I shouldn’t be there.
She pulled back from him. “What’s wrong Dad?”
“Nothing Clairebear. I just wanted to see you and make sure you were okay. How are you? Do you need anything?”
Claire shook her head and looked back at me searching my eyes with hers. She was clearly confused by her Dad’s reaction. I cleared my throat and said, “I’m going to go up and check some email and let y’all visit.” I started to turn towards the stairs.
Claire shouted after me. “No, Jack. Don’t go.” She walked over and pulled me by the arm. Her fingers interlocked with mine and she held onto my hand as we walked back in the kitchen. She didn’t let go and I had to wonder, as Rich stared at our hands clasped together, if he was going to punch me for touching his daughter in front of him.
The three of us stood in the kitchen in silence as Claire looked back and forth between her father and me. “Okay, which one of you is going to tell me what is going on?”
I shrugged and then Rich spoke up. “Everything’s fine Claire, I told you I just wanted to check in.”
She raised her eyebrow at him. “You flew almost a thousand miles to check in? Daddy, seriously? The two of you were down here for almost an hour. What gives?” She was asking her father, but she wanted answers from me. I could tell.
Finally, Rich let out a breath. “Well to be honest Claire, I came here to convince you to come back to Boston. But after Jack and I spoke, we came to an understanding of sorts.”
Her eyes were wide with disbelief. “What sort of understanding did the two of you come to about my life?”
Rich chuckled. “It’s not like that Claire. Jack just convinced me that this job with the farm will be a good opportunity for you.”
She looked at me, shocked, “He did?”
“Yeah, he did. So, tell me more about this job. Jack tells me you’re going to be feeding chickens.”
Claire laughed. “You should meet the chickens Dad. They’re awesome. How long are you staying? Maybe Jack would let me show you around the farm.”
I spoke up. “Of course, and you’re welcome to stay Rich.”
He grinned at Claire. “I wish I could. But I need to get back tonight. I have meetings in the morning. Maybe I can get back down in a few weeks.”
I talked him into staying for dinner that night. I grilled steaks and he and Claire talked about her job and she ran some of her ideas past him and he offered suggestions. He asked all kinds of questions about the farm and I let Claire answer most of them, loving the way her eyes lit up when she talked about it. Before he left that night, he told Claire that he lifted the hold off her credit cards and that he had decided to give her complete access to her trust fund. He wanted her to have access to any funds she needed to make her own future. He told her that he trusted her to make sound decisions and let her know that she was welcome to come back to work with him anytime she wanted but that he understood if she decided to go in a different direction. When he left, I watched him embrace her with watery eyes and Claire held him tight as a tear rolled down her cheek. He shook my hand and patted me on the back. “Thank you, son. Thanks for the steak dinner and for…” He paused. “For everything.” I nodded. Claire and I watched him from the porch as he drove away.
Chapter Fifteen—Claire
I stood in front of the mirror brushing my hair. I had slept late. Jack was downstairs. I could hear him talking to Sarah before I got in the shower. I didn’t know why I had been so tired for the last few days. It had been almost two and half months since I met Jack at Suzie’s Diner. My report was finished. I just needed to print it out. About three weeks into my contract, I realized I needed more time to complete the job and Jack was more than happy to extend my time here another thirty days. My time was up in two days and neither Jack nor I had brought up what would happen next.
I was too nervous to ask. I had practically thrown myself at him, I begged him to let me stay here to begin with. For that reason, I had told myself—no, I had promised myself that I would wait for him to bring it up. There was no doubt in my mind that Jack cared for me, but he hadn’t told me he loved me yet. I knew that he had to be leery after everything he had been through with Tiffany and I knew that making things permanent between us would be a huge step for him, but I wanted to stay more than anything. I loved him more than anything. I loved the farm more than anything.
In just two months, I truly felt like I had found my home. I had found my life. I found where I wanted to be forever and what I wanted to do forever. In the beginning, aside from my strong connection to Jack, it had been the beauty of the land that drew me to this place. Now, it was not only the land, it was the people as well. I had met almost every single farm employee and many of their family members. One of Jack’s foremen, Tom, who had been a friend of Jack’s since high school, introduced me to his wife, Shelly. She and I became fast friends. Jack and I had had dinner with them several times and Shelly and I made a day trip to Nashville together to go shopping. But the new friendship I had come to appreciate the most was mine with Sarah, Ted’s wife.
As I stared at my reflection in the mirror, I thought about the day I met Ted and Sarah for the first time. It was a few days after my father had come to visit. I was on cloud nine. I still didn’t know how Jack had managed to convince my father to change his mind about me working for him, but I had decided to let that stay between the two of them.
We were standing on the front porch with our hands clutched together as I watched Ted step out of Jack’s SUV. The first thing he did was pick up a Colton Farms ball cap out of the back seat and pull it down over his white hair. His skin was brown and weathered from years of being in the sun, but he looked strong and healthy for his age. He chuckled when he saw Jack and me standing on the porch.
Jack barked, “It’s about time you brought back my truck old man. I was wondering if I was ever gonna see you again.”
Ted shook his head and grinned. “It doesn’t look to me like you’ve had time for wondering much, Jack.” He nodded his head towards me. “Who’s the pretty lady, I don’t recall her being here when we left.”
Jack smiled and then I noticed Sarah for the first time, standing behind Ted. She was tall and lean and appeared to be much younger than Ted. Her skin was brown from the sun, her hair was salt and pepper, cut in a neat bob that hung just above her should
ers, and her eyes were cornflower blue and inquisitive. She was a stunning woman. She was smiling, but something told me that she wasn’t too keen to see me standing there next to Jack.
Jack introduced us. “Ted, Sarah, I want you to meet Claire Hawkins, she’s going to be staying here for the next few weeks. She’s doing some consulting for the farm.”
Ted snorted in laughter and looked at mine and Jack’s hands locked together. “So that’s what the kids are callin’ it these days, consulting, huh?” Ted shook my hand and smiled at me warmly and I could feel heat rush to my cheeks. “Glad to see you here, Miss Hawkins.”
I smiled at Ted, “Oh my goodness, please call me Claire.”
Jack chuckled, “She answers to ‘Freckles’ too.”
I glared up at Jack and Ted laughed and looked back at Sarah, “Sweetheart, I believe someone has kidnapped Jack while we were gone. Replaced with someone who looks a lot like him—but a happier, maybe smitten version of him. What do you think?”
We laughed, and Sarah playfully hit Ted on the shoulder, “Leave the kids alone old man—not everyone has to be a grumpy as you.” She turned to me smiling, “It’s nice to meet you Claire. I don’t know if Jack told you, but I do most of the cooking around here, so if there is anything special you’d like or foods you don’t eat, you’ll let me know, won’t you?” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes.
I grinned back at her. “I’m pretty sure there’s nothing I won’t eat.”
She smiled politely, “Well then, I best get inside and start some dinner.”
I looked up at Jack waiting for him to object, but he didn’t say anything. “Jack?”
He grinned down at me. “What?”
I looked at Sarah, “Why don’t you let Jack and I cover dinner. You’ve been on the road for hours, I’m sure you must be exhausted. I’m sure between the two of us, we could come up with something that you and Ted could eat, right Jack?” I looked at him with the best stern eyes that I could muster.
He burst out laughing and looked at Sarah and then looked back down at me, “I know good manners dictate that I’m supposed to say ‘yes’ here, but it feels like it’s been a year since I’ve had Sarah’s cookin’.”
I looked at him in shock, “Jack Colton, are you really gonna make this woman cook after she’s been on the road for ten hours?”
He smiled at Sarah and shrugged, “Do you mind?”
I hit him on the shoulder and smiled at Sarah again. “Ignore him Sarah, we got this covered, you can just relax.”
She shook her head and laughed, and her smile finally met her eyes when she looked at me. “That’s the sweetest offer I’ve gotten in a long time Claire, but to tell you the truth I’ve been sitting still for so long, I’ve been looking forward to getting back in the kitchen and moving around a bit. I’m thinking chicken n’ dumplins, that sound good to everyone?”
Jack smiled and said, “Hell yeah, one of my favorites.”
She ignored Jack and looked at me, “What about you honey?”
“That sounds wonderful, I’ve never had them before.” Sarah looked at me in shock.
Jack laughed, “You’ll have to excuse Claire, she’s one of them Yankees.”
I rolled my eyes and Jack and Sarah laughed, “Well, we will have to fix that, won’t we?” She made her way towards the door.
I called out to her, “Sarah?”
She turned towards me. I nervously asked, “Would it be okay if I helped? I’ve been wanting to learn to cook, I didn’t really get to learn much growing up.” She looked at me in disbelief—I couldn’t quite read her expression. Before she answered, I quickly added, “But if you think I’ll be in your way, maybe I could just watch?”
She had a wide smile on her face before I can even finish. She came over and wrapped her arm around my shoulder, “Come on darlin’, I’d love for you to help.”
Jack yelled over his shoulder as we walked inside, “Don’t let her fool you Sarah. She made Grandma Colton’s Chili a couple of weeks ago and it was spot on.” Sarah squeezed my shoulders tighter after she heard Jack’s words.
When we walked in the front door, she gasped when she saw the old dining table and other things that we had brought up from the barn that belonged to Jack’s parents. She put her hand over her mouth and her eyes watered up. “You got him to do this, didn’t you?” She whispered looking down at me.
I cleared my throat, “Yeah. I mean I just thought it might be homier for him and the stuff was just down there in the barn.” I was getting more nervous, the more I explained. “Is it okay? I didn’t mean to…”
She cut me off, “Claire—of course. Now I see why he seems so happy. Thank you.” She gave me a full out hug. Normally, I wouldn’t have liked having someone I barely knew that close to me, but for some reason, her embrace was comforting. She whispered, “You’re bringing him back to us.”
From that night forward, Sarah became like a second mother to me. She had taught me how to cook. She taught me how to garden—which had become one of my favorite things to do. She was even teaching me how to sew. We made mismatched cushions for all the chairs surrounding the farm table. She was teaching me all the things that I wished my own mother could have taught me. Sarah meant a lot to me already.
I sighed as I walked out of the bathroom with a towel still wrapped around me. How could I ever leave her? How could I ever leave this farm? But most of all, how could I ever leave Jack? I wondered if I should say something to him and then decided that I would ask Sarah for her advice. She seemed to know him better than anyone. I turned my head and sniffed the sheets. I could smell him. Jesus that man drove me crazy. Planting season had officially started, and he was out on the farm from early in the morning until late in the evening for the last couple of weeks. He made time for me—he always made time for me, but I still missed him, which was crazy.
It had been nearly four days since we had made love. I sniffed the sheets on his side of the bed again and felt a familiar throbbing between my legs as I thought back to Saturday night. Sex with Jack was unbelievable. Sometimes I wondered if it was like that with everyone. Sometimes it was hot and wild and kinky and other times, it was soft and tender. It was as if he knew what I needed and when. I hadn’t touched myself since I made love with Jack for the first time—well I hadn’t touched myself without him there. But I was feeling extra horny and slipped my hand between my thighs. I gently rubbed my finger between my folds the way Jack did and closed my eyes and replayed Saturday night in my mind.
I had just gotten out of the shower when Jack popped in the bedroom. I had a towel wrapped around me. We had a couple of hours before Tom and Shelly were supposed to come over for dinner, but I had decided to go ahead and get ready since I was so dirty from working in the vegetable garden most of the day with Sarah. When I looked up at him, I immediately saw the look in his eye (he wanted sex), but he was filthy. Clearly, he had been out in the fields working all day. He started walking towards me. I grinned at him. “You stay away from me Jack Colton, I’m clean.”
He held his hands up and chuckled. “Okay, going to the shower right now. Give me five minutes, six tops. And stay exactly like you are.” He winked at me. I wandered into his massive walk-in closet and dressed in a pair of dark skinny jeans and a creamy colored lace blouse. I was standing there trying to decide what shoes to wear. It had been warm earlier in the day, but it would get cool tonight.
I was startled when Jack spoke. “I don’t like what you’re wearing Claire.”
I looked back at him standing in the doorway of the closet. He looked sexy as hell. He had a towel wrapped around his waist. My breath hitched as my eyes ran over his hard chest, abs, and arms—there were still tiny water droplets covering his exquisite muscles. He stood there with his arms crossed with a sexy smirk on his face. I swear, we had seen each other naked every day for the last two months, but I was still breathless every single time I looked at him. I arched one eyebrow at him, “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing Jack?�
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His voice lowered. “Turn around Claire.”
I turned around so that my back was facing him and tried to look over my shoulder and then around my waist. “What Jack? Does my ass look bad in these jeans?”
Jack growled, “No your ass looks sexy as hell—as usual. It’s just too covered up. Take off your clothes.”
I looked back towards him. He had dropped his towel to the floor. My eyes lowered to his hard dick. God, he was sexy. He barked. “I said turn around Claire. Take off your shirt.”
My eyes flickered to his. He was playing, and I was all in the game. I turned around with my back towards him and slowly lifted my blouse over my head and then let it drop to the floor. I heard him let out a breath. “Now unclasp your bra and take it off.” I did what he asked. I let it slide off my arms onto the floor and I looked back at him with a grin.
“Turn around. Touch your breasts. Take them in your hands baby. Squeeze them.” Fuck me. This was so hot, I was already throbbing between my legs. I did what he asked. “Pull on your nipples, Claire.” I obeyed and let out a little moan. I looked back at him and he was slowly stroking his dick. I turned my head away again, wanting more.
“Take off your jeans baby. I want to see that perfect ass of yours.” I did. Slowly. My ass was bare. I was wearing a tiny pink lacy thong. Jack moaned, and I looked back at him wishing I could be the one with my hand wrapped around his hard dick. He swallowed. “Now the panties.” I did what he asked again, desperately needing to have his body pushing but against mine.
“Touch yourself, Claire. Tell me if you’re wet. Are you wet?”
I ran my middle finger between my legs and brushed over my clit and my head fell backward as I moaned again. “Fuck, Claire. You’re so damn sexy. I want you on the bed.”
I turned around and walked towards him, dying to touch him, dying for him to touch me but each time I took a step towards him, he took a step back. “On the bed Claire. Climb on the bed.”