Dandelions for Dinner (A Farm Fresh Romance Book 4)

by Valerie Comer

  That was definitely a smile. Brent leaned a tiny bit closer to Allison, his hand braced on the ground behind her, her shoulder touching his chest. Her perfume begged him to close the gap.

  The immense satisfaction he felt at this little victory rocked him. This was Allison’s victory. Finnley’s. He was nothing in the grand scheme of things, but he couldn’t resist the lure. He shifted even closer so Allison’s long silky hair brushed his cheek.

  She pulled away slightly, a startled look on her face as she glanced at him.

  Brent nestled back in. “Just enjoying the view.” He kept his eyes on the child though he could feel Allison’s gaze. Let her think what she wanted.

  In that instant, he felt her relax against him, ever so slightly. Two victories in as many minutes.

  He was a goner.

  * * *

  Wouldn’t it be nice if she could really rely on someone? Brent almost made her think it might be possible. She’d always stood alone and prided herself in it. Seeing the mess needy Lori had made of her life only added incentive, even when Dad… No, she was not going there.

  Brent was a guy. He couldn’t help it. And Finnley, too. No matter how Allison raised him, he was going to turn out like all other men. But that couldn’t be. If she really believed that, wouldn’t she have left him in some foster home in Tucson? Why bother getting attached to someone who’d only become a selfish abuser himself someday?

  Noel. Zach. Brent. All men? What about the grace of God? But this line of thought was going to get her in more trouble than holding firm in her all-men-are-in-it-for-themselves belief. If she opened up her mind, who knew what would swarm in?

  Allison had been deriving altogether too much comfort from the slight contact of her shoulder against Brent’s chest, his arm touching her back. How could she allow it and remain true to her convictions? And yet she didn’t move. She didn’t want to startle Finnley, after all, or Jane Eyre or her kittens. Best to remain still.

  In the distance, she heard Maddie yelling, but the kiddo didn’t sound upset. She just lived life out loud. Opposite of Finnley, that was for sure. Maddie’s voice sounded nearer, then nearer yet.

  Allison shifted away from Brent, the contact spots immediately chilling. She turned to look toward the house. Indeed, Jo walked toward them, Maddie running at her side and singing some unrecognizable song at the top of her lungs.

  Finnley froze, his hand still in the kitten’s attack zone. He turned slightly to take in the approaching pair. Appraising them for safeness, no doubt.

  “Hey, buddy. That little girl is Madelynn. We call her Maddie sometimes. She’s younger than you, but she can be your friend.”

  Finnley’s gaze slipped to Allison then back.

  So far, so good. She hadn’t even had to go through Rover to talk to him this time. “The lady’s name is Jo. She’s Maddie’s mommy.” Hmm, that might not be much comfort. “She loves Maddie very much and would never hurt her.”

  “Yoo-hoo!” hollered Jo. “You found the kittens. We wondered where Jane Eyre had them holed up.”

  “Right here,” Allison called back. “Want to come see them, Maddie?”

  “Kittens!” Maddie let go of her mom’s hand and charged toward them.

  Finnley flinched. The kittens scattered. Only Jane Eyre stayed put under Brent’s stroking hand.

  Allison raised her eyebrows and shook her head. Who’d have guessed that one?

  “Maddie, you’re scaring the babies.” Jo chuckled and sat down beside Brent. She glanced over at Finnley. “Hi there, little guy. My name is Jo.”

  Maddie saw Finnley for the first time. She ran toward him, stopping mere inches from his knees. The boy reared back, bringing up his cast arm in front of his face.

  “Whoa, Maddie!” Allison snagged the toddler and tugged her sideways out of her nephew’s bubble. “This is Finnley. He’s here to be your friend. Finnley, this is Maddie.”

  Maddie tipped her head and considered the boy. “Friend?”

  “Yes. Someone to play with and have adventures with.”

  The tyke nodded eagerly. “Play. Maddie share toys.”

  “Good job, kiddo. Right now Finnley wants to play with the kittens.”

  Maddie swiveled to see them. They were back to pouncing on each other near the pile of lumber. “Kittens soft?”

  “Yes, they are.” Allison grinned. “Except for their teeth and claws. You have to be gentle with them.”

  “Gentle. Kittens soft.” She pulled away from Allison and ran toward the lumber. The felines fled.

  Brent chuckled. “That went pretty well.”

  A sidelong glance at Finnley revealed his wide eyes staring at Maddie, his arm no longer in a defensive position. If anything, the boy looked a little curious.

  Well, Maddie had that effect on people. Impossible to ignore. Impossible not to love. Allison should know. She’d only been here a month herself and already the toddler had her wrapped around her little finger.

  Allison leaned toward Finnley. “Maddie is sometimes very loud.”

  “Loud!” yelled Maddie, running around the lumber stack.

  It would be good for Finnley to have Maddie around. Kind of like a little sister for him, or a cousin. Jo’s kids — and maybe Claire’s, someday — were as close as the little guy would ever have to cousins. Allison certainly wouldn’t have any.

  The image of newborn Finnley popped into her mind. She’d have a baby that looked a lot like him if she married Brent. One happy part-Korean family.

  Right. So not going to happen.

  Allison pulled to her feet and stepped out of the semi-circle. “Come on, Finnley. Let’s go back to our little house.”

  Her nephew looked at her then at Maddie, who hadn’t yet stopped running and hollering for the kittens to come to her. Because chasing them would help.

  “Finnley.”

  His little jaw set firm.

  Oh, man. She was doing it, wasn’t she? But this was too much closeness. Too much pretending there was a future. There wasn’t. Just her and Finnley, and he was already more attuned to Maddie and Jane Eyre than to her. She could make him come, but that was the worst idea she’d had all week. The boy didn’t need someone else telling him what to do — or else.

  Allison swallowed the anger that wrestled with panic in her throat. She was the adult. Finnley needed safety. He needed to matter. The time to demand obedience would come, but later. Not just because she’d had a panic attack.

  Brent’s worried gaze lifted to hers. “You okay?” he asked, so low Jo was unlikely to hear.

  She blinked back tears. “Maybe.” She closed her eyes and breathed a prayer. Breathed some air, too. In and out. In and out. “I guess we can stay here a little longer.” She walked around to the other side of Finnley before settling back onto the ground.

  Brent was addictive. Best to keep a distance. She couldn’t allow herself to depend on him.

  Chapter 15

  He could understand why Allison thought she’d better wait another week before taking Finnley to church. The boy had made considerable progress yesterday, not quite smiling at Maddie, but not cowering from her again, either. He’d solemnly eyed everyone on the farm as Allison introduced him, clutching his teddy bear behind his cast and a kitten in his other arm, and had even managed dinner with the group.

  Brent parked his truck beside the two from Green Acres Farm that he’d followed home from church. Back from church. Not home. As appealing as this place was, he needed to remember he was only a visitor. Only temporary.

  Once he knew Finnley had settled in and Allison had adjusted, he’d back off again. Stick to getting her house and school built and driving back to Coeur d’Alene every weekend. To his lonely, cold apartment.

  Moths that insisted on circling a flame generally got burned to a crisp. The warmth he felt inside and out in Allison’s presence wasn’t worth the eventual scorch marks on his soul.

  He could tell himself that all he wanted. Still, he kept circling. Rig
ht now it was a wide circle, as he walked beside Noel and Claire to the big house steps with Allison nowhere in sight.

  “So glad you could join us today.” Noel’s eyes held a wicked gleam.

  “Hmm?” Brent hadn’t been looking at Allison’s duplex, had he?

  “We can always use another hand in the kitchen on Sunday.”

  From behind them, Jo laughed. “Did Noel forget to mention the guys cook Sunday lunch most weeks?”

  Brent scratched his head. “Uh... so long as I’m told what to do it should all be good. I’ve been in a kitchen before.”

  “Oh, telling people what to do is one of Noel’s talents.” Zach reached past Brent for the door, holding it open as everyone trooped in ahead of him.

  Noel draped an apron proclaiming him King of the Kitchen over his neck then grinned and pointed at a door behind him. “There are more where that came from. Help yourself.”

  Brent followed Zach across the kitchen and into the adjoining room. A pantry? Wowzer. He’d never seen so much food in one place outside a supermarket. “You guys are prepared for the apocalypse.”

  Zach laughed. “Pretty much. But we’ve gone through a whole lot over the winter. See the empty canning jars? All once full of food.”

  Row upon row of sparkling glass jars spread over several shelves. The room must have looked amazing when all of them were full. Brent could barely imagine the work of preparing all that, but he’d bet it tasted great.

  “Which do you want?” Zach looped an apron over his head.

  Brent read the front. “World’s Okayest Chef?”

  “Yep.” Zach chuckled. “I know my limits. I can’t claim a higher title than that.”

  “What else is there?” Brent had seen some mighty suggestive ones when a former girlfriend had once dragged him into an x-rated shop. Surely these guys would have cleaner taste.

  Your Opinion is Not on the Menu.

  Stand Clear. Man Cooking.

  Real Men Cook.

  Brent shook his head and reached for Dude with the Food. Sounded all right. He followed Zach back into the kitchen.

  “Hey, man, can you shave that cheese paper thin?” Noel pointed to the far side of the large Green Acres kitchen. “There’s a meat slicer over there. Then run the ham through.”

  Brent shrugged. “Sure.” He washed his hands in the kitchen sink. “What are we making?” This whole cooking-with-a-bunch-of-guys thing was just weird.

  “Chicken Cordon Bleu.” Noel placed waxed paper over an array of chicken breasts. “Don’t worry, we use the legs and backs for other meals.”

  Uh. He’d been expected to fret about that?

  Zach dumped a small bag of potatoes into the sink. “We raised the chickens ourselves. Nothing goes to waste around here.”

  Half a dozen adults ate here regularly. “It must take a lot of birds to feed a crew this size.”

  “You have no idea.” Noel began whacking the breasts with a mallet.

  “We eat more beef, pork, and lamb. Especially beef.” Zach grabbed a scrub brush and turned on the faucet. “More meat for less labor.”

  Brent picked up the chunk of cheese from the butcher-block island and crossed to the slicer. “So I should be honored you’re sharing chicken with me.”

  Noel laughed. “I guess so.”

  The zing of the electric motor drowned out the other guys’ conversation. Brent set the cheese slices on the plate and switched to cutting ham. A minute later he turned off the slicer and returned the food to the island. “What now?”

  Zach opened the oven door in the massive rock wall and tucked a slew of whole potatoes onto a rack.

  “A layer of cheese, a layer of ham.” Noel set a plate of crumbs beside the meat. “If you can get that, Zach will roll, and I’ll start cooking.”

  Brent nodded and began assembling the parts.

  It didn’t take long before Noel had two cast iron frying pans full of sizzling roll-ups. “Into the oven with them.” He suited action to his words then began cleaning the butcher-block island. “Get some green beans out of the freezer?” he asked Zach. “We’ll stir-fry them.”

  Brent tried to think ahead. “Do we serve at the table or cafeteria style?”

  “At the table.” Noel pointed at open shelving above the peninsula. “If you want to start setting it, there’s what you need.”

  He remembered the seating arrangement from yesterday. He’d sat on the same side of the farmhouse table as Allison, with Finnley between them. Like Zach and Jo sat on either side of Maddie. Like a family.

  Dangerous territory. This hanging out with the guys who lived here, acting like one of the crew… this wasn’t a good thing any more than dreaming up reasons to be near Allison or trying to coax a smile onto Finnley’s face. Though God knew Allison needed someone, and so did her nephew.

  Only not him. Someone pure, someone with a solid Christian walk stretching back to birth. A man of God. A leader. So many things Brent wasn’t. Yes, God had forgiven him. Yes, he’d been devoted to following Jesus for several years now, but his past still haunted him.

  He set plates around the table and arranged the cutlery the way his mama had taught him.

  The door opened and Allison entered with Finnley. For an instant she stood framed against the brightness of an early spring day. Like a halo around her. No doubt she’d find that thought distasteful.

  “Hey, squirt.” Brent couldn’t bring himself to speak to Allison. He’d choke on his words for sure. “Did you bring Rover with you?”

  The boy, dark eyes so much like Brent’s own, looked up for a moment before shaking his head slightly.

  Brent grinned at Allison. A win!

  She gave him a pensive smile in return before guiding Finnley to the great room where Maddie set out rows of wooden farm animals.

  Brent was wedged between a truss and a kingpin. He’d spent too much time dreaming lately, and too little praying. Surely if he asked God for direction, he’d receive it?

  * * *

  Finnley sat on the rock hearth and watched Madelynn, who paraded one toy or book after another in front of him. “Maddie share.” She thrust a wooden sheep at his face then pulled it away.

  Well, the little guy hadn’t reached for it, so Allison guessed that version of sharing was fine for the moment. Still, she couldn’t help but think that was how she gave problems to God, too. Here you go, God. You can have this mess. All my problems. Now I’ll take them back. Thanks, anyway.

  “What day is Gabe getting home?” Claire asked Sierra.

  “His last exam is next week Thursday. He’ll drive home Friday.”

  “Gives us two months to finish planning the wedding. How are you at decorating, Allison?”

  Allison jerked her gaze to Claire. “Me? Not really my thing.” She managed a small smile. “I don’t think Sierra wants everything in black and white and gray.” She’d seen the dress the maid-of-honor was to wear, a frothy lilac-colored thing. It would look great on Sierra’s sister, Chelsea, who loved everything girlie.

  “Sounds perfect to me,” Claire deadpanned. “A wedding is a solemn affair.” She ducked the decorative cushion Sierra tossed at her head.

  Finnley’s eyes grew wider as the women laughed.

  Allison would bet dollars to Dobermans he’d witnessed many flying objects, all of them intended to do more damage than a pillow between friends.

  “You’re one to talk, you with the Christmas wedding. You totally cheated, making use of an already-decorated church.”

  Claire laughed. “We brought in a ton of extra poinsettias. Besides, I like red.”

  Sierra scrunched up her face. “Red schmed. Not for me.”

  Jo lowered herself to the arm of an easy chair. “The nursing home enjoyed those plants. I know Zach’s grandmother adored the ones we put in her room.”

  Allison had never met the old lady before she died, but everyone spoke of Mrs. Humbert so fondly.

  “Still seems strange to see someone else in two-twenty-four.�
� Jo sighed and twisted her wedding rings. “I miss her.”

  Maddie patted Jo’s leg. “Mama sad?”

  Jo slid to the floor and gathered her little daughter in her arms.

  Allison’s eyebrows went up. That was about the most snuggling she’d seen the little whirlwind do. She glanced at Finnley, who watched, a puzzled frown on his face. Someday soon — please, Lord — she’d be able to hug him, too.

  “I’m glad we have photos of your great-grandmother holding you, baby girl. Did you know her name was Grace, just like your middle name?”

  Maddie squeezed Jo’s cheeks between pudgy hands. “Madelynn Grace.”

  “That’s right.”

  Maddie extricated herself from Jo’s arms and ran to Finnley, poking his chest. “Finnley Grace.”

  Allison chuckled. “More like Finnley Daniel. Not sure where my sister got either of his names from. There are no Finnleys or Daniels in our family. Not that she’d have wanted to name him for our father.”

  “I’m a sap for family names,” Sierra said. “But Gabe says his is one we won’t saddle a kid with. Ever.”

  Jo’s hand rested on her belly. “Gabriel is a great name. Zach thinks that’s what we should call our baby if it’s a boy.”

  Sierra chucked another cushion at Jo’s head, and she toppled over, laughing.

  “Mama owie?” Maddie leaned over her.

  “No, I’m fine, baby girl. Auntie Sierra keeps throwing things at Mommy.”

  Maddie put both hands on her hips and glared at Sierra. “No, Auntie Sera. Stop.”

  Little knots inside Allison loosened. Unraveled. To think she’d been invited to join this sisterhood. This family. Well, she’d invited herself, but they’d received her with open arms. Her, and now Finnley.

  She walked over and dropped beside him on the hearth. Not too close. “How are you doing, buddy? Is your tummy hungry?”

  He gave a wee nod.

  Allison leaned a bit closer and whispered. “I’m so glad you came to stay with me, Finnley. I love you.”

  He glanced up at her, dark eyes bright, and his little lips twitched.