by Jenna Mindel
“Don’t worry about the dishes, Eva. I can take care of them later.”
Her eyebrows rose. “Really Adam, I don’t mind. You cooked, I’ll clean up.”
Eva looked at her brother, whose eyelids were drooping. Maybe she should have left the dishes alone, but it was too late. Ryan was going to crash.
“Do you mind if I sprawl on your couch for a few?” her brother asked.
“Go ahead,” Adam said.
Eva placed the dishes by the sink as Adam came in with an armload of bottled salad dressings. She opened the fridge for him, wondering what to say. “When we were kids, Ryan took a nap after dinner to get out of doing the dishes. He’s conditioned now. Dinner, then nap.”
Adam laughed. “You could have left the dishes for him to do after he woke up.”
Eva shrugged. “Even as a kid, I couldn’t stand a mess.”
They cleared off the table, put away leftovers and loaded the dishwasher in less than fifteen minutes while Ryan snoozed.
“Want some ice cream?”
“Sure.” Eva sat on a stool pulled up to the breakfast bar on the other side of the sink. She watched Adam scoop chocolate and coffee ice cream into bowls. He handed one to her, then stayed in the kitchen, leaning against the sink while he dug in.
“Did you have fun with your friends?” Eva gave small talk a try.
Adam shrugged. “It was okay. My college roommates and their wives and some friends got together for a weekend reunion, if you will. One of my school buddy’s parents owns a house on West Bay.”
“Ah.” Eva couldn’t think of another question that wouldn’t sound as if she was being nosy.
“We’re all different guys now. I’m different.” Adam took another bite of his ice cream. “Things change.”
Eva was all too aware of that. “Yes. They do.”
An awkward silence settled between them, until Adam cleared his throat. “Look, Eva, I want to apologize.”
“For what?” But she knew.
He set his half-eaten bowl of ice cream on the counter and looked at her. “My comment earlier. I didn’t mean to imply anything by it.”
Eva set her spoon down with a clink against her bowl. “No big deal.”
He didn’t look as if he believed her. “I’ve had my share of unfortunate encounters, so I’ve learned to keep my guard up. I’m sorry if I insulted your integrity. That wasn’t my intent.”
Eva knew all about keeping her guard up, too. Only she’d built a wall, a small fortress really. “It’s okay.”
Adam ran a hand through his hair. “Good.”
She picked up her bowl and took a hearty bite of ice cream. Some of it dribbled down her chin. She searched for a napkin.
“Here.” Adam handed her one. His eyes were filled with mirth.
Great, now she looked like a slob.
It hadn’t dawned on Eva that people, especially women, would take advantage of him. Her first impression was the other way around. But after spending an afternoon skiing with Adam, and seeing the easy way he had with her and Ryan, those initial thoughts were way off. Adam Peece was a nice guy. A really nice guy. And a believer. For real.
“Are we okay, then?” he asked with a smile.
“Yup.” Eva closed her eyes in an attempt to stop the brain freeze blasting through her head from the gigantic spoonful of ice cream she’d practically inhaled.
“Tomorrow. Pruning same time?”
“Eight o’clock.” Eva nodded.
Ryan was tied up with meetings, so he wouldn’t be joining them. Eva had no choice but to get used to working alongside Adam. It’d be just the two of them alone in the field. Something she’d better get used to real quick. She had a job to do and she couldn’t afford not to do it well.
Chapter Five
Eva checked her watch again. Adam had called and promised to be here by nine. It was past that. He’d taken Friday off to go downstate, and now it was Monday morning—no Adam. The past two weeks, they’d worked well together pruning sweet cherry trees. He’d caught on quickly, eventually bypassing the number of trees she’d trimmed. He enjoyed reminding her of that fact a little too often.
Another peek at the time. Nine twenty. She climbed onto her ATV hooked up to the wagon loaded with gear and started the engine. She wasn’t waiting around any longer. He could find his way on his own. Revving the throttle, she pulled out of the garage and then stopped when she spotted Adam’s dark blue Jeep pulling in.
He slipped into his coveralls, grabbed his gear and sauntered toward her. He looked pale and there were dark circles under his eyes. “Sorry.”
“Rough weekend?” Her voice came out sharper than she’d intended. He’d told her that he’d changed from his old life. Was that a lie?
“What’s with you this morning?”
“You look terrible,” she said.
His lips curved into a sardonic smile. “Thanks. I don’t feel too good, so if we can cut the pleasantries and get started that would be great.”
Eva’s eyes narrowed. Maybe she should test him and make sure he really had changed. “You’re grumpy when you’re hungover.”
His eyes widened with offense, or maybe it was hurt that she’d think that. “I’m not hungover. I didn’t get a good night’s sleep because of a killer headache.”
“Did you take something? I’ve got meds in the house.” Eva felt a whole lot happier knowing he hadn’t been partying. A little guilty, too, for thinking the worst.
“I’m fine. Let’s go. The fresh air will help.”
“Your four-wheeler is gassed up and ready.” Eva smiled.
With a nod, he climbed on and started the engine. Adam Peece was bristly as a bear this morning. He could have skipped today if he felt that bad. He was no different than every male in her family who acted as if they could beat sickness by ignoring it.
Once in the field, Eva kept glancing at Adam working a couple of trees away. The morning had dawned clear with weak winter sunshine filtering through the orchard. The golden haze gave the frosted trees a fairylike glimmer. But Adam, garbed in a down jacket with matching coveralls, made for one overdressed Oberon.
“What?” He caught her watching him.
“Just making sure you’re okay.”
“I’m fine.”
“How was your weekend?” Eva asked.
Adam gave her a wry grin. “My father made himself scarce because his wife and their two kids were sick.”
“How old are they?”
“Heather is twenty-nine, Cinda is four and Bella’s two.”
Eva felt her eyes bulge. She’d meant the kids. “Wait. Heather’s your—”
“My dad’s wife.” Adam sliced a branch as if he had a score to settle with the tree.
“Two little ones in the family must be fun.” Eva rebounded from the shock of his stepmother’s age with a disconcerting image of Adam bouncing two toddlers on each knee.
“No use backtracking, Eva. I know what you’re thinking and, yes, it’s weird having a stepmother who’s the same age as me.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be.” A cut branch fell to the ground.
“How long have they been married?”
Adam let loose a cynical-sounding laugh. “Four years. Who knows how long this one will last.”
Another vicious chop. Then he paused. “That’s probably not fair to Heather. She’s okay.”
Eva moved to the next tree. Climbing her ladder, she had to know. “How many times has your dad been married?”
“Heather is wife number four.”
“Four?” Eva breathed.
“He pays alimony to two exes. Peece Canning Profit Share takes on new meaning after you’ve married the boss.” Adam’s voice dripped scorn.
No wonder Adam wasn’t married. “What about your mom?”
His face softened. “She died from cancer when I was nine.”
The picture of Adam’s mother with all that flaming-red hair and brilliant blue eyes like her son’
s flashed in her mind with a twinge of sorrow. “I saw a picture of your mom at your town house. I’m really sorry.”
“Yeah, me, too. She was a strong woman right up to the end.” Even with the distance between them, Eva could read the intensity in his eyes.
“What was her name?”
“Catherine.”
Eva couldn’t look away from him. “A beautiful name for a beautiful woman. Even though my parents are miles away, I don’t know what I’d do without either one of them.”
“I lost my way for a long while, but I’m back on the right path. This time I’m staying on it.”
“That’s good.” But her heart ached for him. He’d been so young when he lost his mother. With his father’s remarriages, it was no wonder Adam kept his guard up. Another unexpected tidbit of Adam’s life struck a chord within her, making him more approachable. Even more likeable.
Adam felt as if he’d been talking too much this morning. With every frosty puff of air, his throat felt raw, but he didn’t want this conversation to end. “What about you? You grew up in a Christian home. Did you ever stray from what you’d been taught to believe in?”
“Not really.” Eva looked away from him as she positioned her loppers around a thin branch.
Her shuttered response made him curious. “No drunken rebellion? No questioning your purpose in life?”
“Everyone questions his or her purpose,” she finally said. “Or at least they should.”
He cocked his head, pruning completely forgotten. “And what’d you find out?”
She shrugged. “We’re designed to have a relationship with God because we’re made in His image.”
Adam considered her answer a cop-out. Like Lake Michigan, there were hidden depths to Eva Marsh. She didn’t ’fess up easily, but something about the stiff way she sat during church told him she’d been going through the motions. “Sounds pretty textbook to me. What about the practical stuff?”
“Peece, these sweets won’t prune themselves.”
He chuckled at her effective shutout. He’d take her no trespassing hint even though it made him that much more curious about her. “Now who’s grumpy?”
She grinned. “Not me.”
“No?” He’d seen the impatient look on her face when he’d pulled in late. This morning’s headache found company with aches deep in his muscles about an hour ago. The fresh air wasn’t helping. Despite moving around, he couldn’t get warm.
Eva let out a sigh. “I’m getting sick of snow. It doesn’t help that every time I talk to my folks, my father gives me their weather report. Do you know how warm it is in the Keys right now?”
“Why don’t you visit them when we’re done pruning? You said yourself there’s a bit of a break until the snow melts. We agreed to paid vacation, so why not take it?” He grabbed his milk crate and moved to the next tree.
“Flights out of Traverse City are too expensive.”
“So? Fly out of Detroit.” He watched Eva make busy work of snapping back straggly branches.
She let out another sigh. “I’m not a fan of the city.”
“But you spent a year in New York.” He remembered that she’d studied pastry there. He tended to remember a lot about Eva.
“I felt safe in New York.”
“What are you afraid of?” The words slipped out before he could catch them. A woman had every reason to be cautious, but catching a flight out of a major airport shouldn’t be a big deal.
“I’m the play-it-safe one in the Marsh family and Detroit’s a scary place. At least to me.” She laughed as if trying to make light of her answer.
“My dad’s place has plenty of room if you’d like to stay there instead of a hotel. I’d drive you to the airport. Although, the Peece estate can be a scary place with two little girls flying around like a couple of birds and just as noisy.”
Her eyes widened. “Look, Peece—”
He felt as surprised as she looked. He’d never invited a woman to his father’s home before, but he wanted his family to meet Eva. Maybe it was about proving to his dad that he could work with an attractive woman and not get involved. Or to show his sister that he knew a nice girl. Not that he was looking. His faith felt too fragile to risk losing it with an ill-timed relationship.
Besides, Eva was the last person he should consider getting involved with. Not when the orchard was already between them. What if he failed to break even this season? He had a pretty good idea that she’d never forgive him if he lost this land. The deal with his father was something Eva need never know. He’d prove himself, and Marsh Orchards would be all his. Until then, he’d be wise to keep his relationship with Eva friendly but professional.
Still, he gave her a wink. “Think about it.”
By midafternoon, visiting her parents was all Eva could think about. There was no way she’d take Adam up on his gracious offer. Staying with his family would be way too weird. She’d feel out of place. Really, how would Adam introduce her? As his farm manager or his employee?
She glanced at Adam with concern. He hadn’t eaten much at lunch and he’d gotten awfully quiet. “Hey, are you okay?”
“I don’t know.” Adam sat on his milk crate and hung his head in his hands.
She pushed through the shin-deep snow until she stood in front of him. “What’s wrong?”
He lolled his head back so he could look up at her. The normally golden-olive tone of his skin held a sickly gray hue that wasn’t there this morning. “I feel lightheaded.”
“Because you didn’t eat.” Without hesitation, Eva slipped off her glove and touched his forehead with the back of her hand. “You’re hot.”
With a weak attempt at a grin Adam said, “I’m glad you think so.”
Eva rolled her eyes, but her stomach did a flip of its own. Even sick, the guy could charm. “Come on, Peece. Let’s call it quits for today. I think you’re running a fever.”
Adam groaned when he bent to pick up his crate.
“Can you drive the four-wheeler?”
“’Course I can.” He looked offended by her questioning his ability.
But Adam drove through the orchard at a snail’s pace. A sure sign that he was truly ill. Why hadn’t he stayed home today? What a classic stubborn guy thing to do—coming to work when he didn’t feel good.
After they pulled into the garage, Adam was slow to climb off the ATV. She sidled next to him. “Here, lean on me.”
“I can walk.” He pushed at her shoulder with the strength of a two-year-old.
“Maybe so, but if you pass out, there’s no way I can get you inside without help and Beth won’t be home for another hour.” She shifted his arm around her shoulders, breathing in the smell of winter air and ATV exhaust that still clung to both of them.
Adam didn’t look pleased about the situation. He looked uncomfortable and maybe even a little embarrassed. “I thought I could beat it.”
Eva couldn’t help but chuckle. “You know what they say, ‘Pride cometh before a fall.’”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
They made their way up the steps and into the house. Eva slipped off her outer garments while Adam wandered into the living room.
He slumped onto the couch. “I just need to lie here for a few minutes.”
Eva tossed kindling and small logs into the fireplace, then lit the pile with a match. The snap and crackle of flames licking the wood was the only sound in the quiet farmhouse. She glanced at Adam. His eyes were closed.
Bending over him, she gently slipped off his gloves and hat. When he didn’t stir, Eva unlaced his boots and dropped them to the floor. Even his wool socks looked expensive. She tucked his feet onto the couch and covered him with a thick throw blanket.
She touched his forehead again, fighting the urge to smooth back his hair and kiss his brow. What now?
“Thanks, Eva,” Adam croaked.
“You should take off your coat.”
“Just a quick nap and then I’ll head home.”
Eva knew better. Adam was in no condition to drive an hour to his town house. Whatever illness his little half sisters had suffered, he’d caught the same flu bug. And that meant he wouldn’t be fine any time soon.
“How is he?” Beth sat at the kitchen table with her schoolwork spread out around her.
“He’s still sleeping on the couch.” Eva glanced at the clock. It’d been almost three hours. Worry nagged her. She’d given him water and a pain reliever to fight the fever, but he’d zonked back out. “Should I wake him up?” Beth shrugged.
“Eva?”
She turned toward the sound of Adam’s craggy voice, and her stomach pitched with dread.
He leaned against the kitchen’s entryway. His face looked mottled and blotchy, his eyes glassy, his lips swollen. “What did you give me?”
Her mind went blank and then she remembered. “Ibuprofen.”
His eyes closed. “I’m allergic to it.”
“Why didn’t you say something?” Her voice sounded shrill as she flew out of her chair and rushed toward him. Oh, what had she done?
“We’ve got to get him to the emergency room,” Beth said.
“No, no. Got any Benedryl?” He was in his stocking feet, but still wore his coat and coveralls. He’d been too chilled to remove them. His sweat-soaked hair plastered his head.
Eva looked at Beth, but her roommate slipped on her coat and grabbed her purse. “Where are you going?”
“I’ll get the car. Eva, get Adam ready and let’s go.” Beth knew how to spot allergic reactions as part of her training as an elementary teacher. If she thought this was serious, it was.
Eva swallowed hard as she stared at Adam. “I’ll get your boots.”
Five minutes later, Eva slammed the back door of Beth’s car and climbed into the passenger seat. She turned to keep her eye on Adam, who sprawled in the backseat. He wasn’t saying much, and he kept swallowing as if he were having trouble breathing. The nearest emergency room was twenty miles away in Traverse City. What if—
“Dear Lord, please let him be okay,” she whispered.
“Amen.” Beth sped up.
They made it to the hospital in record time, despite the wintry road conditions. Eva rushed inside the E.R. with Adam while Beth parked.