Will conceded, showing off his dimples in a way that made Katie’s heart pitter-patter in her chest. “Fair enough. If it were planting season, I’d be up at the crack of dawn, but since we’re harvesting, Dad likes to wait until the sun has burned off the frost so the corn we take to the elevator is as dry as possible. Hence my ability to sleep in. Besides, I might not be at the office for work, but I’ve put in a few late nights catching up with projects since so much of my work can be done from home.”
Katie nodded curtly, keeping a straight face even though she wanted nothing more than to bat her eyes and simper at Will. “Fair enough.”
Carol grinned at her son. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were enjoying your time in Blessings.”
“Don’t get your hopes up, Momma. That nine to five job up in Des Moines is helping me pay off my student loans, and I enjoy what I’m doing. Plus, living up there, I can go for days without so much as seeing a tractor in passing.”
Will’s comment made Carol’s brow furrow. “Since when have you decided you hated tractors? Ever since you were little, we couldn’t keep you off of them. If you ever went missing, I knew I could find you in the machine shed, sitting on your daddy’s John Deere.”
“I’m teasing,” Will said as he folded his arms across his stomach. Katie couldn’t help but admire the way the muscles in his forearms moved as he tucked his hands next to his ribs to keep them warm. Heat crept up her neck, and she had to turn and set down the jars on the corner of a large butcher block island, hoping no one else noticed her traitorous skin.
“So, maybe you’re seeing the merits of small town living once more?” Katie could hear the hope in Carol’s voice, and Katie thought she saw Carol briefly crossing her fingers behind her back.
Will’s eyes—a golden hazel that reminded her of the acres of unharvested cornfields that belonged to the Ryans—flicked over to Katie’s, and she found herself unable to look away.
“I’m definitely charmed more with it than when I used to live here,” Will confessed.
With her heart jumping into her throat, Katie wondered if there was a double meaning to Will’s words. Chewing her lip, she tried to untangle the confusing web of emotions Will brought out in her. The man was a conundrum. One minute he was grumpy about being back in Blessings, the next he sounded like he missed it, and if Katie wasn’t imagining things, he was flirting with her. Why would a man who wasn’t staying where Katie lived any longer than he needed to bother showing interest in her, when it would inevitably lead to a long-distance relationship? She didn’t want to get her hopes up, but it was difficult not to when Will flashed his gorgeous smile in her direction.
“Well,” Will said, clapping his hands and rubbing them together, “what are you two up to today?”
“Katie’s helping me catch up with canning so I can have a full booth at the Harvest Festival,” Carol said. “Between the two of you, I might be able to get this farm back on track. That is, if you and your father get to work harvesting that corn. At the rate you’re going, it’s not going to be finished until we’re unwrapping Christmas presents.”
“Mom,” Will said, chuckling, “we’re working as hard as we can. I’ve had to help Dad tune up some of his machines since he hasn’t done the preseason work because of his shoulder. It’s been taking a bit longer than expected.”
“Needing parts?” Carol asked. “I can run to town to get them if that’s what’s holding you up.”
Blowing out a breath, Will shook his head. “Nah, it’s not that.”
“What is it then?” his mother asked.
Will rubbed the back of his neck. “I might be a bit...lacking with my mechanics skills lately. Other than changing the oil in my car, there aren’t a lot of other chances to turn a wrench where I’m living.”
Carol laughed, the same free-spirited one that Charlotte had inherited from her. “Boy, you’re going soft sitting behind a computer all day.”
Will straightened his shoulders and said, “Not soft. Rusty.”
“Right,” said Carol. “As much as I’d love to tease you about turning into a city boy, I need to get Katie out of here while the sun’s still shining so she can pick up the donations she needs.”
“Donations?” Will asked, his interest piqued. “What for? Wait. Let me guess. You’re running a cardigan drive for all your loyal customers.”
Shoving him hard, Katie knocked Will off balance, and he stumbled back.
“William Ryan, I can’t believe you!” Katie said sternly.
Laughing, Will held his hands up in surrender. “I’m just kidding. Seriously. I know your customers aren’t all old folks, just most of them.”
“You’re grumpy enough to prequalify as an old man, so watch it,” Katie said.
Will gave her a penitent, puppy-dog-eyed look that made them both start sputtering laughter until they gave up and let it all out, clutching their stomachs. When Will caught his breath, he asked, “Seriously, though. What are you picking up?”
“She’s collecting food for a Thanksgiving luncheon she’s putting on at the café,” Carol answered, wrapping her arm around Katie’s shoulders and pulling her in close enough that she could smell Carol’s flowery perfume. “Isn’t that sweet of her? Taking care of all the elderly and lonely around town? So like Katie to do that.”
Tucking her chin into her chest, she tried to take Carol’s praise gracefully, but having Will there made her feel shy about it.
“That does sound like the Katie I always knew,” Will agreed. Katie’s cheeks burned anew. “You need a hand picking stuff up? I’m helping my dad today, but should be done no later than seven.”
“No, no,” Katie refused. “That’s a long, hard workday for you. I can manage.”
Will raised his eyebrows. “Ah. Right, I forgot. You’re a strong, independent, modern woman who doesn’t need anyone.”
“It’s not that,” Katie said, laughing at Will’s jab. “Your sister’s already helping me. Otherwise, I would take you up on your offer.” Right then, Katie’s phone trilled in her pocket. Pulling it out, she looked at the screen. “Speaking of, Charlotte’s calling right now.”
Answering the phone, Charlotte spoke before Katie could even say hello. “I’m sorry!”
“Sorry about what?” Katie asked.
“I’m not going to be able to go with you today. I’ve had to totally rework my schedule to accommodate the people I had to displace when Mrs. Stanley came in unexpectedly.” Dropping her voice to a whisper, Charlotte said, “She forgot she had that whitening shampoo in her hair. You know, the blue kind for old ladies? While it was setting, it ended up dying her hair a very lovely but very permanent shade of blueberry. She felt awful.”
Katie smiled at the thought but vowed never to say a word to another living soul about Mrs. Stanley’s blunder. “No worries. Honestly. I can get it myself.”
“Are you sure?” Charlotte asked.
“Positive. You take care of your clients. I can get the food in my car.”
Charlotte protested, “But you drive an itty-bitty car that barely has enough room for you and your purse.”
“If I have to take two trips, it’ll be fine.”
“Katie,” Charlotte said with relief, “you’re the best. I’ll catch up with you later.”
Katie hung up to find Will and Carol watching her with great interest.
“What?” Katie asked, slightly uncomfortable under their scrutinizing gazes.
“Charlotte flake on you?” Will asked.
“It’s not like that,” Katie protested. “She had some emergencies come up at work.”
“I’m going to have to insist, then,” Will said.
Tipping her head, Katie knit her eyebrows together. “On what?”
“Going with you.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Will jiggled his leg as he sat at the curb of Katie’s small but neatly kept bungalow, coaching himself before he got out of his parent’s 1980’s Chevy and knocked on her r
ed front door.
“It’s not a date. I’m only helping her get the stuff she needs for her luncheon so she doesn’t have to pick it up alone,” Will muttered to himself. “I’m being neighborly is all. It’s not a date.”
Will knew he was lying—he couldn’t even look at himself in the rearview mirror. After he’d called Katie, he’d hurried from his parents’ house, showered, parted his unruly, dark hair, and used a generous helping of cologne, hoping he didn’t have any residual sweat or diesel odor clinging to him. He’d spent the morning trying to help his dad harvest, but when everything went wrong, and they had to call it quits, the first thought that jumped into his head was that he’d get to see Katie earlier than expected. It didn’t surprise him how happy that thought made him, even though he knew things could never work out between them. Maybe not going to the Harvest Festival Ball was for the best anyway.
Drawing in a deep breath to try and calm his pounding heart, he gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles were white. Reaching for the door handle, he was ready to go get Katie, but before he could step out, he saw her peek out behind her curtains, smile at the sight of him and wave. Will exited the truck and rested his arm over the door as Katie skipped down the steps toward him.
“I was wondering if you were coming to get me or if you were having some alone time,” Katie said.
Will couldn’t help but soak her in. She’d replaced her old jeans and flannel shirt with a long scarlet sweater and leggings with a busy but stylish print. Zipping up her jacket, she tossed her sleek brunette hair behind her shoulder. As beautiful as she was cleaned up, Will had thought she was just as attractive as when she was wearing her ripped jeans with her hair piled atop her head in a messy bun.
“Oh, uh, I didn’t want to intrude. In case you weren’t ready,” Will fibbed. He wasn’t about to admit he’d been getting the butterflies in his stomach under control before he had the chance to have some one-on-on time with Katie. “I thought we could take my parent’s truck so you didn’t have to take a second trip.”
“Are you sure?” Katie asked, her brown eyes focused on him. “I’m more than happy to drive.”
Will snorted. “In your little car? You wouldn’t be able to fit more than two cans of corn in the trunk.”
Katie tipped her head back and laughed. “What is it with you Ryans hating on my car? I’ll have you know it’s a very comfortable, economical vehicle.”
“It may be, but I think my knees would be in my chest if I tried to get in.”
Katie laughed again, a sound that made Will happier than he’d felt in a long time. “Alright. You drive, I’ll navigate.”
Pulling the squeaky door open, Katie slid in and buckled up, folding her hands in her lap.
“Don’t you need a map?” Will asked as he started the engine.
A slow smirk slid across her lips. “You seem to forget I’ve lived in Blessings my entire life. I know this place like the back of my hand. I do however have a list so I don’t forget anybody.”
“Sounds good,” Will said, slinging his arm across the back of the seat. For a second, he considered retracting it—he didn’t want Katie think he was trying to schmooze her—but decided it’d look dumber if he looked indecisive. Besides, she didn’t seem to mind where he’d placed his arm. “Where to?”
Katie pulled a list from the pocket of her jacket, glanced quickly over it, figured out the best route and directed him where to go. Tossing her list up on the dashboard, she asked, “What brings you over here so early anyway? I thought you and your dad were working until the evening, and according to my watch,” she pulled back the sleeve of her jacket and twisted her wrist toward her, “it’s only four in the afternoon.”
Will kept his eyes on the road, trying to figure out how to explain why he was done earlier than expected without sounding like a fool. “Yeah, that was the plan.”
Katie delicately touched Will’s arm but retracted like she’d touched a hot stove, brushing her hair behind her ear instead. “Please tell me you didn’t ditch your dad to help me. I can pick all this stuff up by myself. I might be petite but I’m not a weakling.”
“Petite? Is that what short people call themselves?”
Katie playfully smacked his arm. “Not everyone can be eight feet tall.”
“Six one,” Will corrected.
Shifting in her seat to face Will, she repeated, “Seriously, your dad isn’t working all by himself is he?”
“No, no,” Will interrupted, “it’s nothing like that. The work came to an unexpected halt, and there’s nothing to be done about it today.”
“Is everything alright?”
“Yeah,” Will said slowly. Rubbing the back of his neck, he admitted, “I sort of got the grain wagon and tractor stuck in a patch of mud. Neighbors won’t be able to help us get it out until tomorrow morning because they’re finishing up their own fields.”
Katie looked out the window, running her finger across her lips. With a sideways glance, Will tried to figure out what she was thinking. Unexpectedly, a snort escaped her, followed by full-on giggling.
“What?” Will asked.
Between breaths, Katie spit out, “Your mom is right. You really are becoming a city boy.”
Will shook his head, trying to suppress his own laughter but failing miserably. As he joined Katie, he had to agree. “It was a pretty rookie mistake on my part. I guess I was in a hurry to see you.”
Immediately, Will wished he could take back what he’d said. It wasn’t untrue, but he was putting himself on the line without a clear confirmation that Katie felt the same way. Besides, even if she did, he’d made his home elsewhere, and there was no question that Katie would die in the same town she was born in. Long-distance relationships seemed to start with the kiss of death.
Katie’s laughter died down, but a broad smile still reached all the way up to her eyes. She’d heard loud and clear what he’d said, making the conversation come to a screeching halt. Pulling up to a two-story brick home, Will thanked his lucky stars that they were already at their first stop.
Stopping in the driveway, Will killed the engine. Unbuckling herself, Katie grabbed the handle and pulled, but the door refused to budge. She tried again.
“I can’t seem to get my door open,” she said, trying the handle again.
Will raised his eyebrows and teased, “I thought you said you weren’t a weakling.”
Katie rolled her eyes. “I’m not.” She cranked down the window and reached for the outside handle, having the same luck as before. “Do I have to crawl out the window to get out? Because being small would be an advantage in that case.”
“Here,” Will said with a chuckle. “This truck has lots of personality, which sometimes means it can get a tad grumpy.”
He leaned over to reach the handle, getting a pleasant lungful of Katie’s perfume. Realizing just how close he was to her, the temperature in the cab of the truck seemed to raise several degrees as he worked the kink out of the door.
“Voilà,” he said as it eased open.
Katie clasped her hands together and batted her eyelashes melodramatically. “My hero.”
They both laughed, and Will could feel the tension easing away. Katie’s ability to make anyone feel comfortable whether she was serving them at the café, or diffusing what could be a terribly awkward car ride for him was a trait he admired in her. Though he’d only spent a handful of hours with her since being home, Will was reminded that Katie was someone special.
House after house, they drove a loop around town, filling Will’s truck bed with donations from businesses and generous residents. Katie had turned on the radio, cranking up the volume until it was blaring country music. When her favorite song came on, she squealed and clapped her hands, singing along with perfect pitch. While Katie danced in her seat, garnering a few funny looks from other drivers, Will couldn’t help but laugh at her free spirit and cheer her on.
“Aww,” Katie said, turning off the radio, “commercial
break.”
“It’s too bad. You put on a great show,” Will said.
Katie let out a relaxed sigh and put her hands behind her head. “Music does that to me. In another life, I might’ve been a superstar.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Will agreed. “Although, I’m not sure you would have ever survived leaving Blessings, stardom or not.”
Katie laughed lightly. “I know I give off the impression that I’m afraid of stepping outside the boundaries of our little town, but I actually do enjoy travel when I get the chance. I just like the idea of keeping myself rooted. Of having some place to call home.”
“Home can be anywhere you put your hat,” Will said, glancing at Katie as he took a right turn.
“Yes, but my mom always said the tradeoff is you can’t take all the people you love with you.”
“Your mom’s a smart woman. How is she, by the way?” Will asked. Waiting for her to answer, he realized the mood had changed when he caught Katie looking plaintively out the window, chewing on her thumb nail. “Did I say something wrong?”
His question brought Katie out of the shell she’d retreated into. Though her mouth was holding a perfect smile, her eyes were glossy with unshed tears. She tried to blink them back, but they clung stubbornly to her eyelashes before one fell freely and tumbled down her cheek. She swiped it away, and her lips pulled wider.
“No.”
Will opened his mouth, then shut it again as he thought of what to say. “No? Then why are you crying?”
“I suppose you haven’t heard?” Katie asked, turning her attention to a playground where a group of children were playing. When she looked at Will, he shook his head. Drawing in a deep breath, Katie said, “My mother passed away. Last year. Cancer, actually.”
Words escaped Will, and his mouth flopped open and closed as he tried to figure out what to say. Katie’s laugh was the last thing he thought he’d hear.
“What?” Will asked.
“You look like a hooked fish, with your mouth gaping open and shut like that,” she said through a gentle chuckle.
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