by Aurora Rey
“Aha.” Drew’s gaze followed the gesture. The kid played with enthusiasm and didn’t look a day over seventeen. “Is he even old enough to drink?”
Leda laughed. “Not yet. Which is one of the reasons his mom prefers him playing happy hour gigs at breweries instead of late nights at dive bars.”
Drew laughed. She was nowhere near even thinking about having kids, but could appreciate the sentiment.
“The two boys dancing around are ours,” Nick said.
Drew knew Nick had two sons, but she hadn’t met them yet. “Don’t you have a daughter, too?”
Leda nodded. “Kristen’s at tennis practice.”
“And I’m Jenn.” The woman Drew didn’t know stuck out her hand.
“Drew.” Drew shook the hand and smiled. “Were you at the restaurant opening?”
“I was.” She tipped her head toward Hannah. “That one let me sit at her VIP table.”
“Right. I knew you looked familiar.” Drew nodded, then turned her attention toward Hannah, which was what she’d wanted to do the second she saw her. “Hi again.”
“Hi.” Hannah’s smile was friendly, but seemed to hold back a little, like she was still uncertain of Drew as a person, or perhaps of her expanding presence in Hannah’s life.
“So, farmers get a day off, too?”
Hannah shrugged, her smile becoming more genuine. “Day might be generous.”
Jenn elbowed Hannah. “Be honest, you worked eight hours before coming out.”
“Six.” Hannah’s tone was adamant. Then she tipped her head back and forth a few times. “Ish.”
Nick chimed in. “If you think restaurant work is hard, you should try farming. I’ve helped out a couple of times and, honest to God, I thought I was going to die.”
“Stop.” Hannah looked exasperated, but in that teasing way friends have. Drew had a flash of hoping Hannah would be playful with her someday. Well, playful and—
Nick interrupted her train of thought. “‘We’re just going to weed the berries,’ she tells me. And then I can’t stand up straight for four days.”
“That is not what happened,” Hannah insisted.
Jenn lifted a finger. “I’m pretty sure it is, because the exact same thing happened to me.”
Hannah looked at Drew. “They exaggerate.”
Before Drew could respond, the music stopped and the lead singer announced they’d be back in ten. Nick and Leda’s nephew came over, along with a couple Drew assumed were his parents. Nick did brief introductions, then the four of them started talking about an upcoming family dinner. Jenn offered good-byes, citing a date. That left her and Hannah.
“Maybe on your next day off, you should come by and try your hand at the growing side of things.” Hannah’s tone was playful, and held more than a hint of challenge.
The idea of spending the entire day with Hannah, of seeing her in her element, had major appeal. She didn’t mind hard work, either, and was used to spending ten hours on her feet. “You don’t think I can do it, do you?”
She lifted one shoulder. If Drew didn’t know better, she’d be tempted to call the gesture flirtatious. “Not can’t. I get the feeling you don’t like getting dirty.”
Drew laughed. Really laughed. “Are you serious? I’m a chef. I gut fish and defeather chickens. I’ve done every dirty and disgusting job in a kitchen you can think of.”
“Huh.” Hannah nodded a few times. “I guess I hadn’t thought of it that way.”
“Trust me when I say I can handle a little dirt.”
Hannah folded her arms and leaned back. She enjoyed watching the emotions play across Drew’s face. She’d gone from defensive to confident in a matter of seconds. She might not want to admit it, but the latter suited her. She’d been half teasing with the invitation, but now that Drew seemed to be accepting it, she was curious. “All right. Stop by whenever. I’ll show you around and we’ll find something you can get your hands in.”
Drew leaned back, lifted her chin slightly. “What time do you start?”
Hannah had to tamp down the swell of attraction that caught her by surprise. “At this time of year, six.”
To her credit, Drew didn’t balk. “I’ll be there.”
Now Hannah felt bad. “You don’t have to do that. I know you work late. I’m probably in bed before you leave the restaurant most nights.”
She’d not meant anything by it, but mentioning the word “bed” put a very vivid image in her mind. An image of being in bed and having Drew join her. Hannah cleared her throat and hoped her face hadn’t given anything away.
Drew raised an eyebrow, smiled. “If I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it right.”
She was talking about farming. She had to be talking about farming. But Hannah’s brain, as well as her body, had no trouble interpreting the comment to mean something else entirely. “Okay, then.” She needed some air. “I should get going.”
Drew continued to smile. “I hope it’s not because I showed up and crashed your evening.”
This was definitely more than friendly banter, or even the kind of professional sparring of their earlier conversations. It made her panicky, it turned her on, and it gave her the itch to escape. She shook her head a little too fast. “Not at all. I’ve had my limit and I’ve got an early morning.”
“All right. I’ll see you tomorrow, then. Probably around ten.”
Why had she agreed to Drew stopping by three times a week again? She stood. “Sure. Sounds good.”
“Leaving so soon?” Nick sounded disappointed, but not surprised.
Hannah shrugged. “You know me.”
Leda stood up and gave her a hug. “I’m thrilled anytime we get you out between May and September.”
Hannah’s heart warmed. She loved her family, but these were her people. She said good-bye and headed out. On the drive home, she tried not to think about Drew. It didn’t work.
She’d invited Drew to spend the day at the farm. Worse, she was looking forward to it.
She told herself it helped that they’d been able to clear the air a little. Having to see each other three days a week with awkward tension hanging between them would get old quick. But not having an issue with Drew made it easier to think about her in ways that Hannah just as soon wouldn’t. A conundrum, one that followed her into the house. She fed Daisy before heading upstairs, where she shed her clothes and brushed her teeth.
Having a thing for Drew would be terribly inconvenient, at best. At worst, she could let her guard down and wind up making an absolute fool of herself. Or making things awkward for Nick. None of that sat well with her. She just needed to distract herself. Fortunately, work was her go-to in that department. And between now and October, she’d have more work than she knew what to do with.
Chapter Eight
Drew stood in front of her closet, debating what to wear. It wasn’t like she had farm clothes. Old shorts and a T-shirt? Too casual. She shook her head. She was worried about how she looked to spend the day digging in the dirt. She’d crossed the line into ridiculous. She finally settled on a pair of cargo pants—why she owned cargo pants in the first place remained a mystery—and a gray tee with a whisk on it.
She laced up her boots, contemplating coffee. Should she bring one for Hannah? Would Hannah make fun of her for needing it to be up so early? Well, she did and it was nothing to be ashamed about. She’d bring one for Hannah, too. If Hannah declined it, she’d drink both cups. She could use two cups, too. She’d not gotten home until almost midnight. When her alarm went off at four forty-five, it took more than a few expletives to drag herself from bed. But she was going to be there by six if it killed her.
The sun was up by the time she pulled into the lot by the barn. A lot had changed from the first time she’d come here, the day of her interview. The mud had dried up and everything around her felt green and lush and blooming.
Drew grabbed the coffees and headed into the barn. There was no sign of life, so she walked around bac
k. Fields spread in three directions. A pair of greenhouses sat to the far left and a hill in the distance appeared to be an apple orchard. She didn’t know what she’d been expecting, but it was bigger and more vibrant than she’d imagined.
A tractor puttered along to her right, but Drew saw no other signs of life. Could she have beat Hannah here? The thought made her smile and feel just the tiniest bit smug.
“Good morning.”
Drew turned. She’d been joined by a handsome guy with longish hair, maybe her age or a little older. “Good morning.”
“You must be Drew. I’m Jeremiah.” He extended his hand.
Drew tucked one of the coffee cups into the crook of her arm so she could shake it. “I am. I take it you’re expecting me.”
“Hannah mentioned it.” He looked out at the field. “Looks like she beat us both and got an early start.”
Drew followed his gaze to the tractor. It was a good size and appeared to be pulling a large tilling implement behind it. The person driving was too far away to see clearly, but they wore a baseball cap and seemed to know what they were doing. “Is that Hannah?”
Jeremiah chuckled and Drew wished she’d been able to keep the surprise from her voice. “It certainly is. She doesn’t really like anyone else to drive Bertie if she can help it.”
“Bertie?”
“The tractor. Roberta. It’s kind of Hannah’s baby.”
Drew laughed, unsure if she found the whole thing absurd or impressive. Or maybe she was the absurd one. “And here I was, thinking for a second that I beat her here.”
Jeremiah’s chuckle turned into a full-bellied laugh. “Can I tell her you said that?”
Yep, she was definitely the absurd one. “I’d rather you didn’t.”
“Yeah, I feel you. Your secret is safe with me.”
Drew let out a relieved breath. She looked over at him, dressed similar to her, then down at the cups in her hand. She raised them slightly. “Coffee?”
His face was kind when he returned her gaze. “Did you bring one of those for Hannah?”
She had, of course, but felt like she owed him something. Although the thought of not having any for herself at this ridiculous hour made her beyond sad, she’d suck it up. “Yeah, but I’ll share mine.”
“No need. She doesn’t drink it.”
Drew stared at him. Who didn’t drink coffee? “Seriously?”
“Well, I shouldn’t say doesn’t. I don’t think she dislikes it. It’s not a daily habit, though.”
“Wow. Okay.” Why she found this so hard to believe, she didn’t know. “So, cream and sugar or black?”
“You don’t have a preference?” He had this optimistic expression that made Drew like him.
“Nope. I learned a long time ago to appreciate coffee in all its wonderful variations.”
“I’ll take cream and sugar, then.”
Drew handed him a cup. “Enjoy.”
“Thank you.”
Now that Drew knew it was Hannah, she was surprised she’d ever thought it might be someone else. She wore a tank top, showing off the same gorgeously tanned and toned arms Drew had noticed the night of the restaurant opening. Her hair was braided, but clearly the length and color of Hannah’s. It was her, all right, running that tractor like a boss.
Jeremiah coughed, reminding Drew she wasn’t alone. How long had she been staring? Probably better not to ask.
She was trying to think of a way to keep the conversation going when Hannah must have caught sight of them. She offered a wave and cut the tractor engine. She hopped down and started their way. Jeremiah began walking toward her, so Drew followed. They skirted a fenced area, then passed through an old door rigged up in a wall of taller fencing.
“I didn’t expect you this early,” Hannah said.
Drew used a hand to shield her eyes from the sun. Why hadn’t she brought a hat? “I said I’d be here.”
Hannah smiled. “You did. I should have given you more credit.”
It wasn’t quite a compliment, but Drew didn’t want to split hairs. “I’d have come even earlier if I’d known I could watch you running that tractor around.”
The smile turned into a smirk. “You’re going to ask for a turn, aren’t you?”
Drew shook her head. “I think I’m good. That’s some heavy machinery and I’m fond of all my extremities.”
That earned her a laugh. Hannah angled her head toward Jeremiah. “I take it you two have met?”
Jeremiah nodded. “I took the liberty of stealing the coffee Drew brought for you.”
“I didn’t realize you weren’t a coffee drinker,” Drew said.
Hannah smiled. She took a minute to appreciate the way Drew looked in work clothes. Her chef coat was sexy, but this, this could be dangerous. “Not never. I just don’t need it to function.”
“Then I find the hours you keep all the more impressive.”
She shrugged. “I sleep well so I don’t have to sleep late.”
“I was going to start with weeding the salad beds.” Jeremiah hooked his thumb to the right. “Do you want me to take Drew?”
Part of her wanted to treat Drew like any hired help—another set of hands to chip away at the never-ending work of weeding, watering, and picking. But Drew wasn’t a hired hand. She wasn’t even really a volunteer, although she’d offered to work. “I’ll probably have her join you later, but for now I thought we’d start with a tour.”
Drew frowned. “You don’t have to treat me like a guest, you know.”
“I know.” She didn’t intend to roll out the red carpet, but a little part of her wanted to show off, to show Drew what really went into the bins and baskets she filled each time she came to the farm. “We’ll put you to work. But I’d like to give you the lay of the land, show you what you have to look forward to.”
Drew offered that ridiculously sexy smile that always seemed to pack more of a punch than she remembered. “I’m certainly not going to turn that down.”
Jeremiah headed to the lettuce patch and Hannah led Drew toward the back field. “Okay. Let’s start at the end and work our way—” Hannah stopped in her tracks. “Wait.”
“What?” Drew looked alarmed.
“Are you wearing sunscreen?”
She cringed. “I’ll be okay.”
Hannah shook her head. “No, you won’t. Come with me.”
Drew didn’t protest, which Hannah took to mean she was forgetful, not an idiot. She went in the side door of the barn and to the small break room. She opened her locker and pulled out a tube of SPF 50. “Put that on your face and arms, and don’t forget the back of your neck.”
Drew took it, looking sheepish. “Thanks.”
When she was done, Hannah handed her a hat. “I hope you’re not one of those people weirdly obsessed with your hair.”
Drew, with a smear of sunscreen on her cheek, went from sheepish to offended in two seconds flat. “Chefs wear hats every day. It’s basic kitchen protocol.”
Hannah smirked, enjoying herself. “Not if you’re Gordon Ramsey.”
“I think it’s pretty clear I’m not.” Drew seemed to be amused, rather than upset by the banter.
“No, you’re not.” Suddenly the break room felt too small, too close. She needed to get them back to fresh air and broad daylight. “Shall we?”
Drew gestured for her to lead the way. “After you.”
Since they’d come back to the barn, Hannah changed up the order of the tour. They walked past the patches overflowing with greens—lettuces, spinach, chard, and kale. “I’m trying collard greens this year, too.”
“Collards are great. I hope they do well.”
“We put these beds closest to the barn because we harvest from them pretty much daily.”
Drew nodded. “Do you rotate the crops at all? That’s a thing, right?”
“Some. I’ll show you where we plant sweet corn and sunflowers. We divide the field in thirds and always have one third fallow, or with alfalfa.�
� Next were the tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant, followed by cucumbers and squashes, beans and peas. “These all pull the same nutrients, so we just make a point of replenishing the soil each year.”
Drew gave her a sideways look and smiled. “Is that layperson for cow manure?”
Hannah chuckled. “Cow and horse, but also compost.”
“Do you take the restaurant compost scraps?”
“We do, which is why Nick is fussy about what goes in it. We happily use it, but can’t take meat and bones and some of the stuff the industrial composters can.”
Drew stopped to study the pepper varieties. “That makes sense. I like the idea of things going full circle.”
The comment, combined with a dozen other interactions over the last couple of weeks, tipped the scales. She was starting to like Drew. Combined with the attraction, that might prove problematic. No way could she act on it. They had a business relationship to maintain. She couldn’t put Nick in the awkward position of dealing with the fallout if things didn’t go well.
She shook her head. She’d not even acted on her attraction and was already thinking about it not ending well. If that didn’t temper her impulses, she didn’t know what would.
“What’s wrong?”
And now she’d been caught daydreaming. Great. “Nothing.”
“You look like you might pass out. Or punch something. I can’t tell.” Drew stood, planted her hands on her hips. Between that and the wide, confident stance, Hannah’s mouth went dry. Oh, this was going to be so inconvenient.
“Sorry. I’m fine. I got distracted.”
“If you don’t have time to do this, it’s okay. I came here to help, not take you away from your work.”
Hannah shook her head, but intentionally this time. “No, it’s not that at all. Come on, I’ll show you the rest.”
They walked past the berry patch and climbed the hill to the orchard. She pointed out which trees were apple and which were peach. Drew made noises of approval. Then Hannah led her through the greenhouses. She’d started the next round of spinach and lettuce seeds, but the doors were open so things didn’t get overheated.
