by Aurora Rey
“I picked the first of the beets and I thought you might like some.” She offered a box to Drew.
“You’re spoiling me, you know, with all this first dibs business.”
Hannah shrugged. “Well, I held some back for the farm shares. I want all my customers to be happy.”
“Oh, I see. I’m nothing special.”
Hannah smirked, more suggestive that snarky. “I never said that.”
“That’s a relief. I was worried there for a second. Especially since I was about to invite you to go away with me for a few days.”
“Oh?” She quirked a brow.
“Grann is turning eighty in a couple of weeks and I’m going down to the city for her party. She explicitly asked me to invite you.”
“I see. So it wasn’t your doing.”
Hannah’s tone was playful, but Drew felt compelled to clarify. “I mean, I want you to come, too. I thought we could spend one day in the city, then one with my family for the party.”
Hannah laughed. “I’d hate to disappoint both of you.”
It was Drew’s turn to smirk. “Then don’t.”
“When is it? Weekends are tough, but I might be able to get Jeremiah to cover for me. And if it’s before school starts, I’ll still have Clare helping at the farm stand—”
“They actually scheduled it for mid-week since it’s easier for me to get away then.”
“Of course. How nice. Convenient, too.”
For as much as she’d started out on the fence, Drew hoped the answer would be yes. “So, you’ll come?”
Hannah nodded slowly, as if deciding with each up and down motion of her head. “Yes. That sounds fun.”
“Have you been to the city before?” She had so many ideas. Including a night in a hotel overlooking the skyline.
“Twice, but once was when I was a kid and the last time was for my twenty-first birthday. It’s been ages.”
Drew lifted a hand. “I promise to indulge any touristy things you’d like to do as long as I get to show you a few of my favorite spots.”
Hannah chuckled. “I don’t think I need to do anything particularly touristy. I’d love to see it through your eyes.”
Should it freak her out Hannah used almost the same language as she had? “It’s going to be great.”
Hannah nodded. “You’ll let me know the specifics? I don’t have time now.”
“I’ll text you and we can talk details later.” Drew smiled. “I’m glad you’re coming.”
“Me, too. I’ll talk to you.” Hannah took a step back, not ready to leave but needing to get back. She stepped forward and gave Drew a quick kiss before letting herself out the way she came in. On the ride back to the farm, she stuck her Bluetooth in her ear and called Jenn.
“Hey, lady.”
“Hey. I feel bad calling you in the middle of the day. Do you have a few minutes?”
“Your timing is perfect. I’m just out for my ‘I promise to leave my desk at least once a day’ stroll.”
Hannah laughed. “Oh, good. I need you to tell me if going away with Drew for a couple of days is significant.”
“Ooh. Where are you thinking about going?”
“New York City. It’s her grandmother’s birthday.” Of course it was significant. She knew this. Why was she asking? “I may have already said yes.”
“In that case, it’s exactly as significant as you want it to be.”
For as much as she and Jenn gave each other a hard time, Jenn never failed to say the right thing when it mattered. “I appreciate the sentiment, but really. Did I just make a terrible mistake?”
“Absolutely not. One, you never take time off and you should. Two, you’ve not gone to the city in a billion years. Three, if Drew invited you, she clearly wants you there.”
“Number three is the problem.” Hannah explained that the invitation came from Drew’s grandmother first. “I’m not sure if that makes it better or worse. Like, is it less of a big deal because Drew didn’t cook up the idea on her own or more of a big deal because it involves a family thing?”
“Which do you want it to be?”
“I’m not sure.” Hannah crossed out of the town limits and increased her speed.
“Well, if anything is stressing you out, it’s probably that.”
The blessing and the curse of having a best friend who knew her inside and out. She hated uncertainty. She had enough of it at the farm. “Yeah.”
“And that’s okay. You’ve not connected with anyone in a while. Plus, you weren’t looking to.” That was true. “And even if you were, Drew’s not what you would have had in mind.”
“Why do you have to be so smart? It’s kind of annoying.” Helpful, but also annoying.
“Is this the point in the conversation where I remind you that you’re the one who called me?”
Right. “Sorry. You’re right, as always. It’s just inconvenient.”
“Love usually is.”
Hannah’s heart leapt in her chest and she gripped the steering wheel. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. We’re talking about going away together, not using the L-word.”
“Hey, settle down. I didn’t mean capital L love. Relationships, lowercase R.”
Relationships didn’t freak Hannah out. Really, they didn’t. Even with Drew, she’d sort of settled into the fact that they had more than physical chemistry. And she’d already met Rose and Angelique, so that shouldn’t feel like a big deal either. “So, I’m overreacting.”
“Well, I’d say your gut is trying to tell you something. You shouldn’t ignore it, but you probably shouldn’t insta-panic either.”
“You’re right. Again.”
“When’re you going?”
“In a couple of weeks. Just for two nights.”
“I say go, have fun, and see how you get along in a different setting.”
The advice made perfect sense. And it would be interesting to see Drew on her home turf. “Yeah, okay.”
“Good.”
Hannah took that as her chance to change the subject. “Thanks. How are you? I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever.”
Jenn sighed. “I’ve been better. Suri and I broke up.”
Hannah banged her fist on the steering wheel. “Why didn’t you tell me? I’ve been prattling on about my non-problems.”
“It’s okay, really. She got a job offer in London, working with her yogi mentor. There was no way she could pass it up and I’m not looking to cross the pond, at least not permanently.”
“I hear you. Still, that sucks.”
“Eh.” Hannah could imagine her shrugging on the other end of the line. “It is what it is. We had a great time while it lasted. And she’s thinking pretty hardcore about babies and I’m so not.”
She and Jenn had talked babies plenty of times through the years. Jenn had no interest whatsoever, while Hannah remained open—wanting them, but only if she ended up with the right person. “Maybe it’s for the best, then.”
Jenn sighed. “Agreed. So, do we get to commiserate before you jet off?”
“Absolutely. Name the night. I’ll cook.”
They made plans and Hannah ended the call just as she pulled up behind the barn. She went in to check on Clare before heading out to fire up Roberta. She puttered up and down the rows of the orchard, cutting the grass short in anticipation of the crowds who’d be coming through in search of the first wave of September apples. Jenn was right. Going to New York with Drew didn’t need to be a big deal. It would be fun, and even if she wasn’t in any hurry to figure out where she and Drew stood, it would be good to see what Drew was like in her hometown. Not to mention being a mini vacation. How long had it been since she’d done that? Too long.
Chapter Twenty-three
Hannah angsted more than she should have over what to pack. When Drew picked her up, though, their bags were almost identical in size. Drew nodded her approval. That made the twenty texts with Jenn about the whole business worth it.
They boarded th
e bus and settled in. She made Drew pull up a map of the city on her phone so she could get her bearings. Drew pointed out where the bus would drop them, the location of their hotel for the night in Manhattan, and where in Brooklyn Drew’s mother lived. Drew ran through their agenda, ambitious but not frantic, then they settled into comfortable quiet. Hannah read and Drew pored over a crossword.
The time flew by. Before she knew it, Drew nudged her and pointed out the window. “You can see the skyline from here.”
Sure enough, Hannah could make out the iconic skyline on the horizon. “Wow.”
“The bus will take the Lincoln Tunnel and drop us right in midtown, then we can grab a subway to our hotel and leave our bags. Unless the subway freaks you out. If it does, we can get a cab.”
Hannah shook her head. “I don’t mind the subway. I’m not a complete bumpkin.”
Drew laughed, squeezed her hand. “I never thought you were. There are people who’ve lived their whole lives in the city and never taken a subway. I mean, a lot of them are billionaires, but still.”
The comment lightened the mood, wiping away any apprehension Hannah had about being in the city. It wasn’t like she’d never been. It just had been a while. “I’m cool.”
“And here I thought you were smoking hot.”
“Oh, God. You didn’t just say that.”
Drew shrugged. “Are you reconsidering this whole trip now?”
Hannah made a face before laughing. “No. I mean, a little, but no.”
She let Drew take the lead in getting them to the hotel. It was too early to check in, but they stored their bags and then headed out. Her two picks for their time in Manhattan were Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. They did the park first, buying falafel from a guy with a cart and meandering the wide paths. It was the middle of the week, but they passed dozens of joggers and dog walkers and people with strollers.
She glanced over at Drew, who was eying her with curiosity. “What? Do I have tzatziki on my face?”
“Not at all. I’m just trying to figure out why a woman who spends most of her time surrounded by nature would find anything about Central Park interesting.”
Hannah chuckled. She’d not thought of it that way. “It’s so different, so much more controlled than a state park. Each element was chosen, you know, intentionally.”
Drew nodded. That made sense. It was fun to see the city, parts of it she took for granted, through Hannah’s eyes. “Almost like a museum.”
“Yes.” Hannah’s eyes lit up. “It feels curated. It’s kind of fascinating.”
“You are fascinating.” She took Hannah’s empty foil and napkin and tossed the trash in a bin. “And speaking of curated, shall we head to the museum? I want you to feel like you have time to see what you want.”
“Sure. I know we won’t get to half of it, but I’ve got a list.”
Drew took her hand, unable to remember the last time she’d enjoyed a day in Manhattan. “I’m sure you do.”
At the Met, Hannah insisted on paying their admission and grabbed a map. Even though they’d gotten to know each other, Drew had no idea what exhibits Hannah would find appealing. When Drew insisted she had no preference or agenda, Hannah didn’t hesitate to take the lead. She led them through Egyptian antiquities, early American paintings, and the sculpture garden. Hannah didn’t seem to have much use for the impressionists but was obsessed with Degas, especially his dancers.
“Did you want to be a ballerina?” Drew asked, imagining Hannah as a child in a leotard and tutu.
Hannah laughed. Not quite rueful, but it gave Drew the impression a less-than-pleasant memory simmered under the surface. “No. It’s not really something you think about growing up on a dairy farm.”
Again, she didn’t seem sad or angry about it, but Drew had an urge to sweep her into a hug and tell her she could do anything she wanted. Instead, she offered an empathetic smile. “What did you think about growing up on a dairy farm?”
“How to avoid chores.” She delivered the line without a moment of hesitation and a completely straight face. It broke the tension that perhaps Drew had been imagining.
“Did it work?”
“You can’t grow up on a farm and avoid chores completely. I learned that getting up early and doing the ones I didn’t mind without being asked got me out of the ones I hated. At least some of them.”
“That’s kind of genius.”
Hannah shrugged. “My brothers always had to be nagged. I’m not saying that’s the reason they ended up mucking more stalls than I did, but I think it didn’t help their cause.”
“So, why the love for Degas’s dancers?”
Hannah’s face softened and her smile went all the way to her eyes. “My aunt gave me this calendar for Christmas. Each day featured a piece of art. One of them was Dancer Looking at the Sole of Her Left Foot. I thought the title was hilarious, but I also loved that she was a little lumpy, doing something not entirely graceful. I decided Degas was my favorite artist and never looked back.”
It wasn’t an especially intimate story, but Drew felt like it gave her insight to Hannah’s past, how she got to be who she was now. “How old were you?”
“Twelve, I think. I was still all limbs at that age. So awkward.”
“Some might argue you had the body of a dancer.”
“Only I couldn’t—can’t—dance to save my life. I literally used to trip over my own feet.”
Drew had a hard time imagining Hannah as anything but graceful. At the farm, in bed—she was lithe and elegant and moved with confidence. “Surely you dance at least a little. I’ve seen the way you carry yourself.”
“Oh. No. You’re sweet, but no.”
Drew laughed at the adamant tone and the look of horror on Hannah’s face. “Maybe you just need the right person to lead.”
Hannah turned away from the statue and focused her full attention on Drew. “Are you offering?”
Drew raised a brow. “Yes.”
“I won’t tell you no, but I might tell you I told you so.”
A moment ago, she’d wanted to sweep Hannah up and offer words of encouragement and reassurance. Now Drew had to fight the desire to yank Hannah against her and kiss her senseless. The juxtaposition proved unsettling, especially in a crowded gallery. She pictured the room she’d reserved, thought about what she had in mind. “I can’t wait to have you in my arms.”
“Why does it feel like we’re not talking about dancing anymore?”
“Because we aren’t.”
* * *
Drew let Hannah into the room first. Hannah went right to the window. “Wow.”
The view was pretty spectacular. Although Drew hadn’t grown up with a view of the skyline, it was one of the things she loved about the city. Nighttime, with the buildings and a view of the bridge lit up, was her favorite. And the floor-to-ceiling windows were absolutely perfect. “I thought you’d enjoy that.”
“Almost as much as I’m going to enjoy fucking you,” Hannah said almost casually over her shoulder.
The comment sent a stab of heat right to Drew’s core. They’d discussed using the night in the city to switch things up, but still. The arousal she’d carried all evening, stirred by wine and candlelight and the way Hannah looked at her across the table, exploded into a fire that seemed to scorch from the inside out. She cleared her throat, not wanting Hannah to know just how much power she held. “Oh, we’ll get there.”
Hannah’s smirk held just the right mix of challenge and promise. “Are we going somewhere else first?”
“No, but we do have all night.” And she intended to use it.
“Do you mind if I shower first? Between traveling and the city, I feel as gross as I do after a day in the fields.”
“Only if I get to join you.”
Without another word, Hannah took her dress off and angled her head toward the bathroom. She kicked off her shoes and disappeared through the door. A second later, Drew heard water running. She
hastily stripped and went to join her. The water was cool and the rain-style showerhead created a soothing flow of water. As tempting as it was to have her way with Hannah right there in the shower, she had other things in mind. And the idea of cleaning up just to get dirty was a major turn-on.
Hannah stepped out first, handed Drew a towel. “Thanks. I’ll meet you out there.”
Drew used the minute alone to get ready, sliding the harness on and tightening it around her thighs, but also to center herself. They’d not discussed tonight being any different from their previous times together, aside from switching up the play, but something about it felt different, significant. She shook it off.
Hannah had adjusted the lights, leaving on a single lamp near the bed. She stood at the window in a plush robe, looking as comfortable in a fancy hotel as she did atop her tractor. The sight of her did wicked things to Drew’s libido. Drew stepped up behind her, tugged at the belt. “I don’t think we need this.”
Hannah let her untie it and ease it from her shoulders. She glanced out the window.
Drew kissed her. “Someone would need binoculars to get much of a show. Are you worried about being seen?”
Hannah smiled and shook her head without breaking eye contact. “No.”
“Good.” Drew turned her toward the window. She covered Hannah’s hands with her own and placed them against the glass. She leaned in close to Hannah’s ear, bit it gently. “Don’t move.”
She took a step back to appreciate the visual of Hannah—arms and legs spread, the curve of her body a creamy silhouette against the dark outside. Even with arousal jangling through her like too much caffeine, she could have stayed there for hours. Just looking.
No, looking was nice, but it had nothing on touch. She traced a finger down Hannah’s spine, lingering at the top of her perfect ass. Hannah shifted, the movement so subtle she might have missed it had she not been staring. “I said don’t move.”
Hannah made a noise that sounded like pleasure laced with frustration. Drew smiled. Being in control was such a turn-on, especially knowing the tables would be turned before the night ended. She splayed her fingers, filling her hands with Hannah’s rear end. She gave each cheek a playful squeeze before sliding her hands around, over the slight swell of Hannah’s hips. Hannah’s position gave her perfect access and she couldn’t resist sliding two fingers between her legs.
