A Farm Fresh Romance Series 1-3 (A Farm Fresh Romance Box Set)

by Valerie Comer

  “Zach. A. Ry.” She spit his name out in bite-sized pieces. “Stop it.”

  He didn’t want to. But he’d better pay attention. This wasn’t the time or the place to pursue the attraction that now lay out in the open. He had to woo her, but what would he do with her once he caught her?

  A little voice reminded him he hated rural life—that he couldn’t wait to be gone from Galena Landing. The voice also knew Jo wasn’t going to join him in Coeur d’Alene. But none of it mattered. There was just now. The two of them. The future would work itself out.

  The three of them. Jo squatted on the ground with her arms around Domino’s neck, her face buried in his coat. Domino wiggled and tried to lick her face to no avail, then looked up at Zach with a happy smile and tail wag.

  He never thought he’d be jealous of a dog.

  Zach shifted from one foot to another as his thoughts slowed and came into some sort of alignment. “Jo? I’m sorry.”

  “Sorry for what?” Her voice was muffled in Domino’s shoulder.

  Not for kissing her. Not really. “For surprising you. For not asking.”

  She turned her face enough to peer at him. “What?”

  Good, he’d startled her again. This time in a good way. He hoped. “Jo, if you want me to say I’m sorry for kissing you, I can say it. But I’d be lying.”

  Her face still flamed, and her gaze met his for only the briefest of instants before sliding away again.

  He had to know. “Are you? Sorry we kissed?”

  She buried her face in Domino’s coat. Lucky dog.

  **

  Jo clutched Domino so tightly he whimpered, but letting go meant facing Zach.

  The nerve of him. She didn’t know which was worse, her body betraying her, or Zach kissing her in the first place. She’d responded like some desperate woman. Her first kiss, and it had caught her off guard and turned her knees to jelly.

  He couldn’t possibly love her. He’d only been trying to fluster her. Oh, wow. If that were the case, it had totally worked.

  Jo gathered her courage and stood, careful to keep Domino between them. “Don’t distract me. We were talking about your toxic rig here.” She kept her trembling hands down and pointed with her chin.

  Zach kept staring at her mouth. Finally his gaze rose to her eyes.

  Jo did her best to regain the ire she’d had earlier, but he’d shaken her to the bottom of her size six boots. “Seriously, that stuff is dangerous.”

  Zach opened his mouth to protest, but Jo held up her hand. Pretty steady. Good. “One, you absolutely need to be suited up. It is toxic, regardless of what you think. Two, it’s way too warm for the pressure tank today. The gas dissipates quickly at this temperature and sinks straight into the ground water.” She took a deep breath.

  He waited for her to continue. They were getting somewhere, then.

  “And three, it’s our drinking water you’re affecting as well as yours. We all get our water from the same spring. Do you really want to be drinking poison?”

  “I have goggles and gloves on the tractor, and I wore them when I adjusted the injectors.”

  Trying to redeem himself. “Good start. But how about just not using it in the first place?”

  Zach frowned, drawing her attention to his close-cropped beard. It had prickled slightly while they kissed, but in a pleasant way. If only she believed he really meant it, she’d be happy to try all over again. She yanked her gaze back to his eyes.

  Which danced as though he’d caught her out.

  Maybe he had.

  The heat hadn’t ever left her face, so Jo doubted this new surge would add any telltale color to her cheeks. She raised her chin. Probably shouldn’t have. That position would only make it easier for him to kiss her again.

  She needed out of here in the worst way. Primal instinct churned in her gut, urging her to throw herself back in Zach’s arms, to pull his face to hers and resume where they’d left off. She wanted to tangle her fingers in his thick curls, and trace his facial hair with her lips.

  Jo backed up. Her environmental authority evaporated more every second she stood in Zach’s presence. What was more important? Their water supply and the health of the land beneath their feet, or her desire to be fervently kissed? And why did her brain even hiccup over that question?

  “Please, Zach.” It was hard to keep her righteous indignation in place after that electrifying kiss. “All else aside, today’s too warm. Go look up optimum conditions on the Internet. Or better yet, find some natural product to fertilize with. Like sheep manure.” Of which they must have plenty, with all those woolly animals traipsing around their pastures.

  He nodded slowly. Only to placate her? Maybe. Didn’t matter, so long as he followed through.

  “And much as I like Domino, take him home. He shouldn’t be around that toxic sludge, either.”

  Zach’s gaze dropped to the pup, wagging his tail at the mention of his name. Zach frowned. “Where’d he come from?”

  Dumb question. “From your place, I assume? I certainly didn’t come over and steal him.”

  His face flushed. “I didn’t accuse you. But I left him in the run.”

  Jo hardened her will. “So he’s opened the latch again.” More likely Rosemary was home and had let him in the yard to play. She turned away, still trembling from the confrontation. Or something else.

  “Jo?” Zach’s voice came out raspy then his hand rested on her forearm.

  She stared at it for a long moment before turning slightly to face him. He was so close. Too close. Not close enough. She couldn’t look up.

  Zach cleared his throat. “Jo? You need to know. I didn’t kiss you to stop you from yelling at me. Honest.”

  She studied his work boots and nodded slightly.

  “I’m just…you’re just…”

  Scuffmarks lined his boots, proving their familiarity with farm work. Why didn’t he finish his sentence?

  “I’m sorry I acted in haste.”

  No way was Jo meeting his eyes. She had a fair idea what would happen if she did. She forced another nod.

  “Jo?” Softer, now.

  She held her breath.

  “May I kiss you some more?”

  Yes! Yes, yes, yes, YES. Please kiss me. Never stop. Jo clenched her fingernails into the palms of her hands until the pain began to bite. She could hardly blame the guy for his ignorance, shared with millions of other farmers. But that didn’t excuse him. They’d never be compatible, not with an attitude like his. Slowly she found strength and straightened her posture, daring to meet his gaze for a brief instant.

  Emotion flared in his brown eyes.

  “No, Zach. That’s best not repeated.” Jo turned away and paced evenly to the barbed wire fence. Why didn’t she feel his hands on her waist or shoulders, holding her back? Why did he let her walk away from him like this? Jo ducked between the wire strands and never looked back.

  Chapter 10

  Jo stalked past Claire—not daring to glance her way—up the steps, and into the trailer. She did not slam the door. She marched into the bathroom, locked the door, and leaned over the sink.

  Her reflection stared back. The likeness of a woman who’d been kissed. She looked wild. Wisps of hair escaped down the length of her braid. Her face was blotchy and red, more from anger and embarrassment than the unseasonable early-May heat.

  Jo put her hands to her cheeks and the reflection did the same. What had Zach seen in her? For the spark had been undeniable. That wasn’t just a friendly peck between friends.

  The door handle jiggled. “Jo? You okay?”

  Couldn’t answer that. Claire must’ve seen everything that happened. Maybe even heard the conversation over the tractor’s idling. Jo tried to steady her voice. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

  “That’s not what I asked.” Finally Claire sighed. After a moment her footsteps sounded down the corridor and Jo heard running water in the kitchen.

  She turned back to the sink and spla
shed cold water on her face, then undid her long plait and brushed out the mess. Rebraided it. Stared in the mirror some more. Stared at her lips, as Zach had seemed to do.

  Why? Had it all been a ruse to shut her environmental mouth? But what of the other evening out by the picnic table? She hadn’t been spouting off then, just staying away from his praise of Sierra’s cooking and all the talk of womanly tasks such as quilting. Hiding. Lest her attraction to the man should show.

  Hiding. Again. Claire didn’t deserve this.

  Jo unlocked the door and stepped out.

  **

  Zach watched Jo stomp across the field and climb through the fence. Watched Claire follow her into Grandma’s old trailer. He shivered, suddenly chilled as though the sun had slipped behind a cloud. He even glanced up to check, but only blue sky resided above him.

  Domino whined, recalling Zach to the present.

  “C’mon, buddy. Let’s go home, and I’ll see how you got out this time.” He’d leave the tractor here and come back for it when he’d decided what to do. Was Jo pulling his leg about the issue? He couldn’t imagine it.

  Gary Waterman had loaned him the ensemble, saying Dad’s fields looked like they could use a boost. Zach followed Waterman’s instructions, and the guy had been farming for long enough Zach hadn’t thought to doubt him.

  A few minutes later he unplugged the cable from his folks’ desktop computer and attached it to his laptop. If he was going to stick around for a while, he should rig up a wireless router. Hard to believe he’d been home over a month now and hadn’t fired up his MacBook once.

  Domino flopped down in the corner, nose down but keeping watch while Zach opened the fridge and poured a glass of raspberry vinegar. By the time he returned, his email home page had loaded. Twenty-eight unread. Would’ve been more if most of the guys from his graduating class weren’t into texting. He clicked to review the list. Halfway down an unfamiliar name flagged his attention.

  East Spokane Veterinary Clinic? Had he applied there?

  Zach’s heart sped up and his hand shook as he clicked on the email.

  Dear Dr. Nemesek,

  Thank you for your application.

  We currently have a temporary opening for a qualified veterinarian that may turn into a permanent position for the right applicant. If interested, please contact our office by May 7. Interviews will be held the following week and the position begins Monday, May 17.

  Signed,

  Dr. Albert Warren, DVM, ABVP, ACVS

  May seventh? Zach’s stomach plummeted. A bona fide job opening, right in the Spokane Valley, and he’d missed it? Why hadn’t he been checking his email regularly? His cell number was on his résumé. Wouldn’t they have left a message? He pulled his phone out of his pocket and checked. Nothing.

  They were interviewing this week. Maybe it wasn’t too late. What could it hurt to phone? He scanned the email for the number and punched it into his cell. Held his breath while it rang.

  “East Spokane Veterinary Clinic, Corinne speaking. How may I help you?”

  “This is Dr. Zachary Nemesek calling about the opening for a veterinarian. I received an email from your office.”

  “I recall seeing your name on the list, Dr. Nemesek, but the competition closed last Friday.”

  “I’m sorry. My father has been ill and I haven’t kept up with my email. I’m wondering if there’s any chance I can still get an interview.” Zach held his breath. Please, Corinne. Be nice and say yes. There was a brief pause and Zach heard the tapping of keys. Please. If there is a God, please. Then he was put on hold and the music began.

  Several minutes went by before he receptionist returned. “Dr. Warren was impressed with your résumé, Dr. Nemesek. If you can come in at eight tomorrow morning, he’ll be happy to interview you.”

  Yes! “I can make that, no problem. Thank you very much. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Thanks for phoning, Dr. Nemesek.”

  Zach rested both elbows on the table and sank his head into his hands. Wow. Talk about a close one. Thanks to Jo for sending him online today. Jo. The slap told him how she really felt. It would be best for both of them if he returned to the city. She’d find herself some tree-hugging hippie to kiss and he’d be back in the city he loved.

  She’d get over him. Not that there had been a lot of sign she was into him to start with.

  He’d get over her. Easier said than done.

  When had he started thinking about her instead of Sierra? Or about nobody at all? At Galena Hills. Grandma had a soft spot for Jo, and it seemed mutual. He’d even picked up a package of organic chocolate, though he hadn’t dropped it off yet.

  Yikes. Eight in the morning. At least the clinic was near the interstate. He’d have to drive into Coeur d’Alene tonight. Good thing he hadn’t given up his apartment yet. If he landed this job, he’d be able to keep it. If he didn’t, he’d give his notice.

  But he’d get it. Dr. Warren was disposed to like him, and Zach could make himself even more attractive when they spoke in person. Besides, he’d asked God for help and obviously God had granted his request.

  He jogged out to the field, Domino at his heels, to bring the tractor and pressure tank into the pole shed. He’d deal with that later. Taking tomorrow off to check out this position was only one day. Then he’d have a few days to get things set up for Mom before Monday. She’d be happy for him, and he could come home weekends to do the fieldwork until Dad was back on his feet. It would all be good.

  **

  “I think Jo has something she’d like to share,” Claire announced as the three girls sat at the supper table.

  Jo shot her a nasty look and sighed. Oh, how she’d prefer to erase the scene with Zach from late this morning. But it had happened, the good and the bad. She glanced at Sierra. “Zach fertilized the pasture next to our garden this morning with some chemical junk.”

  Sierra set down her fork. “You’re kidding. What happened?”

  Way too much. Jo stared down at the delicious meal Claire had created and that she wasn’t hungry for. “I confronted him.”

  “Good for you. He obviously needs some things explained to him. What did he say?”

  Jo couldn’t remember. Something disagreeable.

  “He kissed her.”

  Thanks, Claire.

  A sharp intake of breath from Sierra. “What? How did that happen? Did you kiss him back?

  Answering that was too incriminating. She swallowed hard. “I slapped him.”

  “No way.” Sierra’s hand squeezed Jo’s. “I thought you liked him?”

  Jo lifted a shoulder. “Not really.” Liar.

  Claire leaned back in her chair and looked at Jo like she was an alien. Perhaps true. “That’s not the way I heard it.”

  Jo glanced at Sierra, who stared back with questions in her eyes. Did she dare admit to Sierra—or to Claire—how confused she really felt inside? “He’s okay. Or I thought he was.”

  “I’m sure—if you just explained things to him. I mean, did you have to smack him?”

  Had she needed to? Jo pondered. It certainly seemed so at the time. “He caught me off guard.”

  “Sounds like it.” Sierra sighed. “But wow, that’s quite an opportunity for you.”

  Jo stiffened. “Meaning?”

  “He’s such a hot guy, a great catch.”

  “Who poisoned the field. Who hates living on the farm.”

  Sierra narrowed her gaze. “Guys are malleable. If he really loves you, he’ll try to make you happy.”

  Malleable? Love? Yeah, right. “So you think I should just have ignored what he was doing? That a kiss should have made everything all right?”

  “Well, not exactly. But you could have given it a bit of time to see what would happen, rather than belting him one.”

  He’d asked to kiss her again. Did Sierra think Jo should have let him? Welcomed him? Oh, she’d wanted to, but it hadn’t seemed wise at the time.

  Sierra tapped her f
ingers. “What happened then? Did he keep right on fertilizing?”

  Had he? Jo didn’t even know. She’d been too busy crying in the bathroom.

  “No,” Claire said. “He and the dog walked across the field to the farmhouse. About an hour later he came back and drove the rig away.”

  “See?” Sierra leaned closer. “You would have gotten the same results without violence. Honestly, Jo, what came over you? That’s not how to win a guy over.”

  Jo jerked her chair back from the table and surged to her feet. “Sorry I haven’t been keeping up with my romance lessons. Why do you care so much what I said or did?”

  Sierra’s big blue eyes stared up at Jo.

  “Well, why do you? You got your own designs on Zach, or what?”

  Sierra glanced at Claire, then back to Jo. “I didn’t say that. I was leaving the field clear for you, but it doesn’t look like you took advantage of it.”

  Jo pressed her hands against the table and leaned closer. “Thank you so much. I appreciate the condescension.” She stalked off down the corridor.

  “Nice one, Sierra,” came Claire’s voice.

  “That’s not how I meant it at all.”

  Oh yeah? What other way was there to take her words? Jo slammed her bedroom door.

  **

  Zach stacked extra bales for the sheep by the feeder. Had he forgotten anything that would ease the day for Mom tomorrow without him home? He grinned. Not that it was the first time she’d fed the stock since he’d gone off to college.

  He spent a bit of time working with Old Pete, hoping Domino would catch on to the basic whistles and commands as Old Pete loped through his paces. Domino bounded beside his sire, seemingly oblivious to the reason for the older dog’s actions. Zach sighed. It would take more of Mom’s concentrated effort to teach the pup, but he’d be a good sheep dog once he’d outgrown his headstrong ways.