by L. Wilder
That’s as far as I’d gotten when Smokey tapped on my door. “MJ?”
I froze in place as I muttered, “Yes?”
“Are you okay?”
“Yep. Hunky dory,” I lied. “I’ll be out in just a second.”
I decided to skip the second arm strap of my bra and reached for my black leggings. I sat down on the edge of the bed and eased the first foot through the pants leg, and then I started with the second foot. I was doing pretty well, until I tried to pull the leggings up my thighs. That’s where I ran into trouble. I was trying to quickly inch them up, bit by bit, and I wasn’t paying attention to the fact that I was sliding down the edge of the bed. With no way to stop myself, I continued downward until my butt hit the floor with a thud.
I was sitting there flustered beyond belief with my leggings glued to my thighs, no shirt on, and I’m pretty sure my left boob was hanging out when my bedroom door flew open. Damn. Smokey’s eyes dropped to the floor and it took him a minute to comprehend what he was seeing. After several seconds, he asked, “You need a hand?”
I wanted to melt into the floor.
Chapter 9
Smokey
I probably should’ve knocked or at least waited for a minute before I rushed into MJ’s room, but when I heard her fall, I came unhinged. I stormed in and found her sitting on the floor half-dressed and completely flustered. Looking completely defeated, she shook her head and mumbled, “I just can’t catch a break.”
I could see that she wanted to take care of things herself, but whether she liked it or not, she needed help. I walked over to her and knelt in front of her as I said, “I don’t know about that. At least you didn’t dislocate anything this time.”
“Yeah, but it’s still early,” she pointed out with a smile.
“How about we don’t take any chances? Let me give you a hand,” I told her as I helped her to her feet.
Once she was standing, I reached down and gently took the waistband of her pants and pulled them up over the curve of her hips. Then, I took her wrist in my hand and slowly eased it through the dangling bra strap. Once I’d rested the black band on her shoulder, I looked down at her, noting the lustful look in her eyes as she stared back at me, and it was all I could do not to kiss her right then and there.
“MJ.”
Her eyes never left mine as she whispered, “Yes?”
I placed my hands on her hips and growled, “Damn. You gotta stop looking at me like that.”
She took a slight step forward and whispered, “Can’t seem to help myself.”
And with that, the last straw of my restraint broke. I leaned towards her and pressed my lips against hers, giving in to my desire without thinking of the consequences. She was hurt, barely able to get dressed, but I couldn’t stop myself. I had to feel her mouth on mine. I slipped my hand around her waist and pulled her closer, needing to feel her body next to me. She gasped, opening her mouth long enough for me to delve deeper, to relish every single detail of her mouth. Her taste. Her warmth. The way her tongue tangled with mine. I wanted to stay right there in that moment for a lifetime. Just the two of us, nothing else mattered. Her hand dove into the back of my hair, and she was so lost in the moment that she tried to raise her bad arm, causing her to whimper in pain.
I instantly released her and said, “Dammit. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking.”
A coy smile spread across her face as she teased, “I know what I was thinking.”
“MJ,” I scolded.
She placed her hand on my chest and assured me, “I’m fine, Smokey. Just got a little carried away, and I wasn’t thinking. I’m not going to break.”
I pulled her shirt up over her shoulders and started closing the buttons as I told her, “I’m not taking that chance.”
A hint of disappointment flashed through her eyes as she turned and grabbed her sling off the bed. She slipped it over her head as she said, “So… you never told me why you came by.”
Her tone was flat and cold. Any idiot could see that she was trying to hide the fact that she wasn’t happy that I’d put her off. She had to know that I wanted her. Fuck. I wanted her more than my next breath, but there was no way in hell I was going to take the risk of hurting her. I stepped over to her and placed my hand under her chin, forcing her to look at me as I said, “MJ… this thing we got going on between us, it’s going to happen. Don’t doubt that for one second. I will have that sexy little body of yours, again and again and again, until I memorize every inch, and then I’m going to start all over again.” I ran my thumb across her bottom lip as I told her, “You will be mine, Marley Jo Thompson, but until that shoulder heals, we’re just gonna have to wait.”
The heat of desire flushed her chest and neck as she whispered, “I can wait.”
“Good. Now let’s finish getting you dressed and go get some breakfast.”
“Breakfast?”
“Figured you might like to get out of the house for a bit. You up for pancakes?”
“Always,” she smiled.
After I took her across town to my favorite diner, I drove MJ out to the farm. I’d been busy with the club for the past couple of days and hadn’t had a chance to get back out to the farm since the day she’d fallen. That didn’t mean it hadn’t been on my mind. It was all I’d been able to think about—that and my dad’s letters. There was no denying that they’d gotten to me, and I couldn’t shake the gnawing guilt that was building in the pit of my stomach. I had to at least try to make it work with the farm or I’d never be able to forgive myself, but I was going to need help and lots of it.
“I wanted to talk to you about that deal I mentioned to you the other night,” I told her as we walked up on the porch.
“Alright,” she answered, sounding curious. She sat down on one of the rocking chairs and looked over at me and said, “Let’s hear it.”
“I read the letters,” I admitted. She waited patiently as I walked over and sat down next to her. “I think I’ve gotta at least try to make this thing work. I owe that to Emily… and to my dad.”
“Okay. I’m listening.”
“I’m smart enough to know that I don’t have a clue how to make this thing work without some help. I’ve talked to my dad’s lead hand, and he’s agreed to help me run things. He’s getting me a list of things that need to be done. For now, there’s lots of maintenance and things we need to do to prepare for the upcoming season. To get things going, I need help setting up new contracts for him and any new employees. I thought you might help with that.”
“I can definitely do that. I’ll help any way I can.”
“You mean that?”
“Absolutely. This place is amazing, Smokey. And if you want this to work, I’ll help any way I can. And not just with the contracts. I’ll help out with the business side of things if you’d like. I’m pretty good with numbers. I’ll even pick apples. Just let me know what you need me to do.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
“Have you talked to Emily?”
“Not yet. I thought I’d call her later today after we talked.”
“She’s going to be thrilled,” she shrieked excitedly. “What about the house?”
“Emily will probably want the house. It would be a great place for her and the kids. I’ll see what she says.”
She sat quietly and rocked for a moment before she asked, “You told her that you had too much going on to take on the farm. Has that changed?”
“No,” I sighed. “I’ve still gotta figure that part out. For now, I’ll just have to split my time between here and the club. Having a foreman should help.”
“Just take it slow. You’ve got time to get it all sorted, and I’m sure Emily will be able to help too. You’re not in this alone,” she assured me.
“You’re really something.”
“I could say the same about you.”
We spent the morning walking around the farm and making
plans. She made everything sound so easy. Her optimism was contagious, and by the time we were done talking, I actually felt good about my decision to keep the farm. We made a couple of sandwiches and had lunch out in the barn while we waited for Emily to meet us. When she pulled up, I walked out to her SUV to help her unload the kids. When I opened the door, Shelby smiled and asked, “Hey, Uncle Evan. Where’s your motorcycle?”
“I didn’t ride it today, sweets. Hitched a ride with MJ,” I told her as I lifted her out of her seat.
Emily opened her door and whispered, “Grant’s sleeping. I’m going to take him inside so he can finish his nap.”
“I’ll get him,” I told her as I walked over and opened his door. Once I’d unhooked his car seat, I asked, “Where do you want me to put him?”
“Just sit him in the living room so I can hear him when he wakes up. He’ll be ready to eat in a little bit.”
As soon as I had him settled, I came back outside and found Emily and MJ sitting with Shelby on the front porch. Seeing them all together, laughing and talking like old friends, got to me. MJ fit. There was no other way to explain it. I walked over and sat down next to her and listened as Shelby told her all about her new kitten and how they’d named her Ditto because she looked so much like her other cat. MJ smiled and looked over at me, and I knew she liked being here as much as I liked having her here.
When Shelby finally finished her story, Emily turned to me and asked, “What did you want to talk to me about?”
I knew she’d been waiting on my decision and was eager to hear what I’d decided, so I didn’t waste any time telling her. “I’m going to try it. I’m not saying that I’ll do it forever, but I’ll see how things go.”
Emily shot out of her chair and rushed over to me. She wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me tightly as she said, “Thank you so much, Evan! This means so much to me.”
“I’d do anything for you, Em. But you should know, it isn’t going to be easy. There’s lots that needs to be done.”
She let me go and went back to her chair and asked, “What do you need me to do?”
“I don’t know yet. I talked to Wes. He’s worked with Dad for over twenty years and knows this place better than anyone, so I asked if he’d be our foreman.”
“Wes would be perfect for that,” she said excitedly.
“He would. I’m hoping we can come to some kind of agreement. If he agrees to do it, he’ll have to take on most of the work. He’ll choose his own crew and run it the way he thinks it should be run. I’d just be here to help when I can. He’s coming out tomorrow so we can start working this thing out.”
“That sounds great!”
“I thought you would take the house. You and the kids…”
“I don’t want to move,” she interrupted. “I love this house, I really do, but we like where we are right now. We’ve worked really hard to get our house just the way we want it, and the kids’ school is just down the street. And David’s work is only five minutes away. It would be too hard for us to move all the way out here.”
“The kids would have two hundred acres to play on. This house is twice the size of yours, and we’re only talking about a twenty-minute drive.”
“I know, but it’s just too much. We have our routines, and I like being close to town. Besides, I think you should take the house.”
“I’ve got my own place.”
“I know.” Her eyes darted over to MJ. She bit her bottom lip as she tried to find the right words. Finally, she continued, “Your house is beautiful, but… it’s just kind of small, Evan. Two bedrooms isn’t big enough for a growing family. And I know Guardrail could do wonders with this house. He could knock out some walls and put in new cabinets. He could do whatever it takes to make it yours. It would be the perfect place for you to have your family one day.”
It was no secret that my sister was hoping that I’d settle down and start a family, but hearing her idea of me taking the house caught me off-guard. I’d left years ago with the intention of never coming back, and the thought of making Dad’s home mine wasn’t something I’d even considered. When I looked over to MJ, I could see the wheels turning in the back of her mind, and I wanted to tell her to stop, to tell her that there was no way I’d ever consider taking on my father’s home, but then it happened: I could see her sitting on that porch rocking one of our kids in her lap, the sounds of laughter coming from the back fields as our kids played tag, and even my brothers coming for cookouts with their families.
It was just some kind of fucked-up fantasy. I knew that, but I liked it. I liked the idea of having a place to have my own family one day, so I told her, “I’ll think about it.”
“You could change out everything. Get new furniture. Decorate the way you want to. It could really be a great place for you,” Emily pushed.
“I told you, I’ll think about it,” I laughed.
“Okay. Think about it,” she smiled. She tried to contain her excitement, but she just couldn’t do it. Her eyes lit up as she said, “I’ll help. I’ll paint and help you pick out furniture. Whatever you need.”
“Em,” I scolded.
“Okay. Okay. I’m done.”
“I doubt that.” I stood up and said, “Just give me some time to think on it. For now, I need to get MJ back before her brother sends out the cavalry looking for her.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right about that,” MJ laughed.
After MJ said her goodbyes, she followed me to her car. Once she was settled inside, a big smile spread across her face. I shook my head and asked, “You’re pretty pleased with yourself, aren’t you?”
“I don’t know what you mean,” she laughed.
“Between you and my sister, I think I might be in trouble… No, I know I’m going to be.”
Her eyes danced with mischief as she replied, “Sometimes trouble can be a good thing.”
Chapter 10
Marley
“They hired a new legal aid at the office,” I told Brandon as he poured himself another cup of coffee. He was already dressed for work, and I caught myself smiling as I noticed that the polo he was wearing was a little tight. Whenever he was feeling good about things, he’d wear one of those shirts to show off all his muscles. I hoped that was a good sign as I carried on, “She’s been working there for a couple of days and…”
“No,” he barked, and my hope that he was in a good mood quickly disappeared.
“Her name is Megan. She’s so pretty… and a real go-getter. She helped me get caught up on some of my assignments, and I think she’s really nice.”
“No,” he repeated, then sat down next to me and reached for the paper, opening it wide so I couldn’t see his face.
“She mentioned that she just moved here from Seattle a couple of months ago, and she doesn’t really know anyone yet. When she saw your picture on…”
“Marley Jo,” he warned.
I’d only met her a couple of times. As soon as I returned to work, the lead partner Tom had called me into his office. Apparently, he was impressed that I’d managed to make some leeway with Mr. Abrams’ will, so he gave me several additional accounts hoping I could do the same with them. Since my arm was still in a sling, I was moving slower than usual and getting behind. Megan had noticed that I was struggling and offered to help. I couldn’t have done it without her, so I ignored his interruption and continued, “When she saw your picture on my desk, she started asking about you. I could tell that she was really interested, so I told her about you. You know… about how you like to go hiking and camping. And I told her about your motor…”
He peeked over his newspaper and asked, “When’s the last time I actually went camping?”
“I know it’s been awhile, but you still like to go. Either way, she really seemed interested, so I thought you might like to take her out or something.”
Still peering over his newspaper, he asked, “In the past couple of years, how many times have you tried to fix me up with some
chick?”
I sighed as I answered, “I don’t know. Three or four times?”
“More like nine or ten times. And how many times have I taken you up on your offer?” he asked sarcastically.
“Never,” I huffed.
“So, there you go. Just give it up. Besides, I don’t have time for dating right now, especially not every single day of the week… like some people,” he smirked.
“Those haven’t been dates. I’ve been working,” I argued.
“Yeah, right. We’ve all seen the smile that’s been plastered on your face for the past couple of weeks. There’s more to it than work, and we both know it.”
“It’s work, Brandon. That’s all,” I replied. “I mean… I really like him… a lot, but right now we’re just focused on getting the farm up and running. That’s the most important thing.”
“I highly doubt that, Marley. You could be working from your office or from here. He wants you out at his place for a reason,” he said with a smirk.
“Whatever. You’re just trying to change the subject.”
“There’s nothing left to talk about. I’m not interested in being fixed up with this Megan or anyone else for that matter.”
“It’s just a date,” I muttered.
“If I’m going on a date, I’m going with someone I choose. I’ll meet her the old-fashioned way, and if it’s meant to be, we’ll hit it off and that will be it. End of story.”
“Okay. I get it,” I conceded as I stood up and put my coffee cup in the sink. “I won’t bring it up again, but you can’t say I didn’t try.”
“That’s an understatement,” he grumbled.
“Check ya later, Mr. Sunshine. I’m headed to work,” I told him as I headed to the office. I rushed out to my car and drove straight to work. I wanted to get there early so I could actually leave on time. I had to stop by the grocery store on the way out to the farm, so I could get what I needed for dinner. It had been three weeks since the day Smokey asked me to help him with the farm, and since then, we’d all fallen into a comfortable routine. While he was working at the club, I’d spend my day working at the office. As soon as I finished up there, I would head over to the farm to meet up with him. I would work on the employee contracts and go over the books, while Smokey worked in the orchard. Things seemed to be falling into place. Wes and Smokey spent hours going over what needed to be done to get the farm ready for the upcoming season, including deciding who they’d hire for his crew. Most of the men Wes mentioned had worked at the farm in the past, but there were a few new names on his list, including Wes’s oldest son, Crockett. Smokey assured him that he’d have whatever he needed to run the farm. Luckily, money wasn’t an issue. The Abrams family had done very well with their business, and it wouldn’t be difficult for Emily and Smokey to continue on with what their father had started.
