by E. L. Todd
When lunch was over, they went back to class. Alexandra finished her courses until the day was over. She called the hospital to check on her application, but they said it was still in review. She hoped she got the job. That way she could get her own car and not rely on other people for rides.
“Hey, can I take you home?”
Alexandra saw Gabe approach her. “Actually, Lana is giving me a ride.”
“She told me,” he said. “But she said she needed to run an errand. I offered to help her out.”
Alexandra felt cornered. “Oh okay.”
“Don’t get too excited,” he said with a smile.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
“You want to get dinner first?”
Alexandra felt nervous. She didn’t want to piss off the only friends she had left, but she had to be honest. If she wasn’t, she would give him the wrong idea. “Gabe, I’m not dating right now.”
“Okay…”
“I’m sorry,” she said. “You seem like a nice guy.”
He came closer to her then put his hands in his pockets. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I’m sorry.”
“No, I just want to be honest.”
“I’m sorry. I just thought you were really cute. I couldn’t pass up a shot.”
She looked away.
“Now let me take you home.” He opened the passenger door and helped her get inside.
They drove down the road in silence. It was tense for a few minutes.
“So why aren’t you dating right now?” he asked.
She looked out the window. “I’m just not in the right place.”
He nodded. “That’s code for bad breakup.”
She smiled. “You’re good.”
“Well, I really hope you and I can be friends. I don’t want this awkward encounter to make you feel weird around me.”
“No, we’re fine.”
“Cool,” he said with a smile. “But I have to ask. Would you consider dating me if you weren’t in the wrong place?”
She shifted her weight. “I don’t know…”
“I’m sorry I asked.” He turned on the radio and they listened to the music. “I don’t like chick singers very much, but I like Carrie Underwood.”
“She has a beautiful voice.”
“She’s cute too,” he said with a smile.
“Definitely.”
He looked at her. “You’re really cool, Alex.”
“Thanks. You are too.”
He drove to her house and parked his car. The dogs immediately started growling. “I would walk you to the door but they might eat me.”
Alexandra laughed. “Thank you for the ride.”
“Anytime.”
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” he said. “And we’re cool, right?”
“Yes, we’re cool.”
“Excellent.”
When Alexandra walked inside, her aunt was nowhere to be seen. There wasn’t a note on the refrigerator and there wasn’t any dinner saved. She walked down the hallway but saw the open bedroom. She wasn’t home.
Alexandra took out her supplies and got to work on her homework. The sun disappeared behind the horizon until it was pitch black. As the night wore on, she became more worried. Her aunt still hadn’t called.
When the lights from her truck finally shined through the window, Alexandra breathed a sigh of relief, knowing she was just overreacting. A few minutes later, the front door finally opened.
Martha’s hand was pressed to her lower back and she walked with a hunch. Her face was in a grimace, indicating she was obviously in pain.
“Aunt Martha, what’s wrong?” She rose from the chair and helped her walk forward.
“I really hurt my back today,” she said through her heavy breathing. “I was at the hospital.”
“Why didn’t you call me?” Alexandra demanded.
“Its nothing serious,” she said. “It happens all the time.”
“Then you shouldn’t be working in the fields.”
“I can’t afford to have someone else do it.”
“Then I’ll do it.”
“Absolutely not,” Martha said. “I won’t suck you into this.”
Alexandra guided her to the bedroom. “Then what are you going to do?”
She sighed. “I may have to sell it.”
Alexandra helped her lay on the bed. She pulled her shoes off and helped her get settled. “I can take care of the fields tomorrow. I think I know how.”
“I have someone coming,” she said with a tired voice. “Don’t worry about it.”
“I thought you couldn’t afford help?”
“He’s a family friend.”
“Oh,” she said. “Well, I’m glad you have someone. I can still help before I go to school.”
“You need to pursue what you came here to do, not take care of the fields, Alex.”
“But family comes first, Martha.”
She smiled. “Just don’t worry about it, dear.”
Alexandra was going to help no matter what. “Would you like some dinner? I can make something.”
“I’m not hungry,” she whispered. “Just tired.”
“Okay,” she said as she patted her on the leg. “Call me if you need anything. I’m just down the hall.”
“I know, kid.”
Alexandra left the bedroom then shut the door behind her. She got her clothes and boots ready for the next morning. She wasn’t looking forward to getting up at the crack of dawn to work in the field before she went to school, but her aunt needed her. Alexandra knew her aunt would do anything for her, and she would do the same.
7
When the alarm clock went off, she groaned. She wanted to hit the snooze button but her determination outweighed her laziness. Finally, she rose out of bed and washed her face, getting the sleep out of her eyes. She quickly braided her hair and placed it over one shoulder before she put on a baseball cap. She knew she looked hideous but she didn’t care. She was doing yard work, not a photo shoot.
A truck was parked outside, and an extra dog was sitting with the Rottweilers. It was a large German Shepard. He was playing in the dirt with the other dogs, like they already knew each other.
Alexandra walked onto the field and saw a man in the distance, working the irrigation pump at the end of the line. The sun obscured her sight so she had to look down, letting her baseball cap protect her face as she waked over.
When she came close, she looked up. He was staring at her, bright blue eyes shining intensely. He had a chiseled jaw and some stubble on his chin like he hadn’t shaved in a few days. His hair was dark like hers, slightly curly.
Alexandra had to look up to get an entire view of him because he was much taller than she was. His wide shoulders were tight with muscles. Even his forearms were striated with lines of muscle and veins. Every inch of him looked chiseled, perfectly sculpted. Alexandra didn’t need to see him shirtless to know how he looked underneath.
She wasn’t sure what to expect when she walked onto the field, but it definitely wasn’t this. She opened her mouth to say something but she couldn’t think of anything. She was completely at a loss of words. Now she felt stupid for coming outside looking like a slob.
He stared at her for a long time, his eyes prying into the shadows of her hat. “I hate to be rude, but who are you?”
“Oh,” she said. “I’m Alexandra.” She regained her composure so she wouldn’t look like a total idiot.
He nodded. “I’m Blaise.” He extended his hand.
Alexandra stared at it for a moment before she took it. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Are you Martha’s niece?”
“Yes.”
“She mentioned you. But I wasn’t expecting you to join me.”
A strand of her hair came loose so she tucked it behind her ear. “I want to help. You shouldn’t have to do this by yourself.”
He smiled. “I can handle it. I’ve be
en doing it for a long time.”
“Thank you so much for helping my aunt. I would do this on my own but I don’t know how everything works just yet.”
“I can teach you, if you’d like.”
“I would love that.”
He stared at her for a long time. “Where are you from?”
Alexandra flinched at the heat of his stare. She normally felt calm under pressure, but he intimidated her in a profound way. She was suddenly aware of her body, how she looked, what she was doing, the racing speed of her heart. “New York,” she said gently.
“That’s a long way off,” he said.
“Yeah…”
He turned to the pump. “Do you know how to use this?”
She nodded.
He turned the dial and let the first pump flood the rows. “When are you planting?”
“Uh, I’m not sure.”
“You should do it soon. My fields are behind schedule because of the soil content. There’s not enough nitrogen.”
“What do you need nitrogen for?” she asked.
“So you don’t know anything about farming?” he said with a laugh.
“I never said I was an expert.”
“It’s okay,” he said. “I can show you everything you need to know.”
She watched him flood the soil with the water. He moved to the different pumps until just the right amount of water filled the rows of the soil. They spent hours tending to the field, tilling the earth when the soil level wasn’t right. A few weeds grew when they shouldn’t, so they pulled them out with their bare hands.
Alexandra watched his every move, more interested in his physique than what he was doing with it. Through his shirt, she could see the outline of muscles in his shoulders. Everything was prominent and defined. Even though he was working his body, he seemed calm and relaxed, like their activities weren’t exhausting. Alexandra was sweating like she never had. When they were done, they walked back to the car.
“Thank you,” she said again. “I really appreciate your help.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and looked at her. “I would do anything for Martha. She knows that.”
“How do you know her?”
He averted his gaze. “She’s just a family friend.”
She nodded. “That was still really nice of you. If I had to do this alone, I would probably destroy everything.”
He chuckled. “You aren’t that bad, Alexandra.”
“Everyone calls me Alex.”
“I’m going to call you Alexandra.”
“Oh.” No one had ever said that to her.
“It’s too beautiful of a name not to be used.” He put his hands in his pockets then watched the dogs. “Bane hates leaving his two best friends.”
Alexandra stared at the dogs. They were sitting on the porch in a pile, their tongues hanging out. “They do look like a happy family.”
The front door opened and Aunt Martha looked at them. “Come in for breakfast.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Blaise said immediately. “You should rest.”
“I’m not paralyzed,” she said with a laugh. “Now get in here.”
Blaise glanced at Alexandra then he walked inside. Alexandra followed behind him. Her eyes moved to his ass but then she averted her gaze, knowing it was completely inappropriate.
Martha hugged him tightly as soon as he walked inside. “Thank you so much.”
He patted her back gently, trying not to hurt her. “You’re welcome. I’m always here if you need me.”
She pulled away. “I already ate but there’s plenty left over.” She set it on the table then left the room.
Alexandra raised an eyebrow, confused. She walked to the sink and washed her hands after Blaise did then took a seat at the kitchen table. “She’s a really good cook.” She didn’t know what else to say and she felt the need to talk.
“I know,” he said as he piled the French toast onto his plate. “It’s what she pays me in. I don’t get a home cooked meal very often.”
She poured a large pool of syrup onto her pancakes. It leaked across the plate, moving everywhere.
Blaise eyed it. “You like syrup?”
“Oh.” Alexandra put down the bottle. “I guess.”
“You guess?” He laughed. “Martha is going to run out quick.”
She smiled. “I guess I have a sweet tooth.”
Blaise cut into his French toast and ate quietly.
Alexandra sat across from him, catching glances of him whenever the opportunity arose. His dark hair was messy but still looked sexy at the same time. It curled at the ends. His skin was slightly tan from being in the sun all the time, but he wasn’t extremely dark. His light colored eyes contrasted against his dark hair, making a perfect picture.
In New York, Alexandra saw models all the time. They were easy to pick out on the street. But they were nothing compared to this guy. She wondered what a beautiful man like Blaise was doing in Georgia. He seemed too perfect for a small town. He ate his food with grace, not shoveling it into his mouth like a typical man. When he smiled, his eyes naturally lit up at the same time. There were so many details she noticed in the hours she’d spent with him. It was hard not to notice his features.
“Alexandra, do you like living in Georgia?”
“You say my name a lot.”
He stared at her. “It’s your name, right?”
She said nothing.
“It’s polite to address someone by their name.”
She smiled. “Blaise, yes, I like living here.”
He chuckled. “There are a lot of sights to see if you know where to look. How long are you staying?”
“Permanently.” The words flew from her mouth. Now that she finally said them, she knew it was true. She was never going back.
He nodded. “I guess we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other.”
She hoped they would. “I’m surprised you didn’t ask why I moved here.”
He finished his plate then pushed it away. “That’s a personal question.”
She was surprised by the response.
“And you probably get that question from every person you meet.”
“It gets a little old,” she said with a smile.
“Your aunt is lucky to have you for help.”
“And we’re both lucky we have you.”
He smiled. “I think your aunt should sell the property and get a house in the suburbs. I would offer to buy it but I already have plenty of land. I don’t need anymore.”
Alex raised an eyebrow. “You own land?”
He nodded. “Cunnings Cotton. My family has owned it for a long time.”
“Oh. So you’re a bit of an expert.”
“You could say that.”
“So, you think she should sell it?” Alexandra asked. “I think the same thing. She’s hurt her back too many times.”
“When I brought it up, she said she couldn’t leave. Her husband tilled the soil every day of their marriage. She said she couldn’t give it up. It’s all she has left.”
Alexandra felt her heart tug at the revelation. She had no idea what it was like to lose a spouse, the person you spent almost all your time with. It was obviously devastating, but her aunt put on such a strong façade that it was easy to forget about her inner pain. “I completely understand.”
“But it still isn’t good for her.”
Alexandra sighed. “I don’t think I could ever convince her otherwise.”
Blaise leaned back in his chair and stared at her. The look he gave her was heated and frightening at the same time. His bright eyes cut through the surface of her skin, making her feel vulnerable and exposed. She was innately intimidated by him, but also very comfortable at the same time. And she was very attracted to him. It was the first time she felt that way since she first spotted Paul.
Blaise grabbed his plate and took it to the sink. “Tell your aunt I said thank you for breakfast.” He cleaned his dishes then stacked them.
“Of course.”
He dried his hands then walked toward the door. “It was nice meeting you.”
“Will you be here tomorrow?”
“I’ll be here every day until your aunt is well again.”
She stared at him. “But don’t you have your own fields to attend to?”
“But she’s family. And family comes first.”
8
Alexandra tried to concentrate on her classes but she kept thinking about Blaise. Something about him unnerved her, consumed her thoughts. He was easy to talk to. Their conversations flowed like a wild river. Rocks and debris didn’t restrict it. It was free.
When she was in her advanced composition class, Gabe kept glancing at her every few seconds. She didn’t pay attention to him and kept her gaze glued to the board. After he asked her out, it was awkward, but she tried to forget about it. When she said no, he backed off, which is more than what most guys would do.
After the class was finished, they walked to the library. Alexandra had a break before the rest of her classes and she wanted to go somewhere quiet. When they sat down, Gabe looked at her.
“You’re still uncomfortable around me.”
She flinched at his words. “I’m just—shy.”
He sighed. “I have a lot of friends that are girls—platonic friends. I would really love it if you could be another.”
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s not you, Gabe. I’m just—on my guard all the time.”
He nodded. “What happened with this ex of yours?”
Alexandra didn’t open up to anyone about this. All of her friends were Paul’s friends. But she still felt weird discussing it. “He didn’t love me the way I loved him, basically.”
Gabe stared at her but didn’t comment.
“We had a few problems then he cheated on me. When we broke up, he seemed really contrite about it.”
“Maybe he was,” he said simply. “Sometimes you realize how much you need something only when you lose it.”
Alexandra shrugged. “Possibly.”
“How long were you two together?”
“A few years.”
