Forces of Nature

by Cheris Hodges

  A drone voice answered the phone. “Welco Industries, how may I direct your call?”

  “Douglas Wellington, please.”

  Classical music played in Crystal’s ear as she tried to think of something to say.

  “Mr. Wellington’s office,” his assistant said.

  “Is Mr. Wellington available?”

  “May I tell him who’s calling?”

  “Crystal Hughes.”

  Moments later, Douglas breathed her name, sending shivers down her spine. “This is a nice surprise.”

  “I don’t want to fight dirty, but I will,” she said. “Why don’t you come out to the farm and see what it means to the community?”

  “There’s no doubt that Hughes Farm is important to Reeseville, but I don’t see how spending any time out there will change anything,” Douglas said. “However, if this is your cute way of accepting my dinner invitation . . .”

  “You’ve only briefly seen the land. There’s nothing like waking up and smelling the dew-covered roses and honeysuckle. I’m pleading with you, please consider it,” she said.

  “Fine, I’ll consider it. But what about this injunction?”

  “Spend a week at Hughes Farm and I’m sure you will change your mind about wanting to destroy this land to build a business park.”

  Douglas laughed. “I doubt that, but I will take you up on your offer, Ms. Hughes. When do you want to make this happen?”

  “This weekend, I’ll fix up one of the guest cottages and you can move in,” Crystal said as the wheels spun in her head. Sure, her plan was hokey and Douglas might not change his mind. But Crystal believed that nature, and especially the beauty of Hughes Farm, would have some kind of impact on him. Maybe seeing how much people depended on the food she raised there and how much the Starlight girls needed a home would give him pause. Dena wasn’t going to like it one bit, though.

  “Ms. Hughes, I look forward to it. I’ll have someone bring my things over Saturday morning.”

  Crystal smiled, knowing that once Douglas got on her turf she would be able to change his mind by any means necessary. But would she be able to keep things strictly professional? Of course I can, she thought as she pulled cash from her purse to pay for her tea.

  A half an hour, one muffin, and two more cups of tea later, Crystal called Dena. There was no way she could keep her plan under wraps. Besides, she needed Dena to get their court appearance pushed back.

  “Absolutely not,” Dena balked when Crystal made her suggestion. “What do you think having that man on your property will do? He’ll probably draw up new plans for the business park. Where did you come up with this hair-brained idea? A Lifetime movie?”

  “Dena, this is my decision. Let’s be real about this. Douglas has a legal staff that can tie us up in so much red tape.”

  “Is there something I should know about?” Dena asked suspiciously.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Crystal toyed with the half-eaten muffin she’d been nibbling on.

  “You just speak of him with such familiarity. Have you forgotten that he is trying take your property? Your family legacy? City council is in Welco’s pocket, and we have a fight on our hands,” Dena said gruffly. “Just what in the hell do you think inviting him to stay at the farm will accomplish? If anything, he’ll get more ammo to use against us. Let me tell you something about men like Wellington: they are not sentimental. Roses, fresh fruit, and crying little girls don’t mean a damned thing to them.”

  “Dena, calm down. This will work, trust me. I have some tricks up my sleeve that might not hold up in court.”

  “Do I want to hear more?”

  “Dena, if Douglas Wellington has a human side, once he sees how dependent people are on this farm and its history, there will be no business park at this location.”

  “One week—and do your parents know what you’re doing?”

  Crystal inhaled sharply, attempting to cool the hot anger boiling in her stomach. Did Dena think that she was a child and couldn’t make a decision without getting the approval of her parents?

  “Dena, I can handle this, all right? I don’t want to involve my parents. They left this farm to me and I think I’ve done a damned good job running it.”

  “And I agree, but this is a big deal, Crystal, and Joel and Erin should know their farm is under attack.”

  “It’s my farm now and I am protecting it. One week, Dena, and things will change.”

  “We’ll see,” Dena said, then hung up.

  Without paying attention to the pedestrian traffic on the sidewalk, Crystal collided with a man, which sent her car keys flying out of her hand. As she knelt down to retrieve her keys, his big hand covers hers.

  “I didn’t see you there,” Douglas said, still holding on to Crystal’s hand.

  “Guess I’m still standing in the way of progress, huh?” she said sarcastically. Slowly rising to her feet, still holding hands with Douglas, she stared into his eyes and smiled. “I’ll take my keys now.”

  Douglas twirled the key ring around his finger. “Why don’t I buy you a cup of coffee?”

  “I don’t want any coffee,” she said as she reached for her keys.

  Douglas held the keys above his head. “Then you can have tea.”

  Rolling her eyes, Crystal agreed and she walked into the café with Douglas. She stood behind him at the counter as he ordered a large espresso for himself and an apple cinnamon tea for her, which was actually one of her favorite drinks from the café.

  “How presumptuous of you,” she said as she took the steaming cup from him. Douglas placed his hand on the small of her back and led her to a corner table. Crystal sat down and crossed her legs. Her face grew hot under Douglas’s piercing stare. She grabbed her cup as he silently sipped his coffee, but he never took his eyes off her.

  “What kind of game are you playing, Mr. Wellington?” she asked after taking a sip of her tea.

  “I could ask you the same thing, Ms. Hughes. What do you expect to happen at your farm next week?”

  “I expect the Grinch’s heart to grow to the size of a normal one,” she replied as she set her cup on the table between them. “Douglas, this county and this town need Hughes Farm. Why can’t you understand that?”

  “Why can’t you understand that this business park is going to happen and a lot of out of work people will have jobs?”

  “My keys,” she snapped.

  Douglas handed them to her, but closed his hand around hers. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re sexy when you’re angry?”

  The feel of his skin against hers caused her heart to palpitate. As much as she wanted to fight her attraction to him, she couldn’t help being turned on by his touch. He had a body that looked as if it was built for unspeakable pleasures, and those eyes. She wanted to get lost in them as he undressed her and ran his hands across her skin.

  “You’re such a sleaze,” she snapped, rising to walk away, but her heel caught in a tear on the rug. Before she hit the floor, Douglas scooped her up in his arms.

  While he held her, Douglas looked deep into Crystal’s eyes as a fire burned between his legs. He’d never desired a woman this way before and if he didn’t have her, he felt as if he would explode. Maybe it was because she was forbidden fruit, or the fact that she was the first woman to actually tell him no and mean it, but he wanted her more than he wanted his next breath. Carnal desire took over and he captured her full lips with his. Douglas felt the bite of Crystal’s fingernails on his shoulder as she responded to his scorching kiss. And just for one heated moment, they were oblivious to the stares and whispers of the other café customers; all either of them cared or could think about was the sweet inferno building between them.

  Then reality slapped Crystal, making her push away from him and tear out of the café. Douglas followed her, determined to find out if she shared his yearning for her. Taking long strides, he caught up to her, grabbed her elbow, and forced her to face him.

  “This is th
e second time you’ve kissed me,” he said.

  “Funny, but I think this is the second time that you’ve violated me, Mr. Wellington.”

  Stroking her cheek, Douglas smiled. “Crystal, I can’t fight being attracted to you anymore, which is why this proposal of yours isn’t going to work.”

  Snatching away from him, Crystal narrowed her eyes and hissed, “You can’t expect that I’m going to let you share my bed after what you’re trying to do? Go to hell.”

  “Only if you lead the way,” he called out as she stomped off. “I’d follow those hips anywhere.”

  Chapter 6

  The week leading up to Douglas’s visit to Hughes Farm, Crystal wanted to call everything off, because for the last six days her mind had been clouded with fantasies of kissing him, touching him, and making love to him. Stalking across the room and peering out the window, Crystal watched an unfamiliar pickup truck pulling into the driveway. As the vehicle stopped, she was mesmerized by the man, clad in fresh blue jeans, a crisp white T–shirt, and a New York Yankees baseball cap, as he hoisted a duffel bag over his broad shoulder. She’d never seen Douglas dressed like a regular person and she was sure the outfit was new. That man has probably never owned a pair of jeans in his life.

  As Douglas raised his hand to knock, Crystal opened the front door, not caring that it was obvious she’d been staring at him from the window. “You’re early,” she said.

  “Isn’t that better than being late?” he asked as he gave her a slow once-over, admiring her T-shirt and the way it clung to her breasts.

  “No, it isn’t. Either way, it’s rude. I don’t even have your room ready in the guest cottage,” she said as she stepped aside, allowing Douglas to enter the house.

  He stood in the middle of her living room, which was decorated with a southwestern flair. Nodding, he said, “Nice touch. Classic.”

  “If you have your way it will be rubble,” she said as she closed the front door. “Where are my manners? May I take your bag, get you something to eat or drink?”

  Douglas smiled and shook his head, and then he headed for the caramel-colored leather sofa. Sitting, he dropped his bag on the floor.

  Anger cruised through Crystal’s body as she watched Douglas pick up the remote and turn the television on. Just seeing him sitting there as if the house belonged to him rattled her to the core, especially when she wouldn’t mind joining him on the sofa and losing herself in his sweet, hot kiss.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” she snapped as she picked up the bag and threw it in his lap. “This isn’t stately Wellington manor and I’m not one of your servants.”

  Douglas furrowed his brows as he looked up at her. “I thought you said my room wasn’t ready? What did I do?”

  “Oh, I . . . I . . .” Crystal’s face grew hot from embarrassment as she turned away from Douglas. “I’m going to go check on the room.”

  Dashing out of the living room, Crystal headed out back to the small cottage where Douglas would be staying. As she opened the door, she felt a masculine presence behind her.

  “You expect me to live here for a week?” Douglas said. His lips were so close to her ear that she shivered as he spoke. “This is a cute dollhouse, but I’m a big man, darling.”

  She looked around the space and had to admit that “dollhouse” was an accurate description of the cottage, with its lacy slipcovers over the sofa and love seat and the matching curtains. Crystal always thought the cottage was a comfortable place, but she wasn’t a man of large proportion. However, there was no way she and Douglas could sleep under the same roof. Not with the way she was feeling and thinking about him. Folding her arms across her chest, Crystal glared at him. “What am I supposed to do, give up my house for you?”

  “No, we can share a bed,” Douglas said with a grin.

  Crystal turned toward the door. “I’ll bring you some clean towels.”

  He blocked her exit by pulling her into his arms; he brushed his lips against her neck. “I hope you don’t plan on sneaking in here tonight and violating me as I sleep.”

  Pushing away from him, she pulled the door open and dashed out. I can do this, she thought as she walked up the back steps to her house. Douglas Wellington isn’t going to take my land or my heart.

  Douglas wondered what to expect for the week as he stood up and walked to the front windows. Interestingly enough, the cottage faced Crystal’s bedroom. He watched as she walked into the room and flicked on the light. He dropped the curtain quickly so that she wouldn’t see him. Staying in the small cottage was starting to look better and better, he thought as he headed for the bedroom. Turning the light on, Douglas shook his head at the sight of the twin bed and old English dresser. This is definitely a dollhouse.

  Dropping his bag on the small bed, which had a yellow and white comforter on it, Douglas began to unpack his clothes and wondered how he could stop thinking about Crystal. After getting settled in, he decided that he might as well explore the property, even if he’d rather be exploring every tantalizing inch of Crystal Hughes. He looked up at the house, hoping to catch a glance of her as he started his walk. When he didn’t see her, he decided to head for the garden. The beauty of the scene before him instantly took his breath away.

  Crystal was dressed in a pair of dusty overalls with her hair pulled back in a loose ponytail, kneeling down with a basket of corn, peppers, and tomatoes trying to help a young girl with another basket. Douglas rushed over to her, grabbing her basket before she lost her grip on it.

  “Thanks,” she said, lifting the smaller basket into her arms. “Mercer, are you all right?”

  “Yes, ma’am, I just can’t do anything right. I can’t even pick vegetables to make the soup with.” With her shoulders slumping, Mercer started to walk away, but Crystal stopped her.

  “Mercer, don’t let what other people say about you cloud your self-esteem. You can do anything you put your mind to and when you and the other girls make this soup, there are going to be several people who appreciate it.” Wrapping her arms around the girl, Crystal hugged her tightly.

  Douglas couldn’t help but be touched by Crystal’s gentle way with the girl. He could see the girl beginning to smile as they embraced.

  “You go on inside,” Crystal told Mercer before ushering her toward the greenhouse.

  “You’re pretty good with these girls,” he said as she took her basket from his hands.

  “It’s not hard to be nice to people. You should try it sometimes.”

  Douglas smirked, sarcastically thinking how nice he would like to treat her if he could get one night alone with her. “I am nice to people,” he said. “Why do you think I’m such a monster? I’m just a businessman.”

  “Who wants to monopolize this town and county,” she shot back. “And why? How can you look at this place and think it would be better served as a business park? What about the beauty of the land and what it means to these girls?”

  Turning his back to her and running his finger across a cornstalk, Douglas said, “Why are you making this personal? It’s a standard business deal. Something that my company and I do all the time.”

  “Can you hand me those cabbages over there?” she asked, ignoring his last comment.

  “Changing the subject?” Douglas closed the space between them and pulled her into his arms. “This doesn’t have to be painful.”

  “But it is. This isn’t just about me and my family’s legacy, it’s about the community in general. This place is one step away from being Welcoville and you know it.”

  Shrugging his shoulders, he passed her the vegetables. “Who else is trying to turn this rural place into a viable city? Crystal, people are suffering here. They need jobs and money and Welco is just stepping up to the plate and giving the people what they need.”

  “People need more than money and jobs; they need to know someone cares about them.” She pressed her hand against his chest, attempting to push away from him. But Douglas grabbed her hand and kissed it.r />
  Unable to pull away, she fell against his body and their lips brushed against one another’s. Douglas capitalized on the rare opportunity to kiss her as he captured her lips, savoring the sweet taste of her mouth. He expected her to fight him, but to his surprise she melted against him. Their bodies fit together as if they were destined to be one. He roamed his hands up and down her back, feeling every luscious curve as he glided down her hips. A soft moan escaped his throat as the kiss became deeper, wetter, and hotter—until Crystal pulled away.

  “This is so wrong,” she said, freeing herself from his embrace.

  Douglas reached out and grabbed her arm, “Crystal, you want me just as much as I want you.”

  Wiping her hand across her face, Crystal snatched away from Douglas and returned to the house. As he watched her walk away, he fingered his lips, reliving the searing kiss he shared with her. He made up his mind to have her, no matter what.

  Crystal wished she could explain away her attraction to Douglas Wellington. She knew this man wanted to take her land away and would probably sleep with her to do it. This is crazy! Why am I letting this man get to me? she thought as she poured herself a glass of water, hoping that it would cool the fire burning inside her body. Slowly she sipped the liquid, but her mind couldn’t get past the sensation of Douglas’s lips against hers, his hands all over her body. The back door opened and as Douglas appeared in front of her, she dropped her glass.

  Bending down to scoop up the broken glass, she asked, “What are you doing in here?”

  Douglas knelt down and took the sharp glass from her hand. “I need towels and an extra blanket. I guess I should have knocked.”

  “You think?” she snapped.

  Douglas seemed to ignore her attitude as he walked over to the trash can and dumped the shards of glass in it. “So, what do you have planned for dinner?”

  Crystal folded her arms across her chest and eyed him incredulously. “Whatever my plans are, they don’t include you.”

  “How am I going to see the majesty of this farm if you keep me tucked away in that little dollhouse? I want to taste the fresh veggies and whatever else you grow here.” A smile spread across his face as if he wanted to say something else, but restrained himself.