by Ali Parker
I shivered a little just imagining it. “I’ve never really been one for ghost stories,” I admitted.
Mason slipped an arm around my shoulders. “But you’d know who all the guys in makeup were,” he reminded me, winking down at me. “And you’d know exactly what was going to happen every night. It would be just like a show, everything planned out.”
“Okay,” I said. “What else?”
“During the day, the corn maze. We could make it really elaborate. I’m not sure we could make the largest one in the world; I’ve already looked up the records and they’re insane. But we could probably be the largest corn maze in Oklahoma.”
I gnawed on my lower lip. “But we’d have to destroy more of the harvest to do that.”
“We would,” Mason agreed. “And to do hay rides, we’d have to pay for fuel for the tractors plus the carriages for the backs of them.” He gave me a serious look. “Abi, I know it’s risky. But I really think this could work out.”
I took a deep breath, reserving my judgement. “What are the rest of your ideas? How would we make money?”
“Charge for admission. And then you could charge for other things as well. Face-painting for the little kids. Homemade pies and other treats.”
“Pumpkins!” I broke in excitedly.
“Most harvest festivals include that,” Mason agreed. “But most of the farms around here don’t plant pumpkins, so they’d be expensive to bring in.”
“Come with me,” I said, grabbing his hand and tugging him along with me. We reached the pumpkin patch, and I couldn’t help laughing delightedly as I turned towards Mason. “I was going through Nana’s seed packets one day and I found tons and tons of them for pumpkins. Grampa told me they just never saw the point of planting pumpkins since they’re not as lucrative as some of the other things they could plant. But we had nothing else to do with this field anyway, and I figured that if nothing else, Jeff might be able to use them.”
Mason frowned at me. “How would Jeff use hundreds of pumpkins?” he asked. He shook his head. “This is actually really impressive, by the way. There are a lot of pumpkins here.”
I preened at his words. Everyone else had thought I was crazy for filling the field with as many seeds as I could. “Jeff’s a photographer,” I explained. “I didn’t know how much demand there might be for autumn portraits in the area, but I figured it was worth a shot. Especially if the field was just going to be dormant otherwise.”
“We could use that, as part of the harvest festival,” Mason mused. “Have one part of it where we set up a photography studio of sorts. And sell off the rest of the pumpkins, individually rather than in bulk. That could draw in the families and bring in some serious money for the farm.”
I threw my arms around him, unable to help it. “This is the perfect idea,” I told him. I shook my head. “I’m so excited. You know, this is the sort of thing that I’ve always wanted to do.”
Mason raised his eyebrows at me. “A harvest festival?” he asked.
“Not exactly,” I said. “But event planning.” I looked around the farm, already imagining what we could do here. I could already picture families there with their little kids, kids who would remember this harvest festival for years and years. Kids who would eventually grow up and tell their kids about that one time, when they were much younger, that they had gone to a particularly special festival with their parents.
I smiled to myself. It was going to be hard work, but it would be worth it.
The next thing I knew, Mason was leaning in to press his lips to mine. His lips were soft and warm, and I couldn’t help but lean towards him. He took the invitation, sliding his tongue into my mouth, causing fiery lust to burst through my core. It was the perfect kiss, there under the moonlight, in the seclusion of the pumpkin patch.
But I pulled away after only a moment, biting my lower lip.
Mason cupped my cheek with his warm, calloused hand, his thumb lightly stroking my skin. But I pulled away from that contact as well. I wanted to lean in against him, but instead, I forced myself to take a step back away from him, letting the cool night’s air rush between us.
“Mason, I can’t,” I told him.
Mason’s face fell. “I’m sorry, I thought you wanted this.”
“I do,” I said vehemently. It was so much more complicated than that, though. I ran a hand back through my hair. “I want all of this, Mason. The festival, the hayride, the pumpkin patch.” I paused. “You. I want you, Mason. But I’m going home after the harvest. You have to understand that.”
“What do you have to go back to, anyway?” Mason challenged, folding his arms across his chest.
“Life,” I said, laughing helplessly. “I have a whole life back in North Carolina, Mason. I’m just taking a break from there to help my grandparents. And to get away from my parents and their divorce drama.”
“So you’ve got a house? Friends?”
“Everything!” I said, throwing my hands in the air. “I’ve got a job opportunity lined up for the end of this year, so that I could go into next year with a new career. And my friends are there too, and all my stuff.” I shook my head. “It’s not that easy to just pick up and move. I don’t even know you well enough to be thinking of that.”
“Why not find work here?” Mason asked. “I’m not saying that you have to move here forever, but we could at least figure out what this is between us. Because it’s something more than lust, you know that.”
I looked uncertainly at him and finally shook my head. “I’m sure I could find work here. Kinsey would keep me on for as long as I wanted to be there. But wet t-shirt contests and theme nights aren’t what I want to do for the rest of my life.”
Mason was silent for a long moment. “You just don’t think it’ll pan out,” he finally said. “That it’s not worth the risk.”
I sighed. “If we’re going to do this harvest festival, it will take up all our time together,” I pointed out. “It’s not like I’d have time for a relationship. And you definitely wouldn’t, working over at your farm as well.”
“You’re just making excuses now,” Mason accused.
I stared at him for a long moment. “You’re right, I am,” I finally admitted.
“Why?” Mason asked.
I looked away from him, feeling a blush spread over my face. If he only knew the real reasons behind it—
“There’s someone else, isn’t there?” Mason asked.
I looked over at him in surprise. “No!” I said. “There’s no one—” I trailed off and then added the crucial clarification. “I’ve never been with anyone else. I’ve dated, but I’ve never—you know.”
Mason stared blankly at me. “You’re afraid of being in a relationship with me because you’ve never been in a relationship before?” he asked. “I’m not exactly the relationship kind of guy myself. It sounds terrible, but one-night stands like Ella, that’s been more my standard. But with you, I just want something different. Don’t worry, we can figure it out together.” He laughed, slightly self-conscious, and I had to admit it was adorable to see him so uncertain like that.
But that wasn’t what I had meant—it had nothing to do with relationships.
I shook my head and backed away as he reached for me. “The whole one-night stand thing,” I said slowly. “You’re not going to enjoy yourself with me.”
Mason laughed. “Don’t be silly,” he said. “You’re beautiful and sexy. Unless you’re telling me that you’re some kind of fairy tale witch and that the moment I strip you naked you’ll turn into a hag?”
I had to smile at that. But the smile was short-lived. I bit my lower lip, feeling embarrassed. How do you explain to a guy like Mason—someone sexy, confident, and comfortable with himself—that you’ve never had sex before?
I took a deep breath and finally blurted it out. “I’m a virgin.” Mason stared at me, and I hurried to continue. “It’s not that there’s someone else. There’s never been anyone else—literally—that
’s why I’m not sure that this is a good idea. I’ve never had a real relationship before, and I’m not sure where this one might lead. And to be honest, I’m—scared.” It was difficult to admit, but I felt a lot better having said it.
When I risked a glance up at Mason, his expression was soft. “Oh Abi,” he said, shaking his head. This time, when he moved to pull me into his arms, I let him, leaning into his gentle strength. He lightly stroked my hair, and I could tell he was thinking of how to respond. “I don’t have the best reputation when it comes to women. But I hope you can trust me. I want to help you save your family’s farm, but that’s only the start of it."
He pulled away, a grin on his face. “My real plan is to make you fall in love with me so you’ll never leave.”
I laughed, but there was something inside of me that stirred at his words. If I was being honest, he had already started with the latter part of that plan. I couldn’t help having feelings for him. He was everything I could ever want in a man. Charming and witty while still being somehow humble, and still serious about the important things. He hadn’t laughed when I’d told him my secret. Instead, he wanted me to trust him.
Could I do that? I wasn’t sure. But I certainly wanted to try.
I smiled bravely at him. “To be honest, you’re off to a good start with making me fall in love with you,” I admitted. “But why me?” I knew the question would continue to bother me if I didn’t just get it out. He had called me beautiful and sexy before. But that wasn’t a reason to go to such great lengths, to help save my family’s farm and to make me fall in love with him. He must know other beautiful and sexy women, and he’d probably bedded them too! So why me?
Mason shook his head. “I don’t know if I can really explain it,” he said, rubbing at the back of his neck. “I guess it’s just that I’ve never met anyone like you before. Someone who would just stop everything and go help someone, like you’re doing with your family’s farm. And the task that you’ve taken on, that’s not an easy one.” He paused. “I really admire you for what you’re doing.”
“But isn’t that exactly what you’re doing, too?” I asked. When Mason didn’t seem to understand, I explained, “You’ve got your own responsibilities over at your family’s farm. But here you are, scheming with me so that we can save my farm. You’re doing exactly the same thing.”
Mason grinned ruefully. “I guess I just can’t help it when I see a damsel in distress,” he said.
I laughed and shook my head. Then, I sobered. “I really appreciate any help you can give me,” I told him.
Mason slung an arm around my shoulders, holding me close to him there in the middle of the pumpkin patch.
Chapter 17
Mason
When I woke up on Sunday morning, Abi was the first thing that came to mind. I smiled as I thought back to the previous night. We hadn’t really defined our relationship, but at least she seemed to be okay with the idea that I was trying to make her fall in love with me.
I couldn’t believe I had said the words so boldly, to be honest, but she hadn’t minded. Around midnight, I had kissed her goodnight before I left.
My dick twitched as I thought back to the kiss. It had been tender and soft, not like the usual kisses I shared with women—rough kisses that were part of the build-up to something more. With Abi, I knew instinctively that we were taking things slow, that no matter how much I might like to strip her down and have her right there in the scant moonlight, that wasn’t the way the night would end.
And for some reason, even though I knew we weren’t going to end up making love that night, I still hadn’t wanted to leave. I could tell that she was worried about the farm, and I just wanted to cheer her up, it was that simple.
But I also knew that if I wanted to help her, I had to stay on Ted’s good side. He could make work miserable for me, give me tons of extra responsibilities around the farm if I challenged him. And I would feel obligated to complete them all, out of some stubborn sense of pride. If I wanted to have any time at all where I could help Abi, I needed to follow Ted’s rules.
No matter how much I hated it.
Sighing, I rolled out of bed, getting dressed quickly and heading downstairs. Other than Mama, I was the first person down to the kitchen. She smiled when she saw me, and I kissed both of her cheeks. “Good morning,” I said.
“Good morning,” she responded, peering closely at me. “You’re in a good mood this morning.”
I shrugged as nonchalantly as I could, but I couldn’t help grinning. “I am in a good mood,” I admitted.
“And why is that?” she asked, handing me a stack of plates so I could start setting the table. “Does it have anything to do with Abigail Brock?”
I chuckled. “Mother’s intuition, hmm?”
“Your father told me you were trying to help her with the Brock family farm,” Mama said.
“Yeah, from what Abi’s told me, they really need to turn the place around, but she doesn’t really know all that much about farming so it’s been difficult,” I told her. I smiled, remembering last night’s walk to the pumpkin patch. “She grew quite a few pumpkins, though. You wouldn’t believe how many have sprouted up in their field, actually.”
Mama raised an eyebrow at me. “You sound fond of her.”
“I am fond of her,” I admitted. I paused. “That’s part of why helping her with the farm is so important to me, Mama. If the farm does okay, maybe she would stick around for a while.”
Mama studied me for a moment, a small smile on her face. “I can tell that she makes you happy, at least,” she said. “I haven’t seen you in this kind of mood in a long time. It seems like you and your brother are always sour and bickering lately.”
I wanted to counter that with something about how it was his fault, but I didn’t want to chance Ted overhearing that on his way into the kitchen. I was in a good enough mood that morning that I didn’t want to spoil things. So instead, I shrugged.
“Anyway, if she makes you as happy as all that,” Mama said, “maybe you should invite her over sometime.”
I remembered what Daddy had said the previous night. And how worried Ted was that I was going to get distracted and forget about the responsibilities I had around the farm. I shook my head. “Mama, I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” I told her. “Everyone seems really against me getting up to anything with Abi. They don’t even want me to help her.”
“They’re just worried about you,” Mama said, confidently. She patted my cheek as I finished laying out the silverware and went to the cabinet to grab glasses and mugs for orange juice and coffee. “Maybe if they see how happy she makes you, they’ll lay off a bit.”
Whatever I might have said in response to that, it was interrupted by the arrival of my brothers. I gave Mama a look, and when the others were walking over to the table, she mimed locking her lips and throwing away the key. I smiled fondly at her, glad that she agreed to keep my secret for now.
After breakfast, I made a point to be the first person outside, getting to my work before my brothers had even cleared their plates off the table. With all the extra help around the farm now, though, things went a lot faster, and I managed to not only finish my designated tasks but also finished repotting all the plants by the end of the morning.
I whistled on my way in to the office to see what else needed to be done. How’s that, Ted? I thought. I had gone out the previous night, come back early, been the first one up that morning, and managed to finish all my chores by lunchtime. Granted, it was a Sunday, never one of our busiest days around the farm.
Ted looked up in surprise as I entered. “Were you just whistling?” he asked.
“Is that a crime?” I asked defensively, folding my arms across my chest.
Ted shook his head. “I just didn’t expect it to be you, is all. I thought it must be one of the hands.” He peered at me, then rolled his eyes. “What, you had a particularly fantastic fuck last night?”
I snorted. “No,
” I told him. “I actually didn’t get laid at all.”
“Abi wasn’t interested?” Ted asked, meanly.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but she and I have decided to take things slow,” I told him. It wasn’t exactly the conversation that we’d had, but I didn’t think Abi would appreciate my blabbing to my brother that we hadn’t fucked because she was a virgin.
That was still surprising to me. A beautiful woman like that, I don’t know. It wasn’t that I expected her to sleep around—I could tell she wasn’t like that. She was a good girl. But I had expected her to have had at least one relationship that had gone all the way. The only thing I could think was that she was saving herself. I didn’t know if I could wait until after marriage to have sex. Marriage was the last thing on my mind still, despite wanting to explore having a relationship with Abi.
But something inside of me said that if Abi told me we needed to be married before she would consider having sex with me, I could wait. It would take all of my willpower, but something told me she was worth it. It was that same, indefinable and indescribable thing that drew me to her in the first place. She was just special.
Lauralee poked her head around the door of the office. “Did I just hear you right?” she asked, a teasing grin on her face. “You’ve decided to take things slow. Look at all the Dawson boys, all grown up.”
I rolled my eyes, but I knew she was just teasing. And Lord knew I had teased her enough about her relationship with Ted.
“Why don’t you have her over for lunch?” Lauralee suggested. “With the weather as nice as it is today, Mama and I were thinking we’d do an outdoor barbecue. Might be the last one of the season, before things cool off even more around here.”
