“Well no matter, no matter,” he said, his gruff professional persona replaced with that of a happy Italian father. “It will happen soon enough. So you,” he said, smiling at Anna. “who are you?”
Sam stepped back next to her, his hand brushing hers and she was pretty sure it wasn’t by accident. “This is Annabelle Goode. She owns the farm next to mine,” he said and she realized it was the first time someone had said she owned the farm. It was always Mam’s farm. “Anna, this is Lenny. His bark is worse than his bite, don’t worry.”
“My bite, my bite,” he said, waving a dismissive hand. “You’re very young to be a farmer, no?”
“Same age as I was when I first came to you,” Sam supplied. “with my first attempt at brie from my mom’s old backyard goat.
“This man,” Lenny said, rapping Sam hard on the back, almost knocking him off his feet. “This man has a special touch. His brie… perfect.”
Sam looked almost uncomfortable and Anna realized how humble he was. “Anna here runs an organic herb, spice, and tea farm Lenny,” he said, moving the attention off of himself.
Lenny looked at her with his sharp eyes. “Oh really? I use a lot of spice here. That one,” he pointed to a chef running past. “he uses too much spice. Me, I use just enough. Tell me about spices,” he said, reaching over and throwing an arm around her shoulders.
“Well,” Anna said, being led away from Sam. “I have mint about ready to…”
“Mint,” Lenny broke in. “Mint is good. We use at the bar. We will take mint. Five bunches at harvest. What else?”
Anna pulled out her notebook, jotting down his order. “Um. Cilantro is about ready to be harvested actually. And coriander at the end of the season.”
“Good good. Five bunches of cilantro as well. And this coriander. How do you sell it? In containers?”
Anna felt her heart pounding. She hadn’t even thought of that yet. “Yes, yes of course. The average size,” she improvised, praying she could find those types of containers for sale.
“Yes. Coriander is good. Hard to come by one that hasn’t sat on a shelf for months. So… ten containers regular size. More, more,” he encouraged, dipping a spoon into sauce on a burner and tasting it. “Salt, man. Salt this.”
“Well I have some dill drying as we speak,” she suggested.
Lenny looked up toward the ceiling, his lower lip pushed outward. “Dill is good for fish. I don’t make much fish, but some. Give me one container. If I like, maybe I make a new recipe that focuses on it. Basil. You have basil?”
Anna felt a smile spread across her face. This man was going to keep her head above water. “Of course I do. How would you like the basil? I could dry it, but you get the most flavor by freezing it.”
“Really? I did not know this. You’re a smart girl. How you sell this frozen then?”
“Well I guess we could sell it in five-cup portions, in airtight bags already frozen for you to preserve the flavor.” Anna felt all the words from her gardening books flood her brain. Twelve basil plants will produce four to six cups of basil every week. She had planted one hundred and fifty plants. If she had a twelve week harvest, she would have over seven-hundred five pound batches of basil to freeze. She needed to buy a cube freezer.
“Good. I’ll take two to start. You grow bay leaves?”
“Bay leaves. No, I’m sorry I don’t.”
“You grow bay leaves,” Lenny said in a way that left no room for discussion. “Bay leaf when fresh dried is perfection in soup recipes. Bay leaves are expensive. You’ll make a lot of money. Grow bay leaves.”
Anna jotted down notes as Lenny talked. By the time he stopped discussing herbs, she had filled three pages. Some were notes for order, much more were ideas of what to grow and how to sell it. “Okay. Let’s go find Sam,” Lenny said, moving toward the front of the restaurant. They found him sitting at a table in a corner by a window, talking to one of the servers, a pretty young blonde with an unfairly curvy body. She felt jealousy rise up, unbidden and souring her amazing mood.
Lenny shook his head as they approached, telling the server to go find another table to talk to. “Now you send me an invoice when you get home. Sam has my fax. We will pay at delivery. Now you eat,” He said, pushing her toward a chair.
“Oh no we couldn’t,” Anna started but Sam reached across the table, patting her hand.
“He is going to feed us,” Sam said and smiled at Lenny.
“Yes you eat. You’re too skinny. I’ll find something to fatten you up,” he declared, moving off toward the kitchen at an impressive speed.
“How great is he?” Sam asked when they were alone.
“Oh my god I love him,” she gushed, looking down at her notebook. “Look at this, look at all this stuff he wants.”
Sam glanced down at her writing, small and neat, not curvy and elaborate like many young women. “Lenny is a great customer to have. He likes all of his ingredients as fresh as possible and he really likes to know exactly where everything comes from.”
Anna looked up at him, suddenly overwhelmed with emotion and she felt tears in her eyes. “Thank you so much Sam. You have no idea. I mean this order alone will be like… I dunno… three-hundred dollars. And if he likes everything, he will order more. I might be able to make it. And I cant thank you en…”
“Stop,” Sam said, leaning on the table and resting his hand on her forearm. “You don’t need to thank me. I have some good contacts. You’re doing all the work. You deserve this, okay? So don’t thank me.”
Anna nodded, swatting at a single tear that escaped her eye.
Lenny bustled back with a huge platter of small portions of what looked like every dish on the menu. He named off the dishes quickly and turned to Sam. “You make her eat,” he said and left them.
They ate, talking about their next few stops and savoring the food on the platter. “Do I even want to know what this platter costs?” she asked, looking around at the décor that screamed expense.
“He wouldn’t take our money,” Sam said, shaking his head. “believe me, I’ve tried. And this,” he said, taking a forkful of pasta. “sample platter alone would cost just under a hundred.”
They finished eating, and were wrapped in bear huge from Lenny who demanded she come to drop off the herbs when they were ready. And with that, they were on their way.
Sam pulled back into Stars Landing well after the sun had set. Anna was in the passenger seat, her head against the seat and her legs curled up under her, facing him. She had been fast asleep for almost an hour. Stop after stop, he watched her grow in confidence, informing customers about amounts and rates like a seasoned professional. When she stepped out of her shell, she was an impressive business force.
He pulled the car into his driveway. Why he didn’t drive her to her house was beyond him. He shut off the engine and slid closer to her, his hand landing on her thigh and rubbing.
Her eyes opened slowly as if she didn’t want to leave a good dream. “I fell asleep,” she said quietly and he chuckled.
“Yes you did.”
“What time is it?” she asked, sitting up quickly and his hand fell onto the seat.
“It’s after eight,” he answered and watched her look around, confused from sleep. “We’re at my house. I’m gonna feed you before I bring you home.”
Sam led her into his house, flicking on lights as they walked through each room. They stepped into the kitchen and Anna dropped down on a chair at the kitchen table. Sam moved around the kitchen, grabbing things out of cabinets and the refrigerator.
He looked over at Anna and noticed she was staring up toward the ceiling wistfully. He smiled to himself. “Go ahead,” he said, reading her mind. “I know you want to.”
Anna smiled, jumping out of her chair and racing toward the staircase. “There are old oversized shirts in my dresser,” he called to her. “they will probably fit you like a dress.” He knew it was wrong of him. He had her clothes she had left last time all washed and f
olded for her. And she would probably want those panties pretty badly, but he liked the idea of her naked underneath his old t-shirt better.
He tried to concentrate on cooking. He got a pot and filled it with water. And he almost got the heat turned on before he heard the water turn on above him. He didn’t know what he was hoping to accomplish, but he walked slowly upstairs, down the hall and into his bedroom.
He sat down on his bed, his head in his hands as he tried to talk himself into going back downstairs and cooking like he promised her.
Then the water was off and a short minute later, the bathroom door clicked open. And there she was, her hair wet and wearing a baggy green t-shirt that almost reached her knees.
Anna stopped short, not expecting to see him sitting there. He looked up at her, his eyes almost seeming sad. But underneath that, hungry. “Come here,” he said, so quietly that she thought she misheard him.
She looked at him, his hand moving off the bed next to him. And, without thinking, she did what he asked. She sat down carefully as if upsetting the bed would awake a sleeping giant.
Before she had even settled, Sam reached for her, his hand pulling her face toward hers and his mouth coming down on hers. Her breath sighed out of her as she kissed him back urgently. His hand went to the back of her neck, holding tightly and pushing her tighter to him. His lips were hard and needy on hers. His tongue slipped inside her mouth to tease at hers.
Anna’s hand slid up his arm, resting at his shoulder, grabbing the fabric. Her body felt hot and sensitive. Her skin felt like it was sending off a thousand tiny shocks of fireworks. She shifted, feeling arousal build and become uncomfortable.
Sam pulled back, looking at her face with his hooded eyes. He half stood, grabbing her hips and scooting her toward the center of the bed. He climbed up in front of her, towering over her in his kneeling position.
She felt his hands graze her thighs and before she realized his intention, he pulled the t-shirt up and over her head. Her arms came up immediately, clutching at her bare breasts.
Sam sucked in his breath, throwing the shirt toward the side. His fingers reached forward and brushed the tops of her hands. “Don’t hide,” he said and she felt herself letting go of her breasts, her hands falling limply to her sides. Sam’s eyes closed for a minute as he took a deep breath. He opened them slowly, seeking her eyes before dipping lower. She pulled her thighs tightly together, hiding her most private place. “You’re beautiful,” he said and she felt her stomach flutter.
He leaned forward, his hands landing at her collarbone, touching her soft skin before slowly sliding downward. When his strong, wide hands found her breasts she felt her back arch toward him, begging him to touch her.
Sam groaned, squeezing the soft flesh gently. His thumb brushed at her soft pink nipples, teasing them to harden slowly.
Anna felt desire spread from her breasts to between her legs, her wetness building. Sam shifted, coming half down on her body, supporting his body with his forearms. His mouth landing butterfly kisses over her neck and down her chest bone. His mouth shifted to the side, suddenly taking her hardened nipple into his mouth and sucking.
Anna’s back arched as she moaned. Her legs fell open and she felt the roughness of Sam’s jeans rest against her inner thighs. His tongue worked small circles around her taut peak, making her hands grab at his hair and pull her against him, begging for more. He lifted his head and moved across her chest, leaning down and gently nipping at her other nipple before taking it into his mouth.
Through the overwhelming building of arousal, all she could think was- more. She needed more. She was going to shatter in a million pieces if she didn’t find some release.
Sam seemed to sense a shift in her and his lips went between her breasts, kissing a slow line downward.
Anna groaned as his soft lips moved down the center of her belly at an infuriating slow pace.
When she felt his chin brush the juncture of her thighs, her body jerked and she reached down to push him away.
Sam looked up at her, his hands on her knees. “It’s okay. I want to, honey,” he said, his voice husky. “Let me taste you.”
At his words, she felt a tightness build deep inside and she relaxed back against the bed. She closed her eyes and felt Sam run his fingers gently up the insides of her thighs, up and down over and over until she felt goosebumps form on her skin.
Sam’s weight shifted on the mattress. His arms slipped under her thighs, reaching around and grabbing her knees, applying slight pressure to keep her legs spread.
Her whole body jumped a second later as she felt Sam’s tongue run up the slick wetness of her desire. Her thighs tightened and her hips thrust upward involuntarily at the contact.
She almost wanted him to stop. Almost. The sensation felt foreign. Strange, even. But a stronger part of her felt need so strong she could only grab at his neck and hold him against her.
His tongue moved back upward, slowly, then downward again. Her hips moved against him, demanding relief. His tongue went up again, stopping at her small round clit, rubbing against it quickly side to side. A moan wretched its way out of Anna and her legs went up over his shoulders, her hands in his hair pulling roughly.
He started working slow circles over her then, clockwise then reverse so slowly she felt her desire reach toward its peak. Then his tongue dipped quickly lower and she whimpered at the delay. His tongue laid flat against her flesh, rubbing quickly. Then his tongue dipped even lower, pressing roughly at the entrance to her body. Then his tongue curled inward on itself and pushed forward, penetrating her slightly.
“Oh my god,” she gasped, her hand slamming down on his back. “Oh my god,” she cried as his tongue quickly pushed in and out of her body. Over and over. And then the tension reached its peak and a climax exploded within her, shaking her insides in rapid contractions. She felt it in every inch of her body, overwhelming in its intensity. Her thighs clutched toward each other as she arched toward Sam’s mouth as her body clenched at his tongue over and over.
Sam gently worked his tongue upward after her orgasm was spent. Beneath him her body was shaking. He kissed her slowly up her belly before lifting his head.
Her eyes were squeezed shut, her hands grabbing at the bed sheets while she trembled. Sam laid down beside her, pulling her against his body and holding her tightly as she slowly recovered.
When the shaking finally stopped, he pulled his head back slightly, his hand stroking her cheek. “You okay?” he asked, his voice still rough from his desire.
Anna’s eyes fluttered open, hazy and far away. She nodded, a quick jerk of her head.
Sam smiled at her, a warm almost goofy smile. He leaned forward and kissed her gently for a minute.
She rested her head on his chest and his hand ran up and down her back for a long while before she felt his chest rising and falling steadily and realized he had fallen asleep.
Anna’s thoughts came back in a riptide, pulling her under. Sam had just went down on her, she realized with a faraway wonder. He had put his face between her legs and licked up and down her. Her thighs drew together at the memory, feeling like she should be disgusted or ashamed, but feeling only desire building again.
She slowly rose from the bed, grabbing the t-shirt from the ground and slipping it on.
What the hell was she doing? One night she was naked with Eric, making out and letting him touch her breasts. Then a few nights later, she was having Sam go down on her? Anna felt heat rise in her cheeks. She wasn’t that kind of girl. She wasn’t the kind of girl who got intimate with two guys at once. Hell, she wasn’t the kind of girl who got intimate with one guy at a time.
Anna shook her head, feeling uncertain about what exactly was going on with her life. She made her way quietly downstairs, getting a glass of water in the quiet kitchen. She saw her notebook and purse on the kitchen table and walked over to retrieve them before silently stepping out of the French doors and into the balmy early summer night air. She
walked slowly back to her house, the moon bright in the sky, but only allowing her to see a few feet in front of her at a time.
A part of her felt bad leaving Sam there like that. But what if he woke up and wanted to… do more with her? She wasn’t ready for that. She needed to straighten things out in her head before she went forward with Sam. Or Eric. Or anyone.
Anna shook her head, amazed at the drastic change of direction her life was taking. What the heck was she going to do?
Twelve
She slept in short bursts, waking up sweaty and restless. At four am, realizing sleep was a pipe dream, she got herself up, bathed and dressed for her day. Before the sun was even up, she was sitting on her back step drinking her coffee.
In her mind she replayed the events of the last few days. Eric with his playful toying with her and his demanding kiss. Sam with his unbearable goodness and generosity and his tongue ripping a devastating orgasm from her body.
Anna felt her analytical mind making lists like she always did when she had a major decision to make. On one side was Eric. Their shared love for movies and music. His effortless charm. How he could practically read her mind. His ease of physical contact. The way she could talk easily with him for hours without awkwardness. But there was also his reputation. Would she be okay with having a short lived affair with him, as intense and mind blowing as she was sure it would be, and then suddenly have to act like strangers whenever they crossed paths?
On the other column was Sam. Sam with his ever-present helping hand and his understanding of the stress she was under to get her business up and running. Sam with his toe-tingling kiss and skilled tongue. Sam who everyone she met loved and respected. But maybe his kindness was just a result of his obligation he felt to Mam’s memory. And maybe his sexual attentions were just from long spans of time together. He had already told her he didn’t want to want her. That was hardly a good foundation to build on.
What The Heart Wants Page 10
