“Hi, Brett,” I answered cautiously as goose bumps made their way up my arms. Brett had been my chosen date to the junior/senior prom a couple of months back, and the night hadn’t ended very well. I quickly discovered that Mr. Hotshot Football Player liked to pressure his dates into something more than what they were ready for, and that unfortunate evening I happened to be on the unlucky end of that exchange.
I’d ended up storming out of the dance with my high heels in hand, one broken spaghetti strap, and an insurmountable amount of humiliation sitting on my shoulders. Brett followed me out into the parking lot and continued his pursuit, forcing me to sideswipe his head with the heel of my shoe. I had done a pretty good job of avoiding him ever since.
Until now.
I turned quickly toward Jake and asked again, “Are you sure you don’t want to go somewhere else? This place is so . . . crowded,” I lamely pointed out. I suddenly felt queasy, realizing I was now stuck in the same establishment as the guy who had tried to force himself on me. But it was too late. The group of teenagers was upon us, spewing out more questions and comments than I could keep up with.
“Who’s your boyfriend, Addy?” someone asked.
“Oh my God, I cannot believe you missed my bonfire last weekend! You could have brought your friend along,” stated another.
“Damn, girl,” came one more observation. “Looks like you’ve already grown a cup size this summer . . .”
Blah, blah, blah . . .
I sighed heavily and attempted to study the menu that hung on the wall. Glancing sideways at Jake, I could tell he was amused by the scene unfolding. Reluctantly, I made the introductions and answered all of the questions—ignoring the one about my bra size.
“Addy—who is this guy and why haven’t you mentioned him to me before?” my best friend, Ruby Sinclair, sneaked up and whispered fiercely into my ear.
“Shhhh!” I glared back at her as discreetly as I could and threw a glance over my shoulder to see if Jake had overheard. Luckily, he only had eyes for the assortment of frozen flavors displayed in the freezer case in front of us. “I only just met him. My grandparents know him. He’s working at their farm this summer.”
“How convenient . . .” She smiled coyly. Her perfectly plucked eyebrows rose to an annoying height that made me want to slap them back down to their normal resting place.
“Hey, can’t a girl get some ice cream around here without being accused of some seedy under-story?” I hissed back. Seriously, Ruby could be so dense sometimes.
“Not when that girl is my very best friend and just happens to be with one of the most gorgeous guys I have ever seen!” She then turned on her heel and pranced off triumphantly, leaving me standing there staring after her.
“Do you know what you want?” Jake asked suddenly, distracting me from my best friend’s drama attack. He had left his cowboy hat in the truck, and his dark waves fell casually across his tanned forehead in a way that made innocent girls like me dream of doing not-so-innocent things. He looked like he belonged in a sexy ad for Levi’s and not standing in an ice cream parlor with a self-conscious high school senior. But before I could answer, Brett was upon us again with his cocky grin and arrogant attitude.
“Whatcha doin’ later, Addy?” he leered, standing a little closer than I cared for him to be. “Wanna come hang out with me for a while? My parents are out of town this week. We would have the whole place to ourselves.” My stomach clenched tightly and I caught a mild whiff of beer sitting on his breath.
I glanced nervously at Jake, trying to gauge what he was thinking. How could that idiot ask me out right in front of him?
“No thanks, Brett. I’m good,” I replied, moving slightly closer to Jake.
“Ahh, come on! We can finally finish that date we started a couple months back.” He smiled suggestively and reached for my arm.
“I said no, Brett.” I squirmed quickly away from him. He lunged toward me anyway and my heart dropped, just like it had done at prom when I was forced to fight Brett off.
“Oh, come on! You’re such a dicktease—” he began.
“I think she wants you to leave her alone,” Jake interrupted, stepping forward.
Brett stopped, dumbfounded, and looked Jake up and down as if he had just noticed him for the first time. It was an obvious attempt to decide if he could take him on. “And who are you, her boyfriend?” he finally accused.
“No, I’m not her boyfriend.”
“Then I don’t think it’s any of your damn business,” Brett retorted, and turned back toward his group of friends with a chuckle. But no one laughed.
“Looks like I just made it my business,” Jake challenged. His eyes were hard and steady as he stared Brett down. If I had not been the cause of the tension, I would have thought that Jake looked pretty damn cute when he was acting all tough. But since I was the cause . . .
Jake glanced over at me and our eyes collided.
“Hey!” a short, round man called out from behind the ice cream shop counter. “I don’t want any trouble in here.”
Jake tore his eyes from mine and spoke to the employee. “Sorry sir, there’ll be no trouble,” he promised and gently took my elbow, steering me toward the door. “Come on, Addison, let’s get outta here.”
The sun was high in the afternoon sky as we walked out into the parking lot, and the kids from my school were still positioned in the same spots as when we’d first arrived. I lifted my hand to my eyes to block the bright sunlight and looked up at Jake. “I’m so sorry,” I apologized, feeling like an idiot. What a way to impress the new guy.
“It’s all right. Don’t worry about it.” A lopsided grin spread across his face, revealing that small dimple in his cheek. For one brief moment I thought about touching it, but quickly pushed those kinds of crazy thoughts from my mind. Jake stared at me through thick lashes. “Do you think we’ll be safe if we go somewhere else for ice cream, or do you suppose you might have fans there, as well?”
Thank God he’s not upset. I sighed inwardly and gave myself a mental kick in the ass. “We should be good.” I smiled back at him, relieved to be leaving the disastrous trip behind.
Or so I thought.
“Hey,” a loud voice called out suddenly, causing me to flinch.
We turned back toward the door and saw Brett swaying toward us and I froze, my heart racing in my chest.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked, walking forward and looking Jake square in the eye.
“Look, we don’t want any trouble,” Jake began. “We’re just—” But before he could finish his sentence, Brett hauled his fist back and punched Jake right in the jaw.
Jake staggered backward and I heard myself scream. A pins-and-needles sensation made its way throughout my whole body and the tiny hairs on the back of my neck raised, every single one of them standing at attention. Suddenly, Ruby was at my side, pulling me out of harm’s way. I hadn’t even seen her come out of the ice cream shop.
The kids in the parking lot stopped what they were doing and started to head in our direction, smelling a fight. They circled Jake and Brett and began to cheer them on, not really caring who won. Jake regained his footing and stepped toward Brett with renewed confidence. Now that he knew what he was up against, he was on top of his game.
“So do all high school guys around here bully teenage girls, or is it just you?” Jake demanded, pushing wavy black hair off his forehead, oblivious to the crowd around them. His pecs stood out impressively as they strained against the thin fabric of his T-shirt.
Brett’s face drew into a scowl and he lunged toward Jake again, but he missed and tripped over his own feet.
Jake tossed his head back and let out a husky laugh. “Sorry there, big guy. I guess maybe drinking in the middle of the day should be left to the men who can handle their liquor.” He smiled smugly and looked down at Brett, who lay sprawled among the gravel. He must have smelled the alcohol, too.
“You asshole!” Brett shouted,
struggling to get up. He steadied himself on his feet and lunged at Jake once more. This time, Jake was ready and threw a swift uppercut, hitting Brett just under the chin. Brett landed back on the ground, unconscious.
The ice cream shop door flung open and the little round man called out, “I’m calling the cops!”
Everyone scrambled about, leaving Brett on the ground.
Jake grabbed my elbow and steered me toward the truck. “Let’s go!” I couldn’t believe what had just happened. Finally, someone stood up to Brett! I gave Ruby a quick wave before we hopped into the truck and sped off, leaving a cloud of dust in the parking lot.
“Oh my God!” I breathed when we were on the road, I hadn’t realized I’d been holding my breath. “I can’t believe that just happened!”
Jake rubbed his jaw and I could see it had already turned a soft shade of pink from where Brett’s fist had met his chin. “Are you hurt?” I asked, suddenly feeling guilty. No one had ever gotten into a fight for me before.
“No, I’m fine. It’s just a little tender is all.” He looked over at me with apologetic eyes. “Addison—I’m really sorry. I hope you’re not good friends with him.”
I shook my head, surprised he felt the need to apologize. “I’m not anymore,” I assured him. “Brett’s changed a lot this past year. He’s become a bully. You’re the first person I’ve ever seen stand up to him like that. Except for me,” I added softly. I’d never told anyone about what had happened that night at prom, not even Ruby.
“You?” He looked over at me with an arched eyebrow.
“Yeah.” I gave him a shy smile. “Let’s just say this wasn’t the first time Brett’s been hit in the face in a parking lot.”
Jake regarded me closely with wide eyes. I could tell he wanted to ask more, but he didn’t pry.
“Maybe I’ll tell you about it someday, but right now you promised me ice cream,” I playfully teased, trying to lighten the mood . . . and change the subject.
“Yes, ma’am,” he returned with a mock salute. Jake offered me an amused smile and a wink. “Where to next?”
The rest of the afternoon was uneventful, as far as nosy friends and fistfights go, and Jake dropped me off at my doorstep just before dinner. I watched from my front porch as his blue pickup pulled out of my parents’ drive, and I shivered with anticipation. I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I was in for the summer of my life.
Chapter Three
The next morning my cell phone alarm shrieked at the crack of dawn, waking me from a dead sleep. Without hesitation, I jumped out of bed and primped and preened to the sound of the roosters, determined to look perfect for when Jake arrived to work.
I made the walk over to my grandparents’ house in record time and greeted Mags as she was making breakfast in their large country kitchen, complete with a double oven. As soon as I stepped through the door, I was bombarded with an assortment of delicious aromas, and my stomach gurgled eagerly in response.
“Well, good morning there, sunshine,” Mags greeted me with a surprised grin. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”
“What?” I responded innocently. “I was just in the mood for your pancakes.”
Mags eyed me suspiciously over her angular glasses. “This early-morning visit doesn’t have anything to do with the fact the boys will be joining us for breakfast here in a few minutes, does it?”
I attempted to pull off an angelic expression but suspected she saw right through my façade. Every morning Mags made a smorgasbord of dishes to feed the hungry farmhands before they went out to work in the fields. She was a firm believer in the whole “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” bit, and she made sure she treated the hardworking men right.
I looked at the long table in front of me and my mouth began to water. It held an array of choices, from her famous fluffy pancakes and sausage gravy casserole to tomato cheddar strata and everything in between. Mags was a genius in the kitchen, and everyone always looked forward to her delicious, made-from-scratch recipes. It was a real treat to be invited to my grandparents’ table and I had plenty of happy memories sitting there, surrounded by family, friends, and the most delectable meals in all of Georgia.
As if on cue, the back door swung open and the men started pouring in. I smiled at the usual familiar faces. There was Frank, a boisterous, middle-aged man who had been working for my grandparents since he was in high school; Kevin, an on-again, off-again farmhand with a colorful past but sweet demeanor; Miles, a cranky old-timer who’d had a penchant for pessimism that Mags found oddly endearing; and newcomer Jake, looking especially fine in a tight white T-shirt and some comfortable-looking Wranglers, his unruly dark waves falling casually around his too-good-to-be-true face.
“Mornin’ there, Maggie,” Frank bellowed as he planted a kiss on my grandmother’s cheek. “And, Addy! What’re you doin’ here this early? Shouldn’t you still be countin’ sheep?”
I felt a slow burn take over my cheeks and I looked at the floor, struggling to come up with a believable excuse.
“Oh, you let her be now, Frank,” Mags answered for me with a scolding shake of her finger. “I asked Addy to come and help me with breakfast this morning. Do you know how much work it is feeding you men all the time?”
Mags slipped me a discreet wink and I smiled in relief.
“Nonsense, Maggie!” Frank laughed. “You could make breakfast, run the farm, and keep all of us in line with one arm tied behind your back.”
I glanced over at Jake and noticed he was already looking at me, the corner of his mouth tipping up into a slight smile. Our eyes locked and my heart skipped a beat.
The boys sat down just as my dad and Gramps walked in. They each went over and kissed Mags on the cheek, then joined the rest of the men at the table. I busied myself, setting out the food for my grandmother; it was the least I could do after she saved my butt.
“I’m surprised to see you up at this hour, baby girl,” my dad said, smiling at me.
“Mags asked me to help with breakfast today,” I explained, keeping in line with the story. I gave him a quick good morning hug before returning to my task.
He looked over at my grandmother in surprise, and she confirmed with a slight nod of her head.
“Addy-Cake,” said Gramps, helping himself to a giant portion of cheesy hash browns. “It’s good to see you up and at ’em so early. I like seeing your beautiful face first thing in the morning. Makes me feel like I’m starting my day out right.”
“You know, I may have her help me out here a little more this summer,” Mags mentioned as she handed out servings of crispy bacon. “I’m not getting any younger, and these boys sure do know how to eat.”
Frank started to whoop again. “What’s gotten into you today? You could run circles around us, Maggie! Every person in Lakeside knows that.”
“Well, either way, it’ll be nice to have the extra help.” She wiped her hands down the front of her apron and gave me a knowing smile. See, I told you she was the best.
Frank became distracted as he took a big bite of pancake. “I swear to you, Maggie, someday I’m gonna figure out your pancake secret,” he gushed, shaking his head in delight. “I think you sprinkle a little bit of magic inside every bite!”
Mags let out a hearty laugh as we settled in at the table with our plates. “Oh, Frank! It’s called love,” she teased back lightly.
After we finished up with breakfast the guys started to make their way out the door, heading toward the fields. Jake was still at the table talking to Gramps when I walked out onto the beautiful wraparound porch. The warm morning air was already getting sticky and I lifted my hair off the back of my neck, wishing I’d put it up in a ponytail. I sat down on the wooden swing and slowly began to sway, waiting for Jake to make his appearance.
Moments later, the front door opened and Jake sauntered out, cowboy hat in hand. When he walked up to the swing and sat down next to me, my breath caught in my throat and I vaguely wondered if I would
lose my breakfast.
“I wanted to thank you for showing me around yesterday,” he said, giving me a lopsided grin.
I found myself staring at his utter perfection and had to force myself to answer. “You’re welcome,” I finally choked out. “How’s your jaw?”
Gingerly, he lifted his hand to his chin and rubbed the spot where Brett had punched him. “Tender,” he answered, smiling ruefully. “For a drunken asshole, that guy sure can hit.”
I let out an amused laugh and some of the tension lifted from my body. I still couldn’t believe he had gotten into a fight for me.
“So . . . what are your plans later?” he asked, pushing his hand through his dark waves.
I gulped. God, would you get a grip, Addy? I mentally scolded myself. “I’ll be around.” I shrugged, pretending to be cooler than I actually felt.
“Good. Maybe I’ll see you then?” He dazzled me with a brilliant smile, put on his cowboy hat, and stood up from the swing. As he made his way down the front porch steps, he turned and looked back at me one last time before walking away. His blue-eyed gaze was intense and I felt completely seduced.
He wants to see me again!
I inhaled through my nose and swallowed hard. A slow smile took over my lips as I began to fantasize about our next meeting, and I couldn’t help but giggle at all the possibilities.
The rest of the morning I busied myself in the kitchen, helping Mags clean up after breakfast. As always, I was impressed by her tenacity. Mags paid close attention to detail with everything she did, and that included making gigantic breakfasts from scratch to cleaning every nook and cranny afterward. She did not believe in taking shortcuts.
My cell phone beeped for the millionth time from my back pocket. Ruby. I rolled my eyes and sighed, staring at the lit screen. She’d been relentlessly texting questions about Jake all morning. I ignored her latest inquiry and went about my work but couldn’t avoid her. Moments later I heard my phone ring. Reluctantly, I pulled it from the back pocket of my shorts. “Hello, Ruby,” I said.
“Why didn’t you answer my text?” she demanded in a high-pitched voice.
Strawberry Wine Page 3
