She lost track of time. They stood wrapped up in each other for long moments, neither party wanting to break the spell. They both seemed to know that when they did, reality would not be so kind to them.
Daisy gave a soft whinny behind them. Morris froze, his lips still pressed against Allie's. Then he pulled away abruptly, yet he held onto Allie, as though he never really wanted to let go.
"I'm sorry," Morris said, his voice low, husky. She watched as he licked his lips and pressed them together. "That was inappropriate."
Allie shook her head. "No, it wasn't." That was the last thing she wanted him to believe.
At this, Morris let her go and took the few steps over to release Daisy's reins. Allie allowed him his space, knowing that there was a lot to consider.
She winced. She shouldn't have allowed that to happen. Paige would be disappointed in her. Allie was going back to New York soon. She was recently divorced. She knew she wasn't ready for a new relationship. It was unfair of her to lead Morris on.
They were silent as Morris led Daisy back to her stall. Morris lifted the reins and bridle off Daisy's head while Allie checked her hoofs. Morris lifted the saddle and blanket off of Daisy's back and Allie began to brush her. They formed a natural rhythm, though the air between them thickened with tension.
In the tack room, they focused on putting the items away where they belonged. Morris then led Allie out of the stables.
"I should—"
"Would you—"
They stopped, stared at each other. Then Morris sighed and ran his hand through his hair, bowing his head in the process.
"We need to talk," he said after a long pause.
"Yes, we do," Allie agreed. "Though I'm not sure it's the right time. Maybe we should take some time and think."
Morris shook his head. "I've done enough thinking. How about I slice up that pie you brought and make some coffee?"
Though her stomach clenched, Allie nodded and gave Morris a small smile. "I'd like that," she said.
The walked up the back steps to the house, walking through the mudroom and into the kitchen. Morris gestured for Allie to take a seat at the small bistro table tucked away beneath some windows.
"Would you like ice cream or cheese with your pie?" Morris asked.
"Cheese?" Allie frowned. She had never heard of people eating apple pie with cheese.
"Cheddar. Oh, you have to try it now." Morris set the coffee pot to brew before turning to the refrigerator and pulling out the pie along with a large block of cheddar cheese. Moments later, Morris brought their plates to the table and passed Allie a fork.
"Dig in," he said, taking the seat opposite her.
Her first instinct was to ignore the slice of pie. Especially the cheese. She could hear Gary listing off the calorie counts for each item, culminating in the conclusion that she shouldn't touch either.
So she picked up the fork, sliding a piece of cheese on it along with the pie.
At the first bite, Allie sighed in contentment, letting her eyes fall closed. The combination of the sweetness of the pie and salty richness of the cheese was unlike anything she had ever experienced before.
They ate in silence for a few moments, Allie beginning to feel more and more awkward about the situation.
It felt so strange, sitting in the kitchen of a man she had just kissed. As though nothing earth shattering had just happened to both of them.
Nerves seized Allie. She didn't know what to say. She didn't know what to admit. She knew what they had just done was a bad idea for so many reasons.
But couldn't she just enjoy herself for a moment? Just once? Why did she have to be so rational all the time? She was sick of it.
Finally, it was Morris that broke the silence.
"I'm sorry," he said softly, putting his fork down, his pie half-eaten. "That was incredibly unprofessional of me."
Allie was already shaking her head. "No. It wasn't your fault. I approached you. I should be the one apologizing."
Morris' mouth tightened. She saw his fists clenching on the table before he moved them to his lap. Then he nodded. "Then let's agree that we're both sorry about it."
It didn't sit well with her, but Allie nodded nonetheless. If Morris needed that closure, then she would grant him it. But as far as she was concerned, Morris had done nothing wrong.
"I know you go back to New York soon," Morris continued after a pause. Allie let out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding.
There it is. The elephant.
"I really didn't intend for anything to happen. I don't want you to think I'm leading you on in any way." Allie forced herself to take another bite of her pie. And while she knew it should taste good, she felt as though she were eating a piece of cardboard.
"Then let's not let this be anything more than it was. We just both lost our heads for a moment in all the excitement," Morris said.
Even as Allie moved her head in agreement, she felt a pile of rocks settle in her stomach. She didn't like any of this, but she knew it was necessary. For both their sake's.
Looking across the table, Allie could see that it was also a bitter pill for Morris to swallow. He looked... sad. Just for a moment. Then his face cleared as he picked up his fork once again.
"This really is my favorite. It's Paige's recipe, that's for sure, but did you help make it, too?"
"Yes, she supervised." And with that, the door shut on their kiss. On the possibility of it ever becoming something more.
It's for the best this way.
They ate together, talking about the things Morris did around his ranch, the daily chores. Allie didn't realize that his day started so early and mentioned as much.
"Oh, yeah. You city folk think you've got it tough. I invite you to try living on a ranch in the dead of winter," he said on a laugh.
Soon, their plates were cleared and Allie stood to leave. Morris walked her to the front door.
"I can do another lesson on Monday, if you're up for it," Morris said, his tone light and easy, as though their kiss were a distant memory.
"Sure," Allie said, disappointed that she couldn’t come back on Friday. Though she could understand why. "Same time?"
"Yeah, that'll work. If something comes up, I'll call."
Allie nodded and stepped out the door. Morris gave her a little wave before shutting the door behind her.
Making her way down the steps, Allie let loose a breath she had been holding, grateful that Morris had decided to stay inside the house.
Even though disappointment weighed heavy, she knew it was for the best that they kept their distance from each other.
She knew herself well. She knew if she allowed herself to spend more time with Morris that she would fall and fall hard.
She would just have to remain strong enough.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The next few days passed without incident. Allie found herself forming a natural rhythm to her day. She would get up early, have coffee and breakfast, then make her way out onto the farm and help with feeding or cleaning stalls. She always sneaked out a few apple slices for Maribel, Fred and Ginger. After her rounds were finished, she would hide away in Max's office, organizing paperwork and doing research.
She had a few ideas for how the farm could earn a bit more money but still be classified as a non-profit. She just needed to make a couple of phone calls to make sure she was on the right track. Once that was done, she would pull Max aside and let him know the options she came up with.
Hopefully it would be enough.
She thought about the time and labor the family put into Greene Pastures. Clearly, the entire family had a passion for the place and the animals, even Rhett when he wasn't being surly about it. Getting to know the animals, and the family responsible for them, had opened up Allie's heart in a way she hadn't even realized she needed.
She felt like she could breathe here. When she had arrived from New York, she had been anxious, suspicious. Cold and defensive. And less than a we
ek later, she felt the exact opposite.
She didn't even recognize herself.
The only thing that still bothered her was the lack of contact from her mother. She knew Julianne would come around in time, but the waiting game never sat well with Allie.
Shaking herself, Allie picked up the phone and began to call her colleagues.
A knock sounded on the door and Paige entered Max's office, a plate full of sandwiches and chips in her hands. Allie had the phone pinned between her shoulder and ear, furiously writing notes on a notepad she found tucked away in one of Max's drawers.
At Paige's entrance, Allie smiled and gestured for Paige to come in.
"Thanks, Chris. You're a lifesaver. I'll see you when I get home. Bye."
She hung up the phone and turned to Paige, excitement filling her. She gave Paige a wide grin.
"It's past lunch. Mom was worried about you. What's going on?" Paige asked, taking a seat opposite Allie and setting the platter on top of the file folders Allie had spread out on the desk.
Allie lifted an eyebrow at Paige's placement of the food, then laughed when Paige lifted one right back.
"I just got some good news, but I have to tell Max first. Sorry." Allie reached out and grabbed a roast beef and swiss sandwich.
Paige sighed. "Well, at least it's good news," she said, kicking back in the chair with her own sandwich. "Gonna save the farm?"
"Perhaps," Allie hedged, then narrowed her eyes at Paige. "Max told me to keep this between me and him for now."
Paige rolled her eyes but gave Allie a smile. "Alright, alright."
"How's your day been?" Allie asked.
"Oh, just fine," Paige said. "Nothing too exciting. Though I hear we should be getting some rain next week. That'll be nice."
Allie nodded, turning her attention back to her sandwich.
"You've been pretty quiet since you came back from Morris' yesterday," Paige said, a hint of suspicion in her tone.
"I haven't seen you much," Allie said with what she hoped was an easy shrug.
"No, that's not it." Paige leaned forward in her chair. "Something happened, didn't it?"
Allie nearly choked on her next bite, feeling a blush rise up to her cheeks. Not for the first time, she hated the fact that her pale skin flushed so easily.
"It did!" Paige crowed, cackling in her chair. "Tell me," she demanded.
Allie shook her head. "It was nothing. It shouldn't have happened."
"Was it because of the pie?" she asked, utterly gleeful.
"No," Allie said, shaking her head. Then she sighed. She needed to tell somebody. And Paige already knew how she felt.
The story spilled out of her before she could stop it. Paige's eyes grew wider and wider as Allie talked. Then a frown grew on Paige's features at the part where Morris and Allie had agreed to forget the whole thing ever happened.
"I'm sorry, but no." Paige said, shaking her head.
"Paige..." Allie began.
"I know, I know. New York." Paige threw up a hand and let out a frustrated burst of air. Then her demeanor shifted and she just looked sad. "I'm sorry. For both of you."
Allie shrugged, not quite sure how to respond.
"I mean," Paige continued, as though she didn't expect Allie to say anything. "You two really are perfect for each other. I can see that. Anybody around here can see that. He's good to you. You're good for him, too. He’s become alive, like he’s finally woken up over these last few days. But, that doesn't help anything, does it?"
Allie bit her bottom lip, feeling completely hopeless. Afraid.
“Okay, forget I said anything,” Paige said, waving her hands in the air. “You know me enough by now that I stick my nose where it doesn’t belong. Feel free to tell me to shove it whenever.”
Allie laughed and nodded. “Shove it, Paige.”
Paige grinned. “I think what you need is a distraction.”
“Coming here was a distraction from New York,” Allie said, brow furrowing. “Clearly, I’m doing something wrong.”
“You’re fine, trust me. I was thinking we could go to the Fair tomorrow, what do you think?”
“The Fair?”
“Yeah, just a small county Fair, but it’ll have rides and food and cool things to see. People around here get very creative. Come on, it’ll be fun.”
Allie thought about it for a moment. It would keep her mind from dwelling on the fact that Morris hadn’t extended the invitation to continue their lessons on Friday.
Mind made up, Allie smiled. "That sounds great. Thank you."
"No prob," Paige said, standing and gathering the nearly empty platter. She tossed a small bag of potato chips to Allie. "Eat those. You don't eat enough."
"I eat plenty," Allie said in defense. At Paige's lifted eyebrow, Allie rolled her eyes. "Yes, Mom."
Paige laughed. "Shall I get Max for you?"
"Yeah, that would be great," Allie said. Paige opened the door. "Paige?" When she turned back, Allie gave her a wide grin. "I'm glad you're my sister."
Paige flushed, but grinned all the same. "Me, too."
Max arrived not long after Paige's departure, knocking gently on the side of the door frame.
"It's your office," Allie said with a smile and a disbelieving shake of her head.
"But you're the one using it," he said as he took a seat.
Allie shrugged, then gestured for Max to come to the other side of the desk. "I have a few things to show you."
Max scooted the chair over to Allie's side of the desk, leaning in to see the display on the screen.
"I know it all looks confusing, but I think I've found a way to save Greene Pastures."
Allie took her time explaining the different avenues Max and Eleanor could take, the pros and cons to each, as well as the forms needed. Max took detailed notes, keeping a steady and focused mind about him. It would be so easy for him to panic, with everything changing, or even with the mere concept of more money coming his way, but he didn't.
"I'll need to talk to Eleanor about this," he said when Allie finished.
"Of course. And I'll help you do whatever you think is best."
"I appreciate that. We all do." Max stood and grinned. "What do you say to an afternoon hike? Get away from that computer and see some sights? It’s a beautiful day.”
Allie answered his grin. "I'd love to."
Fifteen minutes later, Max and Allie piled into his old Ford pickup and took off down the gravel drive with a promise from Paige that she'd hold down the fort. Allie had changed into a more comfortable pair of walking shoes with jeans and a green t-shirt, glad that Paige had insisted on the shoes for hiking. Max didn't change anything except his shoes, losing the cowboy boots and donning a pair of ratty looking hiking boots.
"Where are we going?" Allie asked, staring out the window toward Mount Rainier. It seemed they were heading in that direction.
"Toward the mountain, if that's alright. Too much farmland around here for any good hiking. It's only a half hour drive or so to the trail."
Allie grinned, already admiring the views that awaited them. "I haven't done much hiking before," she admitted.
Max shot her a grin. "Don't worry. We won't be climbing up the side of the mountain. Most of the trail is flat and it runs along a river so we won't be too hot."
As they drove toward Mount Rainier, the road narrowed and became surrounded by trees. The evergreens towered high next to the roads, blocking any view of the surrounding mountains. The deciduous trees arched over the road, beginning to grow a hint of their summer leaves. She wondered what the road might look like in the summer, completely enclosed by them.
Like he promised, it wasn't long before Max pulled off the main highway and down another gravel road.
"There’s some camping out here during the summer months. It's still a bit cool right now, but maybe if you'd like to come back in the summer sometime, we'll make a trip of it."
Allie had never camped in her life. But looking out in
the woods now, she couldn't imagine anything she'd like more. Of course, she realized there was no chance of a hot shower, and where she would go to the bathroom was anyone's guess, but to be surrounded by all the crisp, clean air of nature would be a dream.
"I'd like that very much," Allie said. "It might have to be next summer, though."
A Delivered Heart Page 12
