All You'll Ever Need

by Sharon C. Cooper

  “A little. Once I exited the freeway, the stupid GPS had me going around in circles.”

  “That’s why you should’ve let me pick you up. It wouldn’t have been a problem.”

  “I appreciated the offer, but I didn’t mind driving.” She eased out of his grasp and glanced around. “This is not quite what I expected. This place is huge.”

  “Yeah, it is.” He reached for her hand, glad that she didn’t pull away and led her to the main building. “It’s over a hundred acres and as for produce, they grow everything from corn to strawberries. They also have horses back there,” he pointed to a large red barn off in the distance, “and trails where people can go horseback riding or on hayrides.”

  “That’s nice.” She stumbled and gripped his hand tighter. Her focus now, mainly on each step as they walked across the uneven graveled lot. “I can’t believe how hot it is already. It’s barely seven in the morning.”

  “I’m surprised it’s this warm in September. We usually get an earlier start in the summer to try and beat the heat.”

  “So you pack up produce for the farm often?”

  “When my schedule allows.” The only way he was able to be out there that early on a Saturday morning was because the team’s weight-lifting practice had been pushed back to late afternoon. “This will probably be the last time I can get out here this year due to my football schedule. So I’m glad you were willing to join me.” He opened the door to the building and followed her in. “I wasn’t sure if you had eaten already, but they usually have breakfast for those interested.”

  “I’m not much of a breakfast person, but don’t let me stop you.”

  They walked farther inside the warehouse-like building. Zack placed his hand at the small of her back and directed Jada to a set of long tables where people were still eating. Usually over fifty volunteers at any given time, many had already headed out to the gardens to get to work.

  “Are you sure you don’t want anything?” Zack pulled out a chair for her and held on to it until she was seated. “We’ll be out in the field for a few hours. It’ll probably take a lot out of you.”

  Jada stopped abruptly and narrowed her eyes at him. “Out in the field? As in picking vegetables in the dirt and mud?”

  Zack grinned at the way her face twisted into a frown. “Uh, yeah. What did you expect?”

  “You said that we would be boxing up fruits and veggies for those less fortunate.”

  He nodded. “Yeah, that’s part of it, but first we have to pick them.”

  ***

  “Oh, no, no, no, not me.” Jada bolted from her seat making a mad dash toward the door. “I didn’t sign up for all of this.” Zack looped a long arm around her waist and halted her steps. He pulled her close, her backside rubbing against the front of his body.

  “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of a little hard work.” His warm breath caressed that spot behind her ear that always made her weak in the knees. Jada had no doubt that she would have puddled to the floor had he not been holding her up. “I promise you, it’s not so bad.” He turned her around to face him, and the tenderness of his smile lit up his face.

  Ugh, those damn dimples.

  What was he thinking? She didn’t do dirt, and she hated sweating. Combine the two, and she certainly wasn’t interested in digging in someone’s garden. It was bad enough she had to do outdoor, physical labor for work.

  Jada glanced at the passion pink color on her nails and shivered at the thought of ruining another manicure.

  When Zack called to set up their date, she had expected an invite to a nice restaurant that Saturday night. Instead, he suggested a daytime date, volunteering for an organization she’d never heard of. She had her heart set on getting dressed up and going out on the town. But remembering their conversation on the dance floor a week earlier when she told him she often did volunteer work, she could see why he’d come up with the idea.

  “Say that you’ll stay.” His arm rested around her shoulders as he led her back to the table and onto her chair. “Besides, spending this time together will give us a chance to get to know each other better.”

  They could have gotten to know each other over dinner at Nicola’s, one of her favorite restaurants she wanted to say. Yet, when he placed his hand on her back, her thoughts jumbled inside her head. How could a simple touch from him send her senses into overdrive?

  “So if I leave you here alone, will you promise not to try and escape?”

  She didn’t bother to glance up at him, knowing that she’d be defenseless against his eyes and his smile. “Yeah, yeah, I promise.”

  He chuckled and squeezed her shoulder. “Okay, then I’ll be back in a second. I’m going to grab some breakfast.” She watched him stroll away, his gait easy like that of a self-confident man, comfortable in his skin.

  Jada glanced around, her gaze immediately traveling to the ceiling. The first thing she noticed when stepping into any room, since becoming a sheet metal worker, was the ductwork and the heating and air conditioning vents. She hated filthy vents. Not only did they look bad, dirt build up on them meant filters weren’t being changed often enough, resulting in poor air quality. In a huge space like this, it was hard to see the condition of the vents, which were at least twenty feet from the floor. But she loved that the owners kept the metal ductwork exposed, where many chose to paint theirs or add a drop ceiling.

  Zack returned moments later, and his plates were loaded with food. The tantalizing scent of bacon, eggs, and toast tickled her nose. She wasn’t hungry, but the aroma and how good everything looked, had her wanting to grab his fork and dig into his food.

  “Are you really going to eat all of that?”

  “Yep, unless you want some of it.”

  Jada shook her head. “Nah, I’m good. Thanks.”

  Zack left and came back with coffee for her and juice for himself. They talked and laughed like old friends. Most Saturdays, Jada spent shopping or hanging out with her family. Spending time with Zack was proving to be a nice change.

  Fifteen minutes later, he was finished eating. “Ready to get started?” he asked.

  “I’m about as ready as I’ll ever be.”

  Jada couldn’t believe he had eaten everything on his plates. Dancing with him weeks ago, she could tell he was in excellent shape. If he ate like that all the time, she couldn’t imagine what type of strenuous workout routine he had. She immediately envisioned him shirtless with toned muscles covered in perspiration gliding down his broad chest. His muscles rippling against her hand as she ran her fingers across his six-pack and down his…

  Whoa! Jada blew out a breath to slow the rapid beat of her heart. Don’t even go there. Those types of lustful thoughts could easily get her into trouble. She was looking for marriage, not love. She had been down that road before and vowed, never again. Never would she open herself up to a man only to have him step on her feelings and treat her like she was nothing. Never would she think a few nice gifts equaled love, and never would she allow a man anywhere near her heart again.

  Zack stood, gathered his plates, and tossed them in a nearby trashcan. “Are you sure that cup of coffee is going to be enough for you?” he asked, offering Jada a hand to help her to her feet.

  “Yep, I’m still not hungry. I’ll get something when we finish here.”

  His eyebrows scrunched together. Concern showed in his crystal blue eyes. She could easily get lost in those eyes and could barely draw her gaze from his whenever he looked at her.

  “It’s going to get very hot out in the field.”

  Heck, it’s already hot just standing next to you, she thought.

  “I just don’t want to take a chance on you getting too hungry or dehydrated out there. Besides that, do you have a hat?”

  She almost laughed. She rarely wore hats, especially in the summer. The last thing she wanted to do was sweat out her relaxer. Besides, unlike him, the dark pigment of her skin provided her a little more protection from the sun. Instead of
telling Zack that or why she didn’t wear hats, Jada grabbed her empty coffee cup and tossed it in the trash as they headed to the door.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.” She slipped on her Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses, shielding her eyes from the bright sun when they stepped outside.

  As Zack grabbed a few oversized baskets from a large bin, he explained that they would need them for carrying the vegetables.

  “How did you get involved with Harvest Love?”

  “Come this way.” Zack held her hand and led the way to the back of the building. “Being raised by a single parent, money was tight. My mom did the best she could and for the most part, I had a decent childhood,” he shrugged, “but there were times when she found herself in between jobs and had to seek out food banks. Harvest Love was one of them. And like many kids who grew up poor, I vowed that when I made a little money, I would give back.”

  Listening to Zack talk about his childhood and his mother’s financial troubles during that time made Jada appreciate her grandfather that much more. Thanks to his fortitude and entrepreneurial spirit, Jenkins & Sons Construction provided work for anyone in the family who wanted a job. Though she didn’t plan on working in construction for the rest of her life, she knew most of her cousins loved their jobs.

  “Have you ever picked cucumbers?” Zack’s question invaded her thoughts. They neared a field with rows and rows of plants. Had he not said anything, she wouldn’t know a cucumber plant from a tomato plant.

  “No, I can honestly say this is a first for me.” Even with both her mother and grandmother having gardens, Jada never had an interest.

  Zack squeezed her hand. “Well, hopefully this will be the first of many for us.”

  Hell, if this is what he thought of as a fun date, there wouldn’t be anymore anything for them because this would be the last time she’d go out with him.

  They stopped at the edge of the field. Scratching her arm and then her leg, Jada wasn’t sure if she were allergic to something out there, or if the itching was all in her head. The thought of digging around in the dirt was making her break out in hives.

  I so don’t want to do this. She enjoyed eating, but never thought about the work involved in getting the food from the farm to the dinner table.

  She followed Zack, tiptoeing to keep her white tennis shoes from getting too dirty. A sick feeling rolled around in her stomach. She’d paid a small fortune for the white leather Gucci shoes just last week. This was her first time wearing them and by the looks of the ground, she was pretty sure she wouldn’t be able to wear them again.

  It’s not always about you, Jada.

  Her grandfather’s words popped into her mind. Maybe if she just focused on the reason she was out there, to help feed the needy, she could take her mind off the tennis shoes. Just then, her foot sunk down into the mud and a small scream caught in her throat.

  Oh, damn, damn, damn!

  Some of the growl rolling around in her throat must have slipped through because Zack stopped and turned back to her.

  “You okay?” He extended his hand to help her walk, but she ignored the gesture. If she grabbed hold of his hand, she might try to break his bones with the anger bubbling inside of her.

  Who takes a person on a first date to a stupid farm? She didn’t get a chance to ask. The words died in her throat when Zack lowered his hand and snaked his arm around her waist. The heat from his touch skirted through her body, short-circuiting all thoughts, which only made her more frustrated. One minute she wanted to give him a piece of her mind, and then the next she wanted to be hugged up against him.

  “Be careful.” He guided her around a couple of puddles. “We’ll start over there since it’s not as muddy.”

  Why’d he have to be so darn nice? If he were a jerk, it would be real easy to leave him, his baskets and cucumbers out there in the hot sun. Instead, his kindness weakened her resolve and made her want to help.

  Zack released her and set down the bushel baskets. He pulled two pair of gloves from his back pocket and handed a set to her and then he slipped on the others. Squatting in front of a bush, he glanced back at her.

  “Here, come a little closer.” He moved over some when she stood next to him. “To pick the cucumbers, hold the stem with one hand like this.” He demonstrated. “Then pull the vegetable with the other.” He picked a few and then placed them in one of the baskets. “They mature pretty fast. So someone is usually picking them every other day. With that said though, if they are at least this size,” he held up one that was about six or seven inches long, “make sure you don’t pass by it. Otherwise, if they get too big, the plants will stop producing.”

  Zack schooled Jada on the do’s and don’ts of picking vegetables, impressing her with his knowledge of gardening. He shared more than she cared to know, but she had to admit the information was a little interesting. Thirty minutes into their task, Zack insisted she stand upright, claiming that picking cucumbers were murder on the back.

  “Every few minutes take a couple of seconds to stretch. Otherwise, you’ll regret you didn’t later.”

  They worked and talked. Before long Jada realized the experience wasn’t as bad as she first thought it would be. No, she would never be able to wear her new tennis shoes again, and no she couldn’t see herself digging in dirt ever again, but she was enjoying her time with Zack. A perfect gentleman, he helped her whenever needed, keeping her entertained, and she found their conversation engaging.

  “Ahhh!” Jada screamed and fell back on her butt, throwing down the cucumbers. She leaped up and shook her hands frantically, sending the gloves flying off into the plants. “Ugh! Oh my God!

  “What?” Zack jumped up and grabbed her arm. “What is it?”

  Jada’s eyes flickered over her body, holding a hand against her chest, she tried to slow her racing heart. Nerves on edge, she took a few deep breaths. She wasn’t afraid of worms or bugs, but she hated them.

  “Jada?”

  Looking up she met Zack’s worried gaze, his hand still on her arm. Blowing out a loud breath, all she could do was shake her head. He must think I’m a total goof.

  “A worm fell onto my glove.”

  Zack looked at her as if she had lost her mind. He dropped his hand from her arm. Removing his glove, he ran his fingers through his dark, spiked hair. “Why didn’t you tell me you were afraid of worms?”

  “I’m not,” she said defensively.

  “Then what was the screaming about? What else are you afraid of?”

  “Nothing! The worm just caught me off guard, and I freaked. Forgive me. It’s been awhile since I’ve dug around in dirt!” She knew she sounded like a crazy person, but at the moment, she didn’t care. He was the idiot who had talked her into hanging out at the farm.

  She dropped down on her knees, slipped her gloves on, and went back to work, ignoring him. This is what I get for pretending to be a person who loves the outdoors and who enjoys gardening.

  Stupid, stupid, stupid.

  They worked in silence for a while until Zack spoke up. “Listen, I’m sorry if I seemed insensitive a few minutes ago.” He yanked on one of the vines and pulled a cucumber off. “You caught me off guard and I freaked. So I can see how a worm could do the same to you.”

  Jada tossed a couple of cucumbers in the basket closest to her and sat back on her haunches. She swiped the back of her gloved hand across her forehead and smiled at him.

  “I’m sorry I overreacted.” She laughed and shook her head. “I’m sure I looked pretty crazy tripping out over a worm. It just came out of nowhere.”

  “Don’t apologize. It could’ve happened to anyone. I’m just glad you’re not afraid of them or bugs. Otherwise, this bright idea of mine to have our first date here, wouldn’t have been a good idea.” He picked up her empty bottle of water. “Want some more?”

  “Nah, I’m good.”

  Feeling beads of sweat roll down her back, she couldn’t wait to jump in the shower. Maybe she should have take
n Zack up on his offer to wear one of his hats. At least then it wouldn’t feel as if her head was on fire. The sun shone brightly, and the temperature was steadily rising.

  “Are you doing all right?” He stood and studied her. “Do you need a break? That one bottle of water is not enough for handling this heat out here.”

  “I’m okay.” She was a little thirsty, and she could eat, but she didn’t want to stop. She had already had coffee that morning, and had knocked out that bottle of water a few minutes ago. Anything else to drink and she would be running to the bathroom. They were on a roll, and she knew if she stopped, that would probably be the end for her.

  “Well, just let me know when you need to stop.”

  They went back to work, their conversation flowing easily.

  “You mentioned that your brothers used to hunt and fish with your grandfather when they were younger. What about you? Did you go fishing with them?”

  Jada cringed at the thought. There was no way they would have gotten her out there to hang around waiting for fish to bite. Besides, the way her brothers smelled by the time they walked through the door was enough to turn her off from the idea.

  Instead of giving Zack her honest opinion, she said, “No, that was their way of doing guy things together. No women allowed.” She tossed a couple of cucumbers in the basket and stood. She had filled four baskets so far and was hoping to do at least ten before calling it a day. “I take it you do the whole fishing, hunting, hiking thing.”

  “Yep.” Zack stood and removed his baseball cap, and his dark hair was plastered to his head. He swiped his forearm across his forehead and replaced the cap. “Sunshine, rain, snow, or sleet, it doesn’t matter. I like being out in the fresh air.”

  “So what else do you enjoy doing?” Jada asked.

  “Ah, let’s see. I like sleeping in on Sunday mornings and reading the newspaper when I don’t have a game. I would travel more if I had time, and I also enjoy shopping.”

  “Get out of here.” Jada leaned back, checking him out to see if he was serious. “You’re telling me, you, a man, enjoy shopping? I can’t believe it.”