Andagainst every ounce of better judgmentI’veever had about any incredibly bad idea,I’mgoing to let him.
Isure as hell knowIdon’t need a man in my life, and ifIdid there couldn’t be one more wrong than this one, but hellfire,Iwant him with a burning desireI’venever had for anything, or anyone.
Hislips part.
Ilift my chin.
AndI’mabout to close my eyes…just as he raises his other hand, a fistful of mud oozing between his fingers, and lunges for the back of myT-shirt.
Iscream and yank myself free in the nick of time.
Andright at this moment, the back door to the house opens and my mom appears.
“Polly!Whois this poor man?Andwhat have you done to him?”
10
MAX
Shewas going to let me make a move on her, wasn’t she?
Andfrom the lusty haze in her eyes and the flush in those plump lips, it would have been one hell of a kiss.
Thetwitch in my crotch as the bib of her overalls almost brushed my bare chest nearly swayed me from my revenge mission to shove a handful of mud down the back of her shirt.
ButIwas determined not to be the only one covered in wet dirt.AndIalmost made it.
Shenearly fell for it.AndInearly fell for her.
IfonlyI’dkept my hand out of her sightline until it was all the way around her back, maybeIcould have tasted that sweet-looking mouthandgot my muddy revenge.
Butwith the prospect of some lip-on-lip action followed by the sudden appearance of her mother, my dick now has whiplash.
I’mnot sure ifPolly’sembarrassed or furious.Sheturns her beet red face toward the house. “Nothing,Mom.It’sfine.He’sleaving.”
Idrop the mud and wipe my hand on my pants.Theycan’t get any dirtier after all.
Igive her mom a smile and wave with my cleanish hand, like it’s perfectly normal there’s a filthy half-dressed man standing in her goat enclosure.
Idrop my voice to a whisper and lean towardPolly. “HowdoIleave?Youdrove me here.”Igesture from my head to my feet. “Nocab is going to let the topless creature from theBlackLagoonin their car.”
“Heis not leaving here in that state.”Polly’smom calls back.Sheshifts her attention to me. “Comein, my dear, and clean up.I’lltake care of your clothes.”Shepauses. “Youdo have clothes, don’t you?”
Suddenlyfeeling very exposed and a little chilly,Ifold my arms across my chest.
MaybeIgot a bit caught up in my refusal to give in toPolly’sstunt.Iknow what game she’s up to.I’mcertainly not new to off-the-wall negotiation tactics.Mudand goats is a first, though.Theimportant thing is to never cave.Andthat’s okay.BecauseIdon’t cave.
Monthsof research tells usWarmSpringsis the perfect location for the first store in my plan to openYellowBarnsin small, but growing, communities.
Iwill not fall on my face at the first hurdle.Ifit kills me—and judging by the way today’s going, perhaps it will—Iwill win support from the locals so the councilmembers aren’t afraid to approve the store.Evenif it meansIfirst have to win over the ringleader of public opinion in the form of the most stubborn goat-loving grocerI’veever met.
“Yes,Mrs., um,Polly’sMom.”Iturn to indicate my shoes, socks, and shirt.Thebaby goat’s now chewing on a sleeve. “They’reover there.”
“Gloria.CallmeGloria.”Hergaze shifts to her daughter. “GoodGod,Polly.Getthat kid off his shirt and bring the poor man and his clothes inside.”
IreturnPolly’shard glare with my most annoying smile. “Ilike your mom already.”
“Shebelieves in being polite and kind to all people.”Shegrits her teeth. “Evenif they are trying to ruin her daughter’s life.”
