Parker shrugged.“A paycheck is a paycheck.”At his horrified look, she reached over and slapped his arm, definitely not thinking about how the brush of soft, fuzzy hair and hard muscle beneath her fingers was turning her on a little.“I’m pretty sure they were just doing off the books sports betting, so no real harm going on.Besides, I never once heard anyone utter the words ‘busted knee caps’ or ‘cement shoes.’”
Travis laughed again, the action lighting up his whole face.Damn, he really was a handsome man.Parker shook her head.He probably had a girlfriend or wife running around somewhere, and Parker was leaving anyway.“We really should get going.”Slapping her thighs, she made to stand, but Travis stopped her with a touch to her knee.
Parker stared at his hand, rough and worn from hard labor before he snatched it back as if he’d been burned.“Sorry,” he said, coughing into his fist again.“’Bout that.Wanted to offer you a job.”
Wondering if she’d died of heat exhaustion in that tent and was dreaming, Parker blinked over at him, completely thrown by the words that had just come from his delicious mouth.Not helpful, Parker!“I’m sorry.What was that?”
Travis wiped his beard before he started rubbing his neck.“This farm program I was looking into, well, wouldn’t be that exactly, but maybe like a dry run.See if it’d even work.”Parker continued to stare at him, confused.Travis seemed to sense this and looked a bit irritated, but more at himself.“Not explaining this great.Basically, you’d live in the apartment above the barn, work at the orchard.Could show you about farming, then it’d be easier to get a job once harvest is over.”
Parker looked out into the trees again.The gentle sway of the branches in the slight breeze almost made it seem like they were waving at her, calling her home.“How much does it pay?”
Travis clucked his tongue.“Um, it doesn’t.”Parker opened her mouth to thank him for the volunteer opportunity, but he held up a hand to hold her off.“Not in cash or a paycheck, but you and Kit would live rent free, get a stipend for food each week.”
Parker’s jaw dropped at the new information.No money, but free room and board on a beautiful farm with kindly owners.It seemed way too good to be true and while normally she wasn’t one for looking a gift horse in the mouth, she couldn’t help but stare right into this one’s face.“What’s the catch?”
There had to be one, she just couldn’t figure out what it was.The desperation for something so wonderful was thick and clouded her judgement.The clean linen scent wafting off the man next to her certainly wasn’t helping matters either.It reminded her of freshly cleaned laundry drying in the sun on the old clothesline that was in her backyard growing up, one of the few things about her childhood she cherished.
“No catch as long as you work hard, try your best.”He nodded to the kitchen window where Parker could see her daughter laughing with the Kemps as she helped them wash dishes.“Could enroll Kit in school, stay through end of December.Won’t have much work beyond harvest, but could help you find your next gig.Lots of farms around here.”
Parker watched her little girl having a blast doing chores and bit her lip.Guaranteed work for the next four months in addition to steady food and a secure room over their heads was too amazing of an opportunity to pass up, even if it did seem too good to be true.
Sticking out her hand for a shake, Parker smiled at the man next to her.“You’ve got yourself a deal.”
The moment Travis took her hand in his, Parker realized what the catch was.At the simple touch, tingles shot up and down her arm as a warmth spread throughout her chest.As her eyes moved up to his face and she saw a wistful, almost dreamy look that she knew was similar to the one she was probably wearing, she felt tethered in a way she hadn’t since she was little and picking fruit off the cherry tree.
“Welcome to Kemp Family Farms,” he breathed out.
Parker nodded, understanding that the price for trading safety and security at the farm was the possibility of her heart breaking as she fell in love with a handsome yet emotionally unavailable man, but as she continued to stare at Travis, she felt the risk was worth taking.
Chapter Seven
Travis
Travis dropped Parker’s hand, feeling like his skin had been marked for life.Never before has his whole body felt so aware of someone else’s.With each move she made, his entire being seemed to want to mirror it.When she’d relaxed into the chair, he felt himself sinking into his own and when she made to stand, he felt his heels lift, ready to follow her wherever she went.It was the strangest feeling in the world, and the most welcoming one.Confused beyond belief, Travis tried to focus on helping the down-on-her-luck mom get back on her feet instead of thinking of all the ways he wanted to try and sweep her off of them.With the very limited experience he had, that was a foolhardy notion anyway.
With a smile he was sure looked more like a grimace, Travis gestured toward the door that led back into the house.“Want to give your daughter the good news?”
