“I’ve got quite the eagle eye, or so I’m told,” I say.
“Tell me about the course you applied for,” he says.
“I get college credit for it,” I say, and then I realize I’m being defensive. Jack’s not asking me to justify why I’m taking it. He’s interested. In me. “I got my high school diploma by correspondence. I didn’t graduate with my class because of Mom.” I spot a sparkle of something submerged in the silt of the creek bed and bend to uncover it. When I pull out the stone, I realize it must have been the glint of the sun making it appear nicer than it was, and I drop it back into the water with a plop.
“I’m sorry,” Jack says.
“Don’t be. I only graduated recently. I didn’t bother for years, and then I did a short horticultural class and hated it, and sent itto Bray. He’s the farmer. I’m not that girl. But I’d gotten an itch, so I decided I wanted to get my high school diploma. I finished that this summer. I found it nice to have something other than the farm. You know?”
He nods, listening intently, his expression serious.
“So I wanted to have something else. Study something else. So I’m starting an American History class. We’ll see how that goes.”
“That’s amazing, Iris.”
I turn to find Jack looking at me like he’s just found one of the dazzling stones that hide in the creek bed under our feet.
“I’ll probably fail it or scrape by, because of my responsibilities to the farm.”
“I doubt you’ll scrape by. I bet you fly.” He grins at me, and I can’t help but smile back. I step toward him onto the creek bed and he steps off the stones onto the shingle to stand opposite me. The cold water rushes around our feet as Jack wraps his arms around me and presses his lips to mine.
He pulls back and our foreheads rest against each other’s. “You’ve dealt with so much in your life, yet you haven’t let it tarnish your spirit. You’re still marveling at the moonlight’s reflection, searching for the sparkling rocks among the silt of the creek bed. You’re such a special woman, Iris. I don’t think you have any idea.”
My cheeks heat, and Jack cups my face. I lift my head slightly, impatient for his kiss. I don’t have to wait long. His soft lips press against me and his tongue pushes through to find mine. He kisses me like he can’tnotkiss me. Like kissing me gives him energy, life, purpose.
My body begins to buzz. I don’t know what it is, but when Jack touches me, my entire body seems to change. Like he affects every cell. I’ve never known my body to react in the way it does when Jack’s near me. I can’t imagine it ever will again.
I know Jack’s special. I know what we share together is more than anything I could have ever imagined. And even though I’m not sure how I’ll exist without him, I’ll be forever grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to know this special man.
TWENTY
Jack
I pull up in front of Wilde’s Farm late on Saturday afternoon. I know that Iris, Bray, and their father finish at the farm at three on Saturdays. So by now, they should have finished up and have had time to decompress. I’ve got an idea, and I want them in the right frame of mind for it.
All my friends have been back in New York now for weeks. I don’t think I’ve ever spent so long away from Manhattan. It’s coming up on four weeks. Even Fisher and Byron aren’t in town. It means I can spend all of my time with Iris now. Or working at the farm. Or back at the Club, taking business calls. Iris and I both work in the family business. We’re both tied to them in ways that neither of us chose, but we can’t walk away. Yesterday, my father actually called to ask me where I was and why I was blowing off meetings. I can’t remember the last time he called me himself. He usually sends messages through his assistant. I’ve had plenty of those over the last few weeks.
New York is calling. I don’t know how long I can avoid her.
I take the stairs to the two-story farmhouse two at a time and knock on the door. I have my laptop in the SUV. But I haven’ttold Iris any of my plans. I didn’t want her to tell me all the ways it wouldn’t work. And I didn’t want Iris’s father and Bray to feel like this was coming from Iris and me. If they don’t like it, I don’t want them to think any differently about Iris.
I’m ambushing all of them equally.
I’ve tried to be subtle in my questioning, but over the last weeks on the farm, I’ve been able to talk to lots of the workers about Wilde’s Farm, including Bray and Iris. In between, I’ve also been doing research about the industry across America and globally. Basically, I’ve been an undercover business consultant for Wilde’s Farm.
“Hey,” Bray says when he opens the door. “You can just come right on in. No need to knock.”
I chuckle. So completely not like New York. “Thanks.”
Bray and Mr. Wilde have softened toward me since Mr. Wilde’s interrogation. He asked me every question other than my inside leg measurement and my net worth. I was completely honest with him. I like that he’s so careful with Iris’s heart. I hope he realizes I am too.
“You want a drink?” Bray offers as we go into the kitchen.
“I’m good. Is your dad about?” I ask. “Your sister?”
Mr. Wilde’s hand flies up from the couch and he waves. “I’m doing a crossword. You’ll have to help me finish it if you want my attention. If you’re asking me for permission to marry my daughter, come back in a year’s time with a criminal record check and a printout of your bank balance.”
I can’t help but chuckle. “I’ll take the crossword. For now.”
