"Looks to me like you're trying for something else."
He caught a dangling lock of my hair and held it between us. "What color do you call this? I couldn't even describe you if someone asked."
"Opal." I pulled it free. "And I don't want you to describe me. I'm not here for your approval, Luke. I just came back to keep a promise to the woman who raised me. When you said you'd been helping with the place, I'd hoped for a whole lot more. Guess I should have known better."
"Vera said she couldn't afford it with the medical bills. Look, it's not that I didn't want to, but she said it'd cost too much and she couldn't spare the money."
I nearly choked. "But she had..." My mouth closed before the thought made it all the way out.
"I know," he said softly. "But she didn't want to spend your inheritance on a camp that no one cared about but her. Said you'd probably sell it."
Gran thought I'd sell the place? How could she think that! It was time to retreat, but I didn't make it two steps before Luke grabbed my arm, pulling me back. I didn't want him to see the tears in my eyes. I certainly didn't want this man - who wasn't the person I remembered - to think he knew anything about me. I yanked my arm back.
"Stop." His words held no room for debate. He also didn't let go. "I'm here to help."
"Yeah? Is that because I'm pretty, or is it more because you think Gran made me rich? And what can some shit-kicker like you do, huh?" I flailed at the rafters. "You couldn't even keep the damned barn from becoming a fire hazard!"
"I'll fix it."
"No." Sucking in a deep breath, I braced myself for a fight. "Iwill fix it. I'm not gonna let a bunch of small-minded rednecks keep Southwind from opening back up. This isn't some criminal haven - it's where I grew up! This was all Gran ever asked of me, and I don't care how hard they try, I'll win." I looked right into his deep green eyes. "I always win, Luke. Don't get in my fucking way."
"In case ya didn't figure it out, I'm on your side."
I crossed my arms over my chest, defiant. "Why?"
"Because I know how to work a tractor, and I'm guessing you don't."
My anger vanished before the confusion. "Huh?"
Luke reached up to adjust his hat, settling it deeper on his head. "Seventy acres of uncut coastal down on the back pasture. That's a hay field, Miss Dawson. You buy the supplies and I'll get the equipment running again. Soon as we cut it, you're back in the farming business, which means Mr. Simmons can't fuck with your agricultural tax exemption."
"And what do you get out of it?"
He stepped closer. "A chance to do something besides feed cows. Not all of us managed to escape this place. Never mind that the view is pretty nice."
"Ok." I retreated, but made sure it didn't look like it. "We'll try it. Oh. And do you happen to know anyone who can fix my air conditioner?"
"Yep."
When he didn't offer anything more, I rolled my eyes. "Willing to share that information?"
Luke just tapped his chest. "Pretty good at that, too. Don't know how to break it to you, baby doll, but out here in the sticks, we figure out how to fix things, because ain't no one else gonna do it for us."
"Right." A devious smile was tugging at my mouth. "And so you know... I'm not a toy. I'm also not going to get weak in the knees each time you lay on the southern drawl." Then I patted his chest and headed back to the entrance. "How much you charge to cut hay, Luke?"
Behind me, the man grumbled under his breath, but he followed. "Was plannin' to make it a favor."
"I don't do favors." As soon as I hit the sunlight, I turned, pasting on my professional smile. "Get me some numbers and we can talk. Otherwise, I'll just hire it out."
"Gimme twelve round bales."
"Uh." I hadn't expected him to counter so fast. I also had no idea what those were worth. "Why?"
"Means I won't have to buy them off Mr. Simmons."
That wasn't helping much. "Ok?"
"Feeds my horses. Board doesn't cover hay or grain."
