“Meagan told me she wants to quit when she has her baby.” Farrah lifted her shoulder in a sexy shrug. “I think the Bybees would hire me full-time, with benefits, in her place.”
“I’m sure they would.” A slip of joy pulled through him at the thought of her becoming permanent at this farm. At her having a life she wanted.
“Darren, I have to tell you something.” She leaned over and skated her lips along his jaw. His eyes drifted closed but his senses remained on high alert. Instead of telling him anything with words, she touched her lips to his. That was all the encouragement Darren needed, and he tangled his legs with hers as he kissed her and kissed her.
After several minutes, she said, “Darren.” She giggled and tried to pull away.
He kept her right where he wanted her easily. “Mm.”
“Your hip is vibrating.”
“They’ll call back.”
“They’ve called twice.”
Reluctantly, Darren turned onto his back. His mouth felt bruised and his head too hot. Still, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw Logan’s name on the screen. “It’s Logan.” He swiped on the call. “Do you mind?”
Farrah sat up and ran her hands through her hair. “Of course not.”
“Logan, hey.” Darren exhaled as he sat up too. “What’s goin’ on? How’s California?”
Farrah got up and strolled away, casting a flirtyfollow-me-if-you-darelook at Darren. He wanted to hang up with his brother and go wherever she did.
“I heard a rumor,” his brother said in a playful, teasing voice. “That you got back together with Farrah Irvine.”
Darren rolled his eyes and kept his sigh contained. “Who called you? Tucker? Missy?”
“Ben.”
Of course. Ben, who just wanted everyone to be as happy as he was. The youngest brother who never caused any problems. The perpetual peacemaker. “Did he tell you about Rae’s accident?”
“Yes. Said she’s doing a lot better now.”
“She is.”
“Don’t change the subject,” Logan said, chuckling. “I thought Farrah wouldn’t talk to you after you submitted her name for the parade.”
Darren really needed to call his brother more often. The thought of starting at the beginning of the story made his stomach tighten. “I’m with Farrah right now,” he said. “Can I call you later?”
“Ooh, did I interrupt you?” Logan laughed now. “You’re kissing her again, aren’t you?”
“Logan.” Darren tried to put on his best big-brother warning voice, though he was only older by a few minutes.
“Do you think that’s wise?”
“What?”
“Darren.”
“Logan.”
“I’m worried you’ll get your heart broken again.”
Darren was worried about that too, though when he kissed Farrah and felt the passion and adoration in her touch, those fears disappeared. “Better than what I was doin’, Logan.” Darren spoke very low, but very clear.
Logan sighed, and his brotherly concern traveled all the way across the country. “I’m sorry, Darren.” He meant he was sorry for leaving Vermont, though he was coming back. He meant he was sorry all the other brothers had started dating before Darren. He meant a lot more than just that Darren had suffered for a few months without Farrah at his side.
Darren got to his feet and tried to find Farrah, who’d slunk deeper into the woods. He said the same thing to Logan as he’d said to Farrah. “Nothing to be sorry about, Logan. I have to go.”
