I know the moment I turn around I’ll likely find her in one of her damn bright, colorful outfits. It’s all she seems to wear. Spandex that clings to her curves.
She’s too young. She’s Peter Darling’s daughter. And most pertinent, she drives me fucking insane.
With my head on straight, I finally turn around to answer Tally’s question.
All the goddamn mantras in the world couldn’t prepare me for the sight before me.
“What are you wearing?” I ball my fists, trying not to reach for her. Trying not to touch the soft fabric ofmyT-shirt that barely covers her thighs or the expanse of her bare legs, which glisten below it. They’re probably so goddamn smooth. The spandex was bad; this is torture.
Tally blinks those golden eyes of hers like she’s unaware of the problem and pushes back the damp chestnut waves surrounding her face. “Oh, this?” She tugs on the shirt. “I forgot clothes when I went to shower, and when I heard thefront door shut, I grabbed the first thing I saw rather than running down here naked. I didn’t want to miss you.”
So many words and yet none of them mean a goddamn thing because my brain isn’t working right now.
Digging my fists into my eyes, I try to blur her out. But she’s fucking perfect, and I’ll never forget the image of her standing in this kitchen, looking the way she does right now.
“So can I ask my question now?”
I still don’t know what the fuck she’s talking about so I just nod. It’s better this way. The less I say, the quicker this conversation will be over.
“I was out in the tulip fields yesterday and noticed there are tarps over like dozens of the flower beds.”
Tongue in my cheek, I nod.
Tally takes a deep breath like she’s summoning some damn courage, which amazes me because the woman seems to have boundless amounts of it. “We’ve never had covers on the tulips. I know my mother trusts you for some reason—”
I don’t hear the rest of her words as anger starts to flood through me. My whole damn life I’ve had to prove myself. Prove to my mother I was worth sticking around for, even though she still walked out on us. Prove to my father that I would amount to something. It was fruitless, he was too wrapped up in drinking himself to death to even care, but still, I tried to raise my sister and bring in money to help with the bills. And then when I met my ex, Gina, I thought I’d finally found someone who believed I was worth something. But the moment Billie got pregnant and I asked Gina to wait a little longer to start our own life together, she decided I wasn’t worth it.
Now I don’t make the effort for anyone but Billie andQuinn. Still, it stings to hear Tally questioning me. I’ve been running this farm for the better part of a year with her father, and doing it on my own almost six months. Where has she been? And what right does she have to question my choices?
I steel my back and hold up a hand. “Both of your parents knew my plans for the farm. The tarps are there for a reason.”
“But why?” she presses on.
“Because I said so, and I’m the boss. Remember?”
Flames dance in Tally’s eyes as she narrows her gaze. She steps forward, and suddenly that sweet goddamn scent of hers infiltrates my space. I don’t know what it is, but it drives me fucking insane.
“I’m here, so I might as well be useful.” She takes another step toward me until she’s close enough to touch. Close enough that if I reached out, I’d be able to skim my knuckles against her bare thigh. “Use me.” The words are a whispered rasp that turns me on and wakes me the fuck up at the same time.
Heels digging into the floor, I push back from her and fold my arms across my chest so there’s no chance I’ll accidentally run my hands against her flesh. “You want to be useful? Handle inventory.”
Her lips tip up like she’s won some fucking prize, and I almost smile because she’s going to hate this.
Or maybe it’s her proximity. Or her in my shirt. Or those goddamn bare legs.
Fuck. Me.
I force my gaze to the incredible view of the fields out the window, toward the rolling green hills that are beginning to sprout pinks and yellows, and to the sparkling ocean beyond.
“I need an inventory of the daffodils. Count every one in the west field, and let me know how many we have.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
I finally glance back at her, and this time I don’t hide my smirk.
“What, is that too hard for you? I thought you wanted to be useful.”
With a lift of her chin, she quells her anger and shrugs. “Fine. If that’s what you want.”
