* * *
Parker didn’t callme or answer any of my texts. I spent the evening stress baking—and stress eating and, okay, stress drinking. But I did make boxes of snacks to take to the Rural Trust event the next day.
I had dressed in my best neo-preppy, English-boarding-school-inspired outfit complete with plaid pants, a short jacket, and leather boots, with my hair up in a ponytail. Unfortunately, my hair tended more toward frizz than actual pretty waves.
“Ready for a day on the farm?” I asked Parker when I walked into his office. He was at his desk, staring at his computer screen. I wanted to kiss him, but that seemed like more of a dating thing. I didn’t think you were supposed to kiss your casual hookup in a workplace environment.
“It’s going to be down and dirty—rolling around in the mud, animals mating.”
“We’re going to see animals mating?”
“Oh!” I turned to see two of Parker’s little brothers in the doorway.
You’re worse than Ida. You should never have kids.
“Um, I was just making a bad joke. Because it’s kidding season.”
They looked at me blankly.
“Actually, see, the animals already mated—”
Parker stood up, pained expression on his face.
“Did you get it? Kidding season, because of the baby goats. So it’s joke season.” I made an awkward face.
“Don’t let Hunter hear you say that,” Parker warned. “You know how he feels about goats.”
His little brothers nodded knowingly then grabbed all the bags and boxes and toted them to Parker’s SUV.
“What do you have in here?” Parker asked as he said as he loaded the car.
“I have camera crews coming out. We’re having a little press conference, so I have a table, some decorations, pamphlets to hand out to the news reporters, plus info for the farmers. Also, Jasmine and I made snacks.”
“Snacks!” his brothers said excitedly.
“I made some tarts and other pastries with local ingredients,” I told them as we finished packing the car.
Parker’s brothers chattered in the backseat as he drove, eating a pastry each.
“How’s everything with you?” I asked.
“Fine,” Parker said abruptly, then went silent. Apparently he wanted to pretend like nothing had happened the other night. Fine.
“We have invited several restaurateurs out to the farm. Your brother Archer is going to be there too. His hotels have several high-profile restaurants. Josie’s marketing firm wants to push Greyson Hotel Group’s involvement in the local food movement,” I explained.
“Is that not overdone?” Parker asked with a frown.
“It is, but we’re doing it with a twist. Economic development is the added layer. Raising up Rust Belt towns and reviving them by creating new industries is very in right now. We’ll have the press eating out of our hands.”
Earnest’s farm was an hour or so outside of Harrogate. Large metal sculptures of goats decorated the entrance. ASK US ABOUT WEDDINGS! a sign read.
“Ernest is partnering with Weddings in the City,” I told Parker excitedly as he parked the car. “Wouldn’t it be so much fun to have a rustic wedding here?”
41
Parker
“Do you want to get married here?” Sadie teased. “You could have the goats be your best men!”
