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"Huh."

His eyebrow lifts.

"Did you just make a joke?"

"No."

"You did."

"Can't prove it."

I stare at him. He starts walking.

"You coming?"

Apparently I am. I climb out and follow him across the yard.

For the first thirty seconds, neither of us says anything. Which gives me plenty of time to realize we're heading toward the exact place I was just caught watching him. Fantastic.

"For the record, I wasn't hiding."

"Of course not."

"I was standing behind some crates."

"Hiding."

"Temporarily obscured."

He looks sideways at me.

"Right."

"And I wasn't staring at you."

"I didn't say you were."

I stop. He takes another step before turning around. His expression is completely innocent. I dislike him. Deeply.

"Then why did you come get me?"

His gaze holds mine for a moment.

"You wanted to see the growing operation."

Oh. I look beyond him. And everything else disappears.

Rows of green stretch toward the far edge of the property. Tomatoes climb tall supports. Peppers fill another section. Broad squash leaves spread across dark earth. Beds of herbs run closer to the greenhouse, their different shades of green forming neat ribbons through the field.

I take a few steps forward. There is so much of it, but nothing feels industrial or uniform. Everything looks deliberate. Cared for.

I look at him.

"You're showing me what I think you're showing me?"

"You had questions."

I try not to smile.