Page 3

Bowen

I lifted pumpkin after pumpkin, barely breaking a sweat beneath my flannel. These were like feathers compared to the wood logs I hauled all day, and I counted this as an extra workout.

I couldn't resist answering the post online about helping out the farm. I'd lived in Apple Falls since I was a small boy, and I came to the patch every fall with my grandma. She let me pick the biggest pumpkin I wanted, and we always went home that same night and carved it into a jack o lantern. So when the same patch needed help, I rounded up my buddies and showed up ready to help.

“Does anyone have any questions or need any help?” A soft yet sweet sounding voice called out to the crowd and my eyes followed the sound.

It was her.

The one I couldn't keep my eyes off of.

I spotted her earlier, her t-shirt with the farm logo giving her away as an employee, as she talked with others in the same shirt.

Her stunning blue eyes glowed in the sunlight, and her brown hair fell in pieces around her face, shoved in a messy bun on top of her head.

Most people continued working, smiling politely but all I could focus on was her. I moved closer to her though I had no questions. All I wanted was to be near her. Talk to her. Find out everything about her.

Why? Who is she?

She nodded at me, her cheeks flushed.

“Do you harvest these many pumpkins every year?”

Stupid question, one I knew the answer to. But she smiled and answered anyway, her hands twisting together, a shy look stretched across her face. Adorable. “Yes, sometimes more, sometimes less. This has been a good year. Besides the early storm coming.”

“Snow in October, crazy right?”

She chuckled. “Yeah, it's unusual.”

The girl in the same T-shirt standing beside her slowly backed away, leaving just the two of us.

“Must be all the global warming.” I joked and her shoulders relaxed, the tension between us dissipating slowly.

“You sound like my dad. That's what he loves to say.” She clamped her mouth shut and shook her head.

I laughed. “I should meet him then.”

Her eyes widened and her cheeks turned from pink to red.

“Too fast huh?” I winked and now she was crimson. The flirting poured out of me around her. Like second nature.

An image of me kissing her popped into my head and my head spun in a thousand directions. Man she was a distraction.

“Well I better get back to harvesting. See you around.” I wanted to stay and flirt more but I figured my buddies will come looking for me soon. Besides her family was mere feet away. I didn't want to kill the girl with embarrassment.

“I hope so.” She said and I paused.

Is she flirting back?

“Name is Bowen. Nice to meet you.” I stuck out my hand and when she placed her small, warm one inside my large palm, mine swallowed hers whole. Sparks flew through my body, like electricity zapping through a wire.

Fuck.

“Giada. Thanks for helping out today.”

“My pleasure.”

Giada dropped my hand and walked away, leaving only the faint scent of strawberries.