Page 74 of Forbidden Flame

“Speaking of which, I need to cobble together a contract for consigning to restaurants. I have one for catering, but this might be a little different.”

“If you can’t find anything online, we use a law firm in town for all the farm’s needs: Arrington, Gannon, and Winters. I can send you their information.”

“That would be great. I have a feeling the deeper I get into this, the more I’ll need legal and tax advice.”

“Sebastian could help you with the accounting stuff.”

“You’re lucky you have an accountant in the family. My brothers’ vocations don’t really help me.”

“Not if they’re all in law enforcement.”

“It just makes them more protective. They see the worst in society.”

“You want to come inside with me? I was going to cook dinner. They’ll be okay out here.” In fact, it might be better if we weren’t hovering. The girls were old enough to play by themselves in the yard where we could see them from the window. Besides, I had Knox close the gate after Daphne arrived. The property was safe.

“I’d love to.” Daphne followed me inside. “What are you making?”

I winked at her. “I figured we could grill. It would give us an excuse to check on the girls.”

Daphne shot me an exasperated look. “But you just said they’d be fine, and we shouldn’t hover.”

“There’s nothing wrong with checking things out. But seriously, I’m not worried. Addy and Ember are nice girls. I haven’t ever heard them talking about other kids in a mean way. Sarah and Sebastian wouldn’t stand for it.”

“They’re a little too young for the mean girl stuff, but I know it’s coming.”

“I hope that’s not for a while yet. I love hanging out with them. Technically, they’re my cousins, but they feel more like nieces.”

I pulled out the chicken from the fridge where it had been marinating all day. Then grabbed the potatoes. I still needed to peel them and cut them into cubes for the grill. “You want to cut some veggies up?”

“I can do that.”

I pulled out peppers, mushrooms, and tomatoes, then the knife and cutting board. Once Daphne was set up, I got to work on the potatoes.

“They’re lucky to have so many uncles and family to look after them.”

“Mmm. My cousins talk about their kids all growing up on the farm together. I loved coming here as a kid.”

We were quiet for a few seconds while we worked, and then I added, “I felt badly that I left my sister at home during those times. I don’t think my aunt and uncle wanted to take both of us on. I always said I wanted to work; that’s why I came. But my sister was too young for that, and my aunt and uncle had enough kids to look after. Or at least that’s what my mom would say when my sister asked to come with me.”

“You feel guilty that she was there, and you escaped for a few weeks every year.”

I nodded, hating to admit I was that selfish.

“But you were just a kid. You knew it wasn’t healthy and you wanted out. I don’t think you did anything wrong. Besides, it sounds like you wanted her to come with you.”

“I knew it wasn’t possible. It was already a big ask that I came to stay here. Aunt Lori used to say that her boys were a pack, so what’s one more?”

“What was your uncle like?”

“He was stern. But I think he had to be. We were wild.”

“You didn’t seem wild when I met you,” Daphne said as she popped a tomato into her mouth.

I had the strongest urge to taste the flavor on her lips, but I resisted. “I never forgot that I was here to work. My aunt and uncle could send me home at any time. I didn’t have the luxury to truly be wild with my cousins, but I had my moments. I never acted out enough to get sent home.”

“I doubt they would have sent you home, and I hate that you felt like you couldn’t talk to anyone.”

“Most families cover things up, don’t they?”

---