Page 61 of Pin-up Girl

“Not anymore. I was fired.” It still felt good to say that. It shouldn’t, but it did.

Maddox shook his head. “You don’t just stop being that and start a farm, especially if you’ve never farmed before.”

Of course not. I’d done dozens of hours of research. Watched videos. Looked at crops and equipment. I wouldn’t go into this without knowledge. “How do you know?”

“My brother is a big wig executive. His husband is too. So is their girlfriend. None of them would buy land out here to grow something, even if they got fired. They’d go get a new big wig executive job.”

“That’s three people. Not a reasonable sample size.” I knew Maddox was right, but I was different. My approach and reasons were different.

Maddox let out a heavy sigh and stared at me, as if he was waiting for me to say something else.

I’d made my point.

He shook his head. “That’s reality. People don’t move into a position like CEO by mistake.”

“I did.”

“Uh-huh. What are you going to grow?”

I hated this third degree, but I was also invested in it. I needed to know where it was going, and prove that I wasn’t wrong. “Corn.”

“For profit? You’re going to compete with giant farms in the Midwest.”

I swallowed a growl.

Maddox shrugged. “There are a lot of things I think sound really cool, but I know myself well enough to know that there are nearly as many of them that I’d never follow through with. You buy a farm, you grow a bunch of corn, and then what?”

“I’m not you. I sell at farmers markets and to local grocery stores.”

“You can’t get anyone in this town to tell you if a farm is available. How are you going to get a grocery store to buy your corn for resale?”

I pushed back from the table. “Thanks for the tea.”

“Wait.” The aggression vanished from Maddox’s voice. “If you want to buy a farm and grow corn, then cool. I really don’t have an issue with that or you. But even if I hear that someone is selling, people here really are picky about who buys.”

“You don’t care what people here think.” I was guessing, but I suspected I was right.

Maddox grinned. “I care what a few of them think. I care what Alys thinks, and that means caring what Aubrey thinks, and that means caring if you’re happy. And if you’re not upset that you just got fired from a CEO job that you fell into by mistake, do you really want to own a farm and everything that goes with it?”

I gave him a short wave, because it was easier than thinking about his question. “Have a good day. It was weird to meet you.”

“Thank you.” He beamed.

I was going to visit Clint, drop off this stuff for Dee, and try not to linger on how super fucking weird that conversation with Maddox was.

18

clint

I liked waking up next to Aubrey. Probably more than I should. Last night was incredible sex, but I also had fun with her. Then feeling her warm body pressed against mine when morning rushed in…

She didn’t want more from a relationship, and I couldn’t agree more. After taking our time to stretch and yawn and cuddle a little more this morning, I’d given her a goodbye hug and headed back to my own house. The last thing I needed was to get involved with someone.

Like my wife.

I couldn’t keep falling back on the fact that Aubrey and I were married. That was a business transaction, and one I was grateful she was willing to be part of.

My phone rang, and Regina’s name showed on the screen, as if I’d summoned a demon with my thoughts.

---