Page 12 of All Because I Found You

He shook his head and walked toward what looked like a tractor. She took a second to give him a quick once over. Dark denim jeans that sat snug in all the right places, a white t-shirt that didn’t have a single stain—how that was possible was beyond her—and a pair of boots, despite the already eighty-degree weather and high humidity.

She loved her coffee in the morning, but for the first time she was wishing she ordered and ice coffee. Even if she did, the ice would have been melted by this point, and she’d be drinking watered down coffee, which sounded like the worst way to start her day.

“So.” She moved toward him, adjusting the coffees in one hand while she used the other to fish for the contract in her bag. She placed the tray on the tractor beside the pie that Ryder already opened and was eyeing.

“Again, I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I kind of got one of everything Karen had out today.”

“Karen from Pie in the Sky?” he asked.

“The one and only. I wouldn’t get pie from anywhere else.”

“My farm supplies her with all her berries, and in the fall, pumpkins and apples.”

“I had no idea. I mean, I know your parents’ farm stand is still up and running, but I assumed Gene owned everything.”

“That’s what I want people to think, and apparently they do. But in reality, I still own everything. Gene just runs it all.”

The way his face changed when he mentioned Gene, Raelyn could tell the man meant a great deal to him. “You’re lucky to have him, then.”

“You don’t have to tell me that,” he snapped.

“Okay then.” She slapped the contract onto the trailer, knowing when it was time to end a conversation and move on. “Here is the contract. I kept it short and sweet. Basically, it just states you’re allowing me full use of the barn to do with it as I see fit. Unless there are any changes to the structure, which in that case, I would need to get your written approval.”

“Changes in structure?”

She ignored him and plowed on. People tended to get caught up in the minute details that really affect nothing in the long run. “Here is my insurance information that is proof any injury or such I would be liable for, not you.” She made sure to include that tidbit against her lawyer’s advice. Ryder wanted nothing to do with this, and she was basically forcing his hand. She would not hold him liable for anything. This was all on her.

“Injury? What are you planning on doing here?”

“It’s just a precaution to protect you and your assets. No one will be injured, but I wanted to give you peace of mind. It’s a grand gesture for finally agreeing to let me use your barn. Take it.”

“There you go again, telling me what to do.”

“Before you said I was telling you what to feel, so I’d say not the same.” She motioned to the untouched pie. “Why aren’t you eating?”

He ran his hand through his hair. She noted it was the side that didn’t hang across his face. A tiny grunt rumbled in his throat, and she hated to admit, she found it sexy as hell.

“I don’t think there is enough coffee here to deal with you.”

“Which is why I also brought pie. See, I think ahead.” She handed him a fork, and he reluctantly snatched it from her hand. “Go ahead and eat. The lemon meringue is divine, if I do say so myself.”

“Is that some kind of reverse psychology?”

“Why would you think that?”

“I don’t know. After learning how serious you take your coffee, and thinking you’d cut my head off if I chose your red eye, I’m wondering if you are trying to be nice and offer me your favorite, hoping I won’t choose it because I might think it is in fact your favorite.”

“And you say I’m exhausting. Seriously, I think I might need a nap now.” She picked up her coffee and made a show of taking a very long, drawn out sip while also hoping he did not choose the lemon meringue because in fact it was her absolute favorite.

He reached for a slice of blueberry with a streusel top, and she let out a relieved breath.

His blue eyes pinned her with a knowing stare. “I knew it,” he said with a shake of his head.

She shrugged like she had no idea what he was talking about. “Now about this equipment.” She motioned to the tractor beneath them and to the other pieces behind them. When Ryder turned to look, she plunged her fork into the lemon meringue slice, closing her eyes as the flavors burst on her tongue. “Mmm.” She couldn’t stop the groan from coming out. She quickly lowered the fork to her side and straightened.

“Enjoying that pie?” he asked.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

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