Page 25 of No Bed Of Roses

He rolled his eyes. “So you’ve said. But I want to. I want to spend time with you and get to know you. You okay with that?”

She leaned back and studied him with serious eyes. “I’m very okay with that. I want to know more about you as well. But I don’t want to pull you away from what you need to do with your place. Don’t you have to prep your fields for your hops?”

He shrugged. “Maybe. I don’t know enough yet. It’s no big deal if I don’t get a crop in this year. I might already be too late. And if I’m not, another day isn’t going to matter. It’ll give the fields another day to dry out enough to till.”

Her smile was a big reward. “Okay, but when you need help, I will pay you back. I don’t know anything about hops either, but I do know about helping things grow outside of their normal climate.”

Her head tilted to the side, and her eyes got a faraway look for a moment. When she blinked, her smile widened. “In fact, let’s make this the job of the first greenhouse. Normally, I work in climate-controlled greenhouses. They imitate the climates of various countries with issues feeding their people. I’m unsure how to seal up a greenhouse without using plastics, so hops will be a perfect plant to practice on. That way, the climate is actual Vermont, and we can try different varieties for you to use.”

His heart swelled at her desire to help him. “It’s not exactly feeding the hungry.”

“No, but I’ll do that too. And we can bounce ideas off of each other. This will be fun.”

He didn’t think she’d had enough fun in her life, and if this hops project was bringing her the joy dancing in her eyes? “I’m in.”

And then he had to kiss her again.

CHAPTER 9

Putting Down Roots

Levi studied the rows of freshly planted hops that covered his land. It had been a busy week since the ladder had collapsed beneath Isla, and they’d been working their asses off.

There hadn’t been any more incidents, and nothing had disturbed the cameras below the barn. Isla was convinced the sabotaged ladder had nothing to do with her.

Levi wasn’t, and would keep vigilant. If someone was watching her, they would notice the layers of protection around her. The cameras and alarms. The friends. And Levi himself.

If someone was trying to hurt her, it would be smart to lay off for a bit and then to come at her again when she was more vulnerable.

Levi’s job was to ensure she was never vulnerable.

For the past week, they’d studied hops together while working on her greenhouse, her garden, and his fields. Working on things together was a lot of fun, more so than he’d expected.

Growing up, he’d learned how to do things from his father and grandfather. He hadn’t been part of the decision-making process. They’d all followed the ways they’d learned from previous generations.

Now, he was starting from scratch, and while it occasionally scared the skin off him, it was more exciting than he’d imagined.

Working with Isla as a partner was intoxicating.

Kissing her, more so.

He wanted still more, but he wasn’t going to push her and be another asshole in her life. She’d had enough of those. He’d keep stealing kisses and let her hands explore further and further each time.

He wanted his mouth on her naked skin, wanted to hear what sounds she made as she came. He wanted to thrust into her until they were both too exhausted to move.

But he’d wait until she was ready. He hoped like hell it was soon.

That made him grin. He was an adult who could control himself. Around Isla, he just didn’t want to. He wanted to watch her lose control and follow her right over the edge.

He realized he was almost at the fence to her property, and he hadn’t even consciously decided to move. The woman was a magnet.

His phone rang with a call from Troy. With a sigh, he answered it. “What’s up?”

His buddy laughed. “I know where you’re headed, but Sean says today is the day to demo those buildings in town. I’m hoping for all hands on deck. Talk Isla into coming too.”

With the thoughts he’d been having, Troy’s phrasing made him grin. “I’ll get on that.” Then he hung up.

Levi neared the fence and spotted Isla in her window greenhouse, pretty as a picture. The sun was shining, and the dog slept at her feet. Put that photo on the front of a magazine, and it would fly off the shelves.

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