Page 13 of Extreme Romancing in Idaho

I closed my eyes and refocused. He climbed into the driver’s seat and looked around at all the levers. We’d bought this tractor before the cancer, back when we had good harvests and plenty of money to invest in the farm. It was fully equipped and as confusing as hell to someone who didn’t know anything about farming, like stepping into the cockpit of a plane.

He pulled on the door. It didn’t budge. “The door won’t close. It’s stuck.”

“You have to pull on the lever under the—”

He moved his hands over the glass. “What?”

“Here let me!” I yelled over the running engine and marched over to him. “This lever. Right here.”

“Oh, yeah.” He smiled and went to close the door but paused. “Look!” he shouted. “When I said I could drive a tractor, I meant more like a lawn tractor.”

And there we had it. The truth. “Here. Let me shut it off.”

I stepped onto the bottom step and leaned over him. I’d done this hundreds of times with Papa—stretching over him to grab my drink, or car keys. It wasn’t until my chest pressed against Remi’s toned thigh that his scent—clean sheets and cedar—penetrated my senses.

This wasn’t Papa. I turned and looked at him. He met my eyes with a level of heat I wasn’t prepared for. We were within an inch of each other, and despite my best intentions, an awareness of this proximity sent chills zinging through me. I breathed in short intakes of air to keep my chest from touching his.

I turned off the key, pulled back, and climbed to the ground. The increasing wind caused a sprinkling of rain to dot my dusty arms. This path only led to heartache for me. Sure, Remi possessed an unnatural level of attractiveness, but beauty only ran skin deep, and attraction didn’t equate to kindness.

I’d be no better than those poor women texting him, dying for one drop of attention. I’d been in that position before too, and I’d never allow myself to go there again.

“This is a little different than a lawnmower.” I looked up at him. The brim of his hat blocked the bright sun. “Are you really here to work for us?”

“Yes, but I know nothing about farming.”

“Then you’re fired. We don’t offer any severance packages, but I’m sure Mama will give you a jar of pears on your way out.”

“You can’t fire me.”

He challenged my gaze, and I lifted an eyebrow at him. He had no idea what I could and couldn’t do. Mama surely would come to understand my reasons. On the other hand, I would be passing up an opportunity to make his life a living hell.

I smiled. “Fine. You can stay, but only on probationary status. Why didn’t you tell me the truth earlier?”

“Technically I’ve fed my dogs. And I have no idea what bucking hay is, but I’ve gone on a hayride, so I figured it was close enough.” He quirked his mouth in a sideways grin, maneuvered down from the tractor, and closed the door.

He was masterful at twisting the truth to suit his needs, a skill he probably acquired while tricking women into falling into his bed. I narrowed my eyes. “Mama hired …you?”

“I think I convinced her to take me on with my winning personality.”

“I think it had more to do with your good looks.”

He tucked his bottom lip under his teeth, his eyes dancing. He glanced at the ground before he looked back at me. “You think I’m good-looking, huh?”

“Yes.” Thinkbeforetalking would be my new mantra. “But your pretty face isn’t going to get the pigs fed.”

He laughed.

“Come on.” I motioned for him to follow me to the truck. “Mama will have lunch ready. I’ll give you a rundown of the daily chores. You can start tomorrow morning.”

“Will you teach me to drive that?” He pointed back at my Deere.

“Baby steps. Tractor lessons only start after you prove you’re worth my time.” That and I couldn’t be locked in the cab with him without jumping him.

Chapter 5

Remi

I’dneverbeenmoredrawn to a woman than when Angie climbed out of her massive tractor yesterday. The thing was as big as a house with tires taller than me.

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