Page 25 of Lime Tree Hill

“Have a seat. Have you seen anyone about your knee?”

“Not yet.” Sitting at the island, he struggled to take his eyes off her. With her delicate features and dignified persona, she fascinated him more than anyone had in a long time.

“Would you like me to take a look?”

He stared at her for a moment. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, do you?”

“Why not, don’t you trust me?”

“It’s not that.” He fought to suppress a smile. “It’s just…well, I’m sure you understand.”

A blush crept across her cheeks. She’d obviously caught his drift.

“So, what’s on your mind?” Tayla turned her back and reached into the cabinet for two cups. The next time she glanced his way, the blush was gone. “Surely you didn’t come over here just to bring me pie?”

“I hear you’ve had another offer.”

“Notanotheroffer.Anoffer. Your offer is no longer valid, remember. Anyway, how do you know? I only met the realtor yesterday.”

He shrugged. “Word gets around. Especially when it spews from Chris Stone’s toxic mouth. He thinks it’s in the bag.”

“Really?” She motioned to the coffee machine, obviously surprisedhe knew it was Chris Stone who’d made the offer. “What would you like?”

“Espresso, thanks.”

“I take it you’re not a fan of Mr. Stone.” Tayla lifted the dome from a cake stand on the counter and placed two chocolate chip muffins on a plate. She slid it across the island toward Mitch.

“You could say that. Sure, he runs a slick operation, but that doesn’t mean I want him in my back yard. I don’t like the way he does business, and the feeling’s mutual.”

Tayla popped a coffee pod into the machine, then put a cup on the drip tray. “You may not have a choice.”

Mitch looked at her and frowned. “No, but you do.”

“So, what do you suggest? That we forgo the sale because you don’t like the guy?”

“Your father won’t be happy. Chris has made him offers before. Insulting ones. Barry can’t stand him.”

“This whole sorry business keeps getting worse.”

He leaned forward, searching for the right words as he peeled the paper case from the muffin and took a bite. “I’ve been thinking about what you said the other day. Maybe we could pull off the marriage thing…if you promise to play nice.”

“IfIpromise to play nice? Where’s the note?”

He cocked a brow. “Note?”

“The note where you ask me to go steady.”

Mitch caught her slight smile. “Very funny. Look, the SPG spray the shit out of their fruit. That alone could affect our operation, not to mention spray drift entering the river. We can’t let that happen.”

“Don’t you ever tire of doing the right thing?”

He frowned. If she only knew how many times he’d screwed up in his life, his assessment of her after Norman died being one of them. “I don’t always do the right thing. Offering to buy Cherry Grove on a drunken handshake is a case in point. But when it comes to organics, I want to do my bit.”

Tayla pushed his coffee across the counter then started making her own. “So, you’re out to save the planet?”

“The planet will save itself. Whether humans surviveonthe planet is another question. If we don’t do something about the pesticides, plastics, and manmade fibers that flood our food chain and waterways, we’re in trouble. And forgive me for sounding preachy, but we’re literally shitting in our own nest.”

“Is that why you always wear cotton and wool?”

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