Page 83 of Lime Tree Hill

“I want you to come to bed…so we can make love and try something new.”

A slow smile moved into play as he cleared his throat. “I’ll be there in a few minutes. Keep the slip on.”

Tayla walked toward him and leaned over his desk until her face was inches from his. “Only if you wear those tight boxers from the photo shoot.”

“Come here.” He tried to grab her by the wrist, but she pulled back.

She turned and walked away, and as he jumped from his seat and ran after her, she took off into the bedroom. They fell together onto the bed, Mitch on top, both of them laughing. It reminded him of the touch rugby game, but this time, she was his to have—willingly. He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her over and over, her mouth minty fresh, her scent wafting around him.

“Where do you want me?” he asked.

“On your back.”

Mitch rolled over and lifted his arms above his head while Tayla tugged off his T-shirt. She straddled him, grinding against him as his erection strained beneath his fly. He moved to unbuckle his belt, but she stopped him. “Let me.”

“I thought you never looked at me on the billboard.”

Her hands went to work, and as she pulled down his zipper, he lifted his butt so she could remove his jeans. She admired his boxers. They weren’t the ones he’d worn in the photo shoot, but they were just as tight. “Every woman in Clifton Falls looked at you on that billboard. Ogled you even.”

He grabbed her butt with both hands and squeezed gently. “Everywoman ogled me? Including you?”

“Oh yeah, including me.” She kneeled back, taking his boxers with her, her eyes widening at the sight of him.

Mitch placed his hands behind his head, grinning as his erection freed. “What are you going to do to me?”

Tayla crawled forward. Cradling his face in her hands, she kissed him before whispering, “Sit on top, but backward.”

“Reverse cowgirl?”

She lifted her arms so he could remove her slip. “Yes. Reverse cowgirl.”

He laughed deep within his throat, his hands around her waist. “Have I died and gone to heaven?”

“No, you’re very much alive.”

The next day, Mitch sat in his office, his eyes glued to the screen in front of him as he wondered what on earth was going on. Ever since they’d opened the larger premises, Lime Tree’s farm gate store had enjoyed a string of four- and five-star reviews. But as he scrolled through the latest dozen or so, they were all one star, each a variation on the others. Rude staff, overpriced produce wilting on the shelves, out-of-date eggs and milk, stale ciabatta.

Weeks ago, when several of the grapefruit trees were stripped bare, Mitch had put it down to petty theft. Then they’d lost hundreds of avocados, stolen so early that there was no chance of them ever ripening. But when the complaint to the OCA had surfaced, he’d really started to worry. And now this.

“Shit!” He picked up his phone and hit Luka’s number.

“Mitch. What’s up?”

“What’s the name of that private detective you play water polo with?”

“David Wong. Why?”

“Lime Tree Hill is under attack.”

37

MOOT POINT

With Mitchaway at his usual Wednesday night poker game, Tayla pulled into the retirement complex for a dinner date with her dad while her mother played bridge.

Jean greeted her with a warm hug and a smile when she walked into the room.

“Where’s Dad? I just called in to see what he felt like for dinner.”

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