Page 3 of The Inn

Don’t get me wrong, he isn’t my type. I doubt he’ll be joining me for an impromptu photo shoot anytime soon. But there’s a feeling of security radiating from his rough edges. The man is as grounded as they come and that is captivating.

“Be more careful.” Jameson breaks our stare. He reaches down and lifts the offending potted plant, moving it out of the way. If my life was a rom-com, Jameson’s biceps would definitely make the movie poster. “I’ll be back in a half hour so we can get this over with, and don’t be late CC.”

“It’s Summer.”

“I know what your name is, but I can’t see past the um…cottage-coreof it all. So until you put on something reasonable, you’re CC to me.” He is words are a bark as he turns and heads down the path.

The air around us crackles with energy that pulls me closer to him like a magnet. I make a point of ignoring my better judgment which is screaming for me to stay away.

“What’s your problem?” I blurt again and this time it’s got to be the world's least professional question ever asked by any journalist.

Jameson turns, taking two massive steps back toward me. “I’ll be honest with you CC, I’m not crazy about this interview. I like my alone time and I’m not interested in having our business shared for the world to see. I live in the country for a reason and I don’t give two shits what people think of me, my family, or Findlay Farms. I don’t like getting to know people.” His voice sends goosebumps rippling across my arms.

“Understood, but it means the world to your mother and you’re willing to do it for her. It’s all very sweet of you. But I’ll have you know that believe it or not, being here wasn’t my first choice either. So what do you say we make this as quick as possible? I will ask you what I need to learn about life out here on the Findlay Farms that will have Maisie jumping for joy. All you need to do is answer my questions and then I’ll be out of your hair and back to my real clothing.”

A knowing smirk plays at the corners of Jameson's lips and I’m mesmerized. It’s like he's daring me to try and find out what lies beneath his composed exterior. There is something undeniably sexy about him. I battle against myself, desperately trying to convince myself to look away from his too-good-to-be-true body.

“Okay, you’ve got twenty-two hours and forty-eight minutes left. But there won’t be any shame in you deciding that you want to leave before then if the work gets too farm-like for you.”

“That won’t be necessary, I love hard work.” I meet his scowl with my most enchanting smile.

“Whatever you say, CC.”

All of a sudden, I’m not interested in speeding through this final stateside assignment. Instead, I’m utterly fascinated. Jameson is a contradiction. He’s equal parts unsettling and pure comfort. He’s grumpy and yet somehow charming enough that my cheeks are flushing with heat. The tension has me craving more.

CHAPTER2

JAMESON

I stand outsidethe guest house waiting for CC and I’m already pissed off. My mother's wild, nonsensical ideas never cease to amaze me. It’s times like this I wish my father were still alive. He’d be the voice of reason. But managing Mom is one of the many things that have fallen into my hands. So I’m here dealing with the fact that Mom wants to invite the whole world into our business. I was against it right from the start. That’s beforeshewalked onto our property.

CC is a ridiculously infuriating woman. No matter what I throw at her, she seems determined to fire right back at me with all her sweet, innocent, charm. Not to mention the way she looks. She’s too pretty for all that sass and it’s driving me crazy. I can’t keep my eyes off her. With her wild hair and her thick curves all in the right places, it’s nearly impossible to keep my mind off of all the things I’d like to do to her. Entertaining her is the last thing I need.

The way she fell into my arms with those soft, round edges made my dick twitch. She looks innocent and smells like sunshine. That’s how I know she’s totally wrong for me. I can’t fall for her, or anyone for that matter. So seeing her, with her full lips and her sexy pout is pure torture. Now I’ve got twenty-two hours and eighteen minutes left to escort a woodland fairy and her massive tits around our property.

I don’t see why some of my siblings couldn’t have stepped up for the task. My sister Olivia is out, of course, because who knows where the hell she is these days. But Dakota or Archie, they live on this property too. It’d be nice to see them take the initiative for once.

Well, maybe not Dakota. She’s quiet and too shy to want to sit down for this sort of thing. Besides, I have the feeling CC might eat her alive. Come to think of it, I can imagine Dakota handing over bank statements by the end of a single interview. That might not work.

But Archie… My mind plays out what my little brother might think of a woman like CC. It makes my stomach swirl. Archie would be all too pleased to spend time alone with her. He’d flash his good guy smile at her and win her over with some kind of anecdote about farm life even though the man hasn’t baled hay in years. On second thought, I don’t like the idea. She can’t meet Archie either. I guess I am the only man for the job.

It’s nearly ten minutes past our meeting time when CC finally saunters out of the inn. When she does, my breath catches in my throat. All I can think is that she is worth the wait. With the morning sun glowing behind her, CC looks like something out of a damn dream. I hate that about her.

She’s changed into an outfit that is somehow worse than the last one. This one’s got a pair of blue jeans that hug her ass and make it impossible to look away. They are tucked into cowboy boots that have clearly never seen mud in their lives. Her button-down shirt has tiny pink and brown flowers that crisscross across her chest and it’s tied in a bow just above her navel. Her tits are begging to be set free and without my permission, my mind conjures up an image of me ripping those buttons open and slipping a pert nipple into my mouth. I have got to get laid, and not by little miss woodland fairy.

“Sorry about the delay. I was trying on my new, totally farm-appropriate footwear.” She steps close to me and her smile makes my heart rate tick up. “What do you normally do first?”

“Sweetheart, my day starts at four in the morning. It’s already lunchtime.” I turn and walk away, she matches my stride. “We’re going to the fields. I’ve got to take care of some downed boards out in Salty’s pen. Our first stop is the supply shed.”

“Excellent.” Summer pulls her phone out of her pocket and talks into it as we walk. She makes notes about everything we pass and I admit to finding it a bit fascinating to see the farm through her eyes.

When we reach the shed, she turns to me.“So Salty is a goat and he’s named after you I assume?” She bites back a laugh and I like the way it sounds.

“Ha, I’m not salty, I just like my alone time. Salty isn’t a goat, he’s Mom’s horse. We’ll need nails and a hammer.” I grab my tool belt and pull it around my waist.

I look just in time to see CC holding a hammer and attempting to lift an entire five-gallon bucket overflowing with nails. She looks adorable and I roll my eyes. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Farm work.”

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