Page 34 of More Than Falling in Love

I nod.“But I’m not sure I’ll fit on your knee.”

He grins.“But one day I’ll be big like you.”

For years, I regretted ever meeting Mason’s mom.But he wouldn’t be here otherwise.Now I just regret the wound that prevents me from letting anyone else in.Because today, it stings more than usual.Not that it would make much of a difference.Poppy lives about two thousand miles away.But I’ll enjoy the friendship and flirting.

In the years since my wife walked out, I haven’t wanted to be near a woman.Until now.But I can’t expect the pattern to change, and with Mason around, I can’t risk getting my heart broken and struggling with despair.

Mason is telling her about the new calves as we approach the gate.

Poppy nudges my shoulder and knits her brows.“You okay?”

If she can read my emotions, we might have a problem.“Yep.”

The sun hasn’t yet crested the horizon when we roll into the pasture, but a faint light is starting to chase away the darkness.

Once we’re at the gate, I stop the tractor and tap Poppy’s hip.“We need to open it up, then pull through.”

Poppy stands.“I can do that.”

Mason climbs over me.“That’s my job.”In a second, he’s out of the cab and messing with the lock.

As I shift into gear, she returns to my knee, and I wrap an arm around her waist.“It’s a bit bumpy going through the gate.Lots of ruts from all the traffic.”

As Mason swings the gate open, she smiles.“I’m ready.”

We bump our way into the pasture, and Mason closes the gate.

“I’ll have you help Mason on the trailer if that’s okay.”

“Absolutely.”She puts on her gloves.“Just tell me what to do.”

The cab is closing in, feeling smaller by the second.“First we need to climb out.”

“Oh, right.”She laughs, and that flutter is back in my chest.

Mason jumps onto the trailer.“Dad snips all the strings on the bales; then I toss it out as he drives through the field.You can help me toss it to the cows.”

Cattle are already making their way over.The sound of the tractor signals food, and these gals love the hay.So I work quickly, slicing through the strings with my pocketknife.One day, this will be Mason’s job, but I’m not ready to hand over a knife.Not yet.

I climb back into the cab, which feels roomy now that I’m the only one in here.

When Mason flashes a thumbs-up, I inch the tractor through the field, and they toss hay.When the last bits are thrown out, I head toward the water tank.

“My dad told me stories of how he used to work on a ranch in the summers when he visited this area.And now I get why he loved it.This is a fun adventure for this city girl.”She shakes her head, straw bits falling out of her hair.“What’s next?”

“We make sure the water is clean and that the goldfish aren’t dead.”Mason races toward the tank.

Poppy looks at me.“Goldfish?”

“It’s something we’re trying.They are supposed to keep the water clean, and so far, it’s working.”I slow my pace so that she doesn’t have to run to keep up with my long stride.“Thanks for helping.”

“Thanks for letting me.I know I’m slowing things down.”

I shrug.“It’s all good.”

She hurries past me, and just before she sinks her boot in a cow pie, I call out, “Flutter, look out.”

She spins around to face me but continues backward.“For what?”

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