Page 75 of Tempting Promises
“Get dressed, I’m going to stall. Slip out the back door and I’ll let you back in when he leaves. He likes to come in and talk.”
I slip out of the bed, throw my shorts on, and Charlotte is already getting dressed.
“You can’t let him see me.”
He knocks on my window and she drops to the floor. “The curtains are closed, he can’t see.”
She glares at me. “Go! I’ll hide out back.”
I fight back a laugh and head out to the main room, closing the bedroom door behind me.
“Hey, Micah,” I say, stepping out onto the front deck. Fuck it’s cold. I should’ve grabbed a sweatshirt.
“Hey, I got your text, went to the barn at five—like you said—but you’re sleeping in?”
“I didn’t get much sleep, I fell asleep about an hour ago, sorry about that. You head to the barn, and I’ll be there after I get dressed.”
I’m really hoping Charlotte got out the back because I’m freezing my balls off here. “Dude, why are you out here in shorts?”
Because Charlotte Sullivan was naked in bed when you woke us up.
“You woke me up, I just wanted to see what was wrong.”
“Well, let’s go in the damn house, you get dressed and we can discuss what you wanted to go over.”
This is not exactly how I planned for this to go, but I’m really fucking hoping Charlotte snuck out the back and has a way to get back home that doesn’t involve her ATV.
I clear my throat and head in the house. The bedroom door is open and she’s not in the living room, which means the coast should be clear and now I have a reason to go to her tonight to discuss what the fuck last night was.
eighteen
CHARLOTTE
Carson Knight has to be the most terrifying man I’ve ever met. Ever. He’s maybe five years older than me, but he’s tall, dark, intimidating, and he’s said maybe a total of ten words in the hour that he’s been touring the facility with me.
“Do you have any questions?” I ask, as we’re nearing the end of what was a very awkward tour.
“You’ve answered most. My sister was very impressed with the farm, and I agree, there are some great things you’re doing here,” he says and I finally feel like I can breathe.
“Thank you.”
“How many full-time workers are you employing right now?”
Yeah, I’m not sure how to answer this, but I’m going to heed my grandpa’s advice and always speak the truth.
“I’d love to tell you I have ten full-time employees right now, but I can’t do that. This farm operated at its top with ten, and that’s what I wish I had. However, the last two years have been incredibly hard on this farm. I bought my sister out, and then when we made the farm one hundred percent organic, it depleted more of my funds. I’ve had to make hard decisions, but I’m completely positive even with my small staff, we’re able to fulfill this contract without issue.”
Most of that last part is true. I’m going to have to work myself to death, and then hopefully have enough money to revive the farm and hire staff.
“I see,” Carson says, nodding slowly. “Not many people are that honest, most would lie in your situation.”
“That’s not how I was raised.”
He smiles, just the corners of his lips tip up. “Neither was I, which is why I’ll tell you that one of the things I’ll need assurance on is that you can maintain the production level promised.”
“My word is all I have to assure you at this point.”
“Yes, it’s really all we have,” he says, now looking around the barn. “You know that there are other farms vying for the same contract?”
