Page 31 of Love Off-Limits
Another step. “Will you go back to Charleston?”
“No,” he answered quickly. “Definitely not. Not after how I left.”
“Burned a few bridges?”
He shook his head. “Nothing like that. But I did make a pretty big deal about wanting to do something on my own, something different. About having a job where Icoulddo something different.”
I nodded my understanding. “I’m really sorry, Tyler.”
He shrugged and offered me a conciliatory smile. “I know. It’s not your fault. I heard what I wanted to hear, you know? I should have called and clarified before showing up like this. But I just stopped thinking. All I wanted was to...” He sighed one more time. “Escape.”
An idea suddenly sprouted in the back of my mind. Tyler probably wouldn’t go for it.
I bit my bottom lip. If he did, I’d be in trouble. Because having him around the farm on a regular basis wouldnothelp my focus. And yet, I couldn’t stop myself from asking.
“Um, how do you feel about farm work?”
Chapter Nine
Olivia
Tyler raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“Farm work. Manual labor. Mucking goat stalls. Shoveling pig manure. Feeding chickens. Picking produce. Hauling water. That sort of thing.”
“I maybe need some context before I answer that question,” Tyler said.
I took a deep breath, my head warring with my heart. The idea of Tyler working on the farm, of seeing him every day, set a low fire burning in my gut even as my better judgment insisted that Tyler in close proximity wasnota good idea. I really couldn’t afford such a delicious distraction.
But there was no backing out now. “We have summer staff. Farmhands. They live on-site, in a bunkhouse out past the barn. It’s college students, mostly. It only pays fifteen an hour, which I know is nothing compared to what you’re used to, but your housing and meals are included. And your evenings and weekends are free. Maybe you could use that time to build a website. Work on a portfolio that I could share with potential clients.”
Indecision was clear in his eyes, but there was also a spark there—something that made me think Tyler was probably going to say yes.
“I don’t really have any experience working on a farm.” He glanced down at his wardrobe. “Or the clothes for it.”
I shrugged. “Experience doesn’t matter. We get greenies every summer. Kelly, our farm manager, does a great job of training everyone. As for your wardrobe, there’s a Feed ’n Seed right down the road. They have work boots and Carhartt everything. We provide t-shirts for you to wear when you’re working, so it wouldn’t take much to get you everything you’d need.”
Did I sound desperate? Like I was trying to convince him? I took a step backward. “I mean, I totally get it if you don’t want to. After how you’re used to living—”
“I’ll do it,” Tyler said abruptly, cutting me off.
I swallowed, surprised. “You will?”
He smirked and lifted his shoulders. “It’s not exactly like my inbox is bursting with other options.” He leaned forward just slightly. Or maybe I imagined the leaning. “Plus, I like it here. The views are spectacular.”
No, there wasdefiniteleaning.
A blush crept up my cheeks. “Great,” I said, my voice cracking.
I held out my hand, hoping Tyler didn’t notice the way it trembled. “Welcome to Stonebrook Farm.”
He slipped his hand into my hand, his large palm dwarfing mine. Which was saying something since I wasn’t exactly petite. I’d always joked with my brothers that my main requirement for marriage was finding someone whose hands were bigger than mine. I could check that box off my imaginary list. I’d also wanted someone who knew how to sing andwasn’ta vegetarian. Stonebrook didn’t raise cattle, but we did raise pigs, so I had a strong appreciation for a breakfast spread that included eggs, grits, and fresh bacon. I supposed I could let that one go if I had to—just so long as no one stoppedmefrom enjoying bacon—but I wasn’t compromising on the bigger hands thing.
Tingles shot up my arm as Tyler continued to hold my hand, his warm brown eyes locked on mine. My eyes dropped to his lips, and I pressed mine together, remembering vividly what he tasted like, how he’d felt under my touch.
Ohhh,this was not good. I dropped his hand and took a step back. “So I can take you to our HR manager right now, and he’ll process all your hiring paperwork and turn you over to Kelly. She’ll show you out to the bunk house and get you settled.”
He nodded. “Okay,” he said, but he made no move to actuallymove.He just stood there, holding me captive with an expression that told me he was remembering our kisses just as vividly as I was.
