milk and butter on the counter.
“I’m Lucia,” I tell him.
“And you’re a milkmaid?”
I smile. “Something like that.” We finish unloading the crate and I press my palms together. “I work for Nettle Bank Farm, it’s about twenty minutes outside of town.”
“I know what place you mean. Beautiful out there. There’s a tree about a mile from that property.”
I nod, smiling. “That massive oak at mile marker thirteen?”
He grins. “You know the one then.”
“I love that tree. I always thought it would be the perfect tree for a swing.”
“I’ve thought the same thing.” He’s about to say more, but the line cook hollers at us.
“You two, out of my kitchen. Go flirt on the sidewalk.”
My cheeks turn hot, but Logan simply takes the crate from the counter before pushing open the kitchen door. “Come on,” he says. “You heard the man. We gotta get outside so I can ask you out.”
Chapter Three
Logan
Everything about Lucia interests me. The way the freckles fall over the bridge of her nose. The way her cheeks turn pink. The way her honey blonde hair falls to her waist, and the way her overalls hug her hips.
“Come out to dinner with me,” I say. “Tonight.”
We’re standing outside Hot Spot, she’s leaning against a turquoise, vintage pick-up truck, looking like she was made to live in a field of sunflowers.
“Really?” She laughs softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Squinting as the sun hits her face. I step closer, blocking it so I can see her better. “I just don’t think I’m your type is all.”
I run a hand over my jaw. I’m guessing that’s on account of my age, but she keeps talking, clarifying.
“Like you said, I’m a milkmaid. And you’re…” She waves her hand in the air, at me, as if that explains anything. “You’re a grown up. Who wears a tie. I’m a part-time farm hand.”
I smile, liking her honesty. Only thing is, she has it all wrong. “But we like the same oak tree. That counts for something, surely? At least one dinner.”
She bites her bottom lip. “Okay. But I don’t get off until six. And then I have to shower and change. I live at the farm so I’d have to drive back to town, and—”
“I can come get you.”
“Yeah?” She asks it like it’s a question. It’s not.
“Seven o’clock, I’ll be at Nettle Bank Farm.”
She hesitates. “All right.”
“You want to do this, right? You can say no.”
She shakes her head. “Oh, I want to. I mean, you’re just so incredibly handsome is all. I was surprised.”
I chuckle, stepping closer. Her back’s against the truck, and I pin her in. “I’m glad you find me attractive because Lucia, I find you enchanting.”
Chapter Four
Lucia
Enchanting.
He called me enchanting.
In all twenty-two years of my life, never has a man called me that.
But I find myself thinking about it the rest of the afternoon. On my drive back to the farm, I stop at my sister-in-law’s pizzeria, Sugar and Slice, to say hi, and tell her about this unexpected turn of events.
“So who is he?” she asks, running her hand over her very round baby bump. She is due any day now.
“Logan Barton. I don’t know anything else about him, actually. He has these incredible eyes though, and—”
She cuts me off. “Logan Barton? Like, Kourtney and Billy’s dad, Logan Barton?”
“Wait, what?” I take a slice of pizza from the grab and go rack, folding it in half and taking a delicious bite.
“Yeah, that’s their dad. Does he have dark hair, clear blue eyes? Tall, fit? Old?” she asks, emphasizing the last word.
“Old?” I frown. “He’s not old. He looks amazing and... Oh. Wait. He’s like, their father?”
Mirabella snorts. “Yeah. He’s like forty.”
I shrug. “So? He’s hot.”
“He owns his company. He’s massively well-off. Guess he has a big house and everything.”
“I don’t care about all that,” I say, waving my hand. “The interesting thing is that he asked me out. And yes, he is probably way out of my league. He was so… put together… but I haven’t gone out on a date in forever. And he made me all dizzy. In a good way.”
“You sound all lovey-dovey after one conversation,” she says, laughing. “But I know you, Lucia. You want a big old farm in the middle of nowhere and a gaggle of babies and fifteen goats. Logan is like, corporate. And besides, his kids are grown. You’re in two totally opposite places in life.”
I twist my lips, trying not to get in a fight.