going to love his astonishment when I prove him and everyone else wrong—including myself—and stay for at least a month. “I realize you think I don’t belong here.”
“Do you think you do?”
I glance around, and my shoulders sag. I might not belong here, but here is where I plan to stay. At least for the next thirty days. I’ll have to figure out life after that. But for now…
Reading my defeated body language, Jay snaps his fingers. “Listen, I know a buyer. He’ll take the farm off your hands like this, and you can go back to New York and do whatever it is you do.”
“A man from down yonder,” I say, using Charlie Miller’s words. “He stopped by earlier and offered me a number already.”
He frowns at me. “Charlie was at your door already?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Stay away from him. He’s not a good guy.”
“He seemed fine.” I turn my attention elsewhere, wanting to change the subject. “There are a lot of animals on this farm. I take it you’ve been caring for them.”
“With the help of my brothers.”
“I really appreciate it.”
An SUV pulls into the driveway, the tires crunching on the gravel, and we both turn.
“Looks like you have your first customers. Jack always opened the market on the first Saturday of July.”
“And of course, that would be today,” I say. “My day is getting better and better.”
“I stocked it last week. I wanted to get things ready for the new owner.”
“I didn’t know Uncle Jack, but I’m glad he had people he could count on. Thank you for that.”
One shoulder rolls, like he’s shrugging off the compliment, and I get the sense he doesn’t like the praise. “Customer,” he reminds me with a nod of his head.
“I guess I should open it up then?”
“You don’t have to.”
“There are customers, and I might as well make myself useful while I’m still here, right?” I purse my lips and steal a glance at the closed double barn doors. “Um, do you know where the key is?”
“Your uncle kept one in the house, but honestly, he never locked the doors to the market or the main house.”
My jaw drops. “You’ve got to be kidding me?”
He laughs. “You’re in rural Nova Scotia, Alyson. A long way from New York. Most folks don’t lock their doors.”
“I’ll be locking mine.”
“Suit yourself.” He shrugs one broad shoulder. “But I have a key; Jack gave me one in case of an emergency.”
“I’d like that back, please.” It’s not that I don’t trust him… Okay, maybe it is. I don’t trust those I don’t know. Heck, I don’t trust half the people I do know.
“It’s yours. I’ll bring it over tomorrow.” He slides another glance at the SUV as the doors yawn open. “Well, I’ll leave you to your first customers,” he says and finally holds the pie out.
Damn. Damn. Damn.
I am so screwed.
Ask him for help.
As kids pile from the car and run to the playground area, I open my mouth and shut it again. I have such a hard time asking for help. I hate exposing my weaknesses. But would anyone really expect me to suddenly operate a working farm and market with no experience? Jay here certainly wouldn’t. He just told me that.
I make a move for the pie, but he backs up an inch.
“I could do it for you,” he offers. “I mean, I’m sure you’re more than capable, but the credit card machine is ancient.”
“I wouldn’t want to put you out.”
Christ, girl, accept his offer already.
“I don’t mind putting out,” he says and when he drags his front teeth over his bottom lip, my pulse jumps. Holy… Is he still talking about helping in the market, or something else altogether?
Damned if I don’t want it to be both.
No, no, no, I don’t. I am not looking for any sort of relationship. I need to find myself before I find myself with someone else. I can’t lose focus on my goals.
“Well, if you insist.”
His soft chuckle wraps around me, and I hate it. Hate that he knows I’m vulnerable, but I appreciate his help, nonetheless.
“Thanks for the pie,” I say and step toward him, but my damn heel has a different plan for me. It sinks into the mud, and I fall forward, face-planting on the wet ground before Jay’s boots.
Well, this has been fun…
Chapter Four
Jay
After helping Alyson up from the muddy ground, I lead her inside the market and wet a few paper towels from the kitchen area so she can clean herself