he says quickly and dumps the milk from the small bucket into the one with the paint strainer, but then realization hits. Holy crap. Tyler is talking about us…having sex.
Don’t think about it. Don’t think about it.
Damn, I thought about it.
A strange, sexually frustrated laugh gurgles in my throat. Cripes, get it together girl. You are not here to indulge in a brief fling. Not that there is anything wrong with that; it’s just not me. But Jay here, well, he makes me want to be that girl.
“You’re right; he is a smart-ass,” I say.
“Every time he opens his mouth, manure spills out. I just need to keep him on the straight and narrow and get him through his senior year unscathed. He’s giving me a run for my money, though.” He shakes his head, but there is a deep sadness about him. “I don’t know how my father ever put up with me.”
“I’m sure you weren’t that bad. How could you be? Look at you now. You’re a good big brother.” I’ve never really had to be responsible for anyone but myself, and I admire the way Jay cares for his family. It can’t be easy on him. Does he also have a wife to take care of? Or maybe he’s still single. He’s not wearing a ring, but that doesn’t really mean anything.
“Just so you know, I never said anything to him about…” He mimics Tyler and bumps his fist together. “He likes to torture me.”
“Oh, yeah, no. You don’t strike me as the kind of guy to say something like that.” I bump my fists together, too. “You’re probably already married or engaged or taken or something.”
Subtle, Alyson, real subtle.
“I’m not any of those things with anyone and plan to keep it that way,” he says firmly. His words are a bit slow, like he’s trying to get a point across. Okay, I get it. I was wrong. It wasn’t attraction at first sight on his part, and he’s not interested in me, which is good. But not to be interested in anyone like that… This guy must have been hurt.
“Oh, I didn’t mean anything by that,” I say. “I’m not interested in… You know.” I bump my fists again and squirm a little under his scrutiny.
“Good to know.”
“Not interested at all…” I begin and try not to stare at his crotch, which is pretty much in my face. If I stuck my tongue… “…in marriage or commitment,” I add. “Nope, not for me.”
“Right. Same.”
“I just want to get this cow milked.” I pat Sidney’s side, and she moos. That’s right, Sidney, go ahead and agree with me. I am not here to sow wild oats with my neighbor or however that saying goes. Actually, I think that old adage might just apply to guys. Nevertheless, not interested at all.
Farmers are honest folk.
I glance down, pretty sure if I were wearing pants, they’d be on fire.
Chapter Six
Jay
After checking on my bees and refilling the jars of sugar water, I step into my bee barn, tug off my gloves, and remove my oversized white bee suit. I hang it on the hook as my cell pings. I pull it from my back pocket and read the message from Colin.
“Did you put your stinger in the queen next door last night?”
Jesus, he’s as bad as Tyler…and Capone. “Leave it,” I text back, and he sends me the middle finger emoji before firing me off another text.
“She’s still there then?”
“Yeah, but not for long,” I say and ignore the unease inside me.
“Tonight, Seven. Don’t be late,” he warns, and I shove my phone back into my pocket. I like his fiancée, Sara, I really do, but for a damn year now, since Colin put a ring on her finger, she’s been hinting that she’d like to see Colin and his groomsmen perform a surprise dance at the reception. I don’t dance. Ever. And this is all bullshit when I have a million other things pulling my attention. I tried to get out of it, but I’m the best man, and when it comes right down to it, I’d do anything for Colin.
I exit the bee barn, and the joy of kids squealing and playing in Alyson’s petting zoo carries in the late morning breeze as I glance out over the twenty acres of land I’m going to use for my beef cattle—once I get the barn finished. If I ever get it finished, that is. I’ve been pulled in so