He glances up and rolls a piece of hay between his teeth.
“Morning, Alyson.”
“Did you… Ah.” I look around the orchard, spot the llamas in the distance. “Did you take care of the animals?”
“Beck helped. He’s taking Sid to her pasture.” He gestures with a nod. “You should probably get another cow. I think Sid is lonely. Cows are sensitive creatures, you know.”
“No, I didn’t know.” I shade the sun from my eyes. “Well, Jay did say something about them being social.”
“Not right for her to be in the field without companionship all day.” He makes a tsking sound, like he’s older and wiser than his mere seventeen years. “Not right for cows, not right for people, either.”
Is he getting at something else here? Does he know how alone I feel, how none of my friends are even bothering to reach out? Of course he doesn’t, and he doesn’t need to hear the poor little rich girl’s sob story. I’m a joke to these people, and I know it. They’re taking care of my animals because they don’t think I can properly care for them and are likely tired of waiting until I find someone who can. Dammit, I plan to prove them all wrong. I stare out into the orchard, the fresh scent of hay in the air.
“Are you going to think about getting a friend?” Tyler says. “Or even a boyfriend?”
“What?” I ask, my gaze jerking to his.
“Sidney, she needs a friend,” he says with a nod. “What did you think I meant?”
“That. I thought you meant that,” I say, but he’s smirking, like he knows how close Jay and I came to kissing last night. Maybe Jay told him. “But I need to master taking care of one first. I can’t believe I slept in this morning.” That’s when it hits me. “Wait, I need to milk her.”
He rolls the hay around with his tongue. “Already done.”
“Really, thank you, Tyler. I promise not to sleep in again.” I tap the clothes in my hand. “And these are going to save me today.”
“Hard to believe you slept through Cluck’s crowing. Up late, were you?”
“Something like that.” I hold my phone up and try to get a signal as he offers me a crooked grin. The kid is too astute for his own good.
“And don’t thank me. Thank Jay. I only helped with the feedings. I had nothing to do with the clothes you’re holding.”
My heart warms as I look around. “Do you know where he is?”
“Probably still stewing about the fireworks.”
“So, it was you?”
“Yeah, my bro needs to lighten the fuck up. We were just blowing off some steam, so to speak. Everyone needs to blow off a bit of steam sometime, you know.”
“You’re not wrong, and Jay just worries about you. He cares.” My throat tightens. It’s so nice that they all have each other.
“Whatever. Can I see your phone?” he asks, and I hand it to him. Maybe he knows the trick to getting a signal out here.
He runs his finger over the screen and slides off the wooden fence as he hands it back.
“What did you do?”
“Put Jay’s digits in there. In case you need anything, you know.” He sucks on the strand of hay for a moment then says, “Yeah, it’s been a long time since Jay’s gotten rid of all that pent-up energy. He’s been working too hard and playing too little ever since—”
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Jay asks, cutting him off. I turn to see him, and his jaw is set hard, his eyes narrowed in on his brother. His clothes are a rumpled mess, like he slept in them last night. Did he toss and turn as much as I had?
“Yes, Dad,” Tyler says and pushes up from the fence. He gives me a wink. “See you around, pretty lady.”
He disappears, and Jay looks to the sky, like he’s tossing up a silent prayer. “It’s karma,” he says.
“It’ll get you every time,” I respond, his heat and energy reaching out to me, awakening my body all over again. God, what is it about this guy? He’s tall, rough, and rugged. Sexy as hell. At every turn I get caught in his gravitational pull.
“Yeah, then what did you do to end up at an apple orchard?” he asks, a grin on his face, making him look hotter than ever.
I plant one hand on my hips and shake my head. “Still