“I hope those fit,” Jay says, pulling my thoughts back as he gestures to the clothes in my hand. “I had to run to town this morning.” He shrugs like it’s nothing, but it’s not nothing to me.
“Thank you. That was sweet of you, and I’m sure they’ll fit. They’re my size,” I say. Well, except the panties, but that’s best left unsaid.
“The underwear,” he says. “Trader Tim only stocks one size fits all.”
Or not.
Dear ground, please open up and swallow me whole.
He shrugs, a grin playing with his mouth. “I get they’re probably a bit big on you.”
“You think?”
“Well, I did kind of see you in your panties a couple times.”
“Right, well, thank you,” I say, as warmth invades my cheeks. “I wasn’t going to have time to get anything new before opening the market.”
“I figured as much.” He kicks at the dirt and rakes his hands through his hair. “About last night…” he begins, and I swallow. Is he going to suggest we pick up where we left off? A little harmless hookup? “We probably shouldn’t have—”
Guess not.
“You’re right,” I say. “It was a mistake.” I give a very unladylike snort, and he angles his head, his brow furrowed as he studies me. “There’s definitely something in the water here. I don’t usually go around kissing strangers.”
Stop rambling, Alyson.
“Are you saying you go around kissing people who aren’t strangers?”
“Yeah, I make out with friends all the time.”
“I guess I should be careful then. Yesterday, you declared us friends.”
“We’re neighbors,” I say. “I don’t even know you, and I’ll definitely pay for all this stuff. Just let me know. I have cash, or I can e-transfer the money. Wait, do you have an account so it can be done?”
He stares at me. “You’re in Canada, not Siberia, although I’m pretty sure they have e-transfer there, too.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to suggest—”
“It’s fine.” He shoves his hands into his pockets. “Since I was responsible for ruining your clothes with cold, salty water, we’ll call it even.”
“It wasn’t really your fault,” I say.
The sound of wheels crunching on my gravel driveway reach my ears, and I almost breathe a sigh of relief, thankful for the distraction.
I look to my long driveway and spot an SUV. “I’d better go. Customers.”
“Yeah. You, ah, have a little something…” He reaches for me, and I flinch. He jerks his hand back. “Sorry.” He touches his cheek. “On your face.”
I brush my face, and a bug falls. “Ohmigod. What the hell was that? It wasn’t a tick, was it?”
“Just a small beetle.”
I dance around and brush my arms, doing a good job of mimicking hot bacon sizzling in a pan. “I hate bugs.”
“I can tell.” He chuckles.
“Are there any more?”
Jay touches my shoulders to still me, and the warmth of his hands trickles all the way to the stupid needy spot between my legs. Alrighty then. A car door slams, and I work to calm myself down in more ways than one.
“I’ll see you around,” he says but doesn’t make a move to go. Neither do I. His ridiculous gravitational pull won’t allow me to step away.
“Thanks again for the clothes and help today,” I say, stalling.
“Yup.”
My phone pings, surprising me. “I’d… I’d better go.”
“Yup,” he says again.
I force my legs to move and glance at my phone as I step around him, hoping it’s not dear old Dad again.
Lucy: You would not believe who Nolan made out with last night.
I stare at the text from Lucy. Well, hello to you, too, and oh yes, I made it here safely and things are going great. Oh, and my neighbor, he’s hot as hell, and we nearly kissed.
But I don’t say any of that.
Who? I text back.
Lucy: Brittany the skank. We are so done.
Nolan is her boyfriend. I always did think he was kind of a jerk. I’m sorry, I text back.
Lucy: How’s the farm?
Terrifying. Overwhelming. I’m so tired, I could go narcoleptic at any minute. Great, I type. Beautiful here.
Lucy: When are you coming home? I miss my bestie.
I snort. Now that Nolan is out of the picture and you’re on the prowl again. But I don’t say that. Instead, I text, Not for a while.
Lucy: I still can’t believe you went there in the first place.
It’s not so bad, I text, realizing that despite it all, I actually mean it.
Lucy: Maybe I should come visit. Get away from here for a bit.