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“I’ll do these later.” Ever declared, reaching out to take his plate. As she grabbed his plate her hand covered his. Both slowly met each other’s eyes. Something intangible passed between them in that moment. An intense spark of attraction making goosebumps instantly rise on his arms. Noticing her shiver and her breath hitch, he could see Ever felt it too.
Not wavering his gaze, he took the plates from her. “You cooked so I will clean.”
“Thank you.” Ever replied, stepping away from him as if processing what had just happened. “Mind if I quickly get dressed and join you back down here in about ten minutes?”
“Go ahead. I will be here waiting,” he answered, flashing her his handsome smile as he put the dishes in the farmhouse sink.
Her head spinning and her face flushing with heat, she quickly turned, rushing out of the kitchen, and up the stairs to get ready for the day ahead.
* * *
Ever quickly closed her bedroom door, resting her back against it, breathing heavily, her face hot and her body even hotter. What the hell was that?
Never had she felt such an immediate attraction to a man. Something so palpable it made her head feel light and her vision blur. When she touched his hand, the bolt that went through them was unquestionably electric. What am I doing? Ever closed her eyes to gather her thoughts and inhaled a shaky breath. “Ben is my farmhand.” She whispered softly to herself, trying to stop the flutter of butterflies in her belly. “He is here to work for me,” she went on, trying to remind herself of this fact. “I can’t get involved.” Softening her shoulders, she sighed. But he is so sexy, she mused, biting her bottom lip. I am in so much trouble.
Taking a deep steading breath, she quickly removed her pajamas then slipped on a pair of worn boyfriend jeans and a grey form fitted long sleeve t-shirt. Grabbing her hairbrush, she brushed out her long locks and fashioned them into a messy ponytail. Slipping into the hallway, she made her way to the bathroom to freshen up, brush her teeth, and smoothed on some moisturizer. She looked up into the bathroom mirror and smiled, happy with what she saw. She never had been a glamour girl. Never felt the need to spend her commissions on fancy makeup. Moisturizer, ChapStick and when going out a touch of mascara was all she needed. Low maintenance and natural. Exactly the way she liked it.
Letting out another nervous exhale, she descended the stairs and made her way into the kitchen, where Ben was putting away the last of the dishes, a towel draped over his broad shoulder. Damn, how does he make that look so good? Turning her way, he caught sight of her and inadvertently looked her up and down, his eyes flashing with approval.
Ben met her eyes as a faint blush appeared on his cheeks. Clearing his throat, he glanced away to disguise his obvious appraisal.
Was he blushing? She grinned at the realization that she was affecting him as much as he was affecting her. And if she was being honest with herself, she liked it. She liked it a lot.
Slipping on a pair of her father’s work boots, sitting by the back door and large work jacket, Ever laughed, realizing how ridiculous she looked swimming in her father’s clothes.
“Why don’t we go to the farm supply store later today and get you boots and a jacket that fit?” Ben suggested with a laugh, taking her in.
Ever nodded as she opened the storm door and trudged her way across the deck to the stairs and down to the gravel path leading to the barn, Ben following. They strode side by side across the yard toward the big red hip roof barn.
“Big Red!” she exclaimed.
Ben smiled and slid the rolling barn door open, revealing a long aisleway flagged by 12 box stalls, six on each side. The tall ceiling and wood rafters made a nice contrast from the metal of the box stall gates. At the back of the barn was a feed room, tack room and barn office. As they walked down the barn aisle, a little tabby barn kitten scampered past them, and Ben reached down to scoop it up. Ever smiled, taking in this giant of a man as he held the little kitten in his huge hands, petting it gently. Something about this huge man holding something so vulnerable and tiny made her chest warm. He met her eyes with a melting gaze and put the kitten into her hands. It purred, looking up at her with its sweet face and meowed. They both smiled and Ever set it down gently, letting it scamper away.
They continued down the aisle towards the barn office and Ben unlocked the door. Piles of papers and file folders were neatly organized on the desk. The walls were covered with brightly colored ribbons, and the built-in shelves along the far wall were full of trophies from her father’s horse showing days. Having spent most of her childhood weekends at horse shows with her father, she appreciated the work that went into acquiring those accolades. Her father was well known for his cowboy prowess, and she enjoyed watching her father ride and compete.
Ben followed her perusal of the room in appreciation and offered Ever a smile. “Your father was an impressive man.”
Taking a seat across from the desk, a constrictive lump of sadness formed in her throat. She breathed in raggedly and whispered. “Yes, he was.”
Ben met her eyes, sensing her sorrow and reflected her sadness now on full display. “I am so sorry for your loss.”
Ever looked down at her hands, trying to steady herself, and let out a long-pained exhale. Meeting his sympathetic gaze, she asked, “Did he ever talk about me?” her voice breaking with the question.
“All the time.” Ben nodded, looking into her anguished eyes. She smiled back, a look of regret on her face as a rogue tear escaped, making its way down her cheek.
Ben got up and rounded the small desk, stopping next to her and crouching down beside her chair. He reached over and tenderly brushed the single tear from her cheek with his calloused thumb, making her instantly feel comforted. She met his eyes again, so full of compassion and she offered him an appreciative smile.
“I think I just needed to hear that. We had not talked for so long. Somehow, I wondered if he forgot about me,” she confessed, letting out a sigh.
Ben shook his head and smiled kindly. “Hardin was a man of few words and although he never said much, I could tell he had a lot of regrets.”
Ever searched his eyes at his reassuring comment and gave him a sad smile. “Thank you.”
Ben rose to his feet and put his hand out to Ever. “Ready to feed the animals?” he asked.
Ever looked up at this gentle giant of a man feeling a sense of comfort enrobe her, making her feel protected and safe. She took his offered hand and rose to her feet as they exited the office together.
* * *
