* * *
The planters came the day before school started. Both he and Seth helped them till the field and plant the first crop of lettuce. But today, with Seth gone, he was at loose ends, so Joe headed to the Eastside Co-op, a farm market he was planning to join once he had a crop. He’d found this place accidentally and decided to volunteer to help out and get the lay of the land. As he drove to it, instead of lettuce on his mind, images of Scarlet bombarded him: her looping her arms around him, the feel of her body as she sidled up to him, and her sexy moans when he was inside her. The sweet scent of her lingered in his head.
He pulled onto the gravelly path next to where stands were set up under a pavilion. Exiting his truck, he took a minute to let the afternoon sun warm him, then walked inside to find Jeannie Cook, who was in charge of the set up. She was the only paid member of the group.
He saw her off to the right. “Hey, Jeannie. Nice to see you.”
“Hi, Joe.” Her dark brown eyes and equally dark hair in a pixie cut give her an impish look. But she was sharp as a tack. “You aren’t selling today, right?”
“Nope. I came to volunteer. Seth started school today and I’m kickin’ my heels.”
“Which means?”
“I’m at loose ends.”
“Then I’ll put you to work. The concrete areas in front of the farm stands need to be swept. Since we open in fifteen minutes, I’ll start at one end, you start at the other.” She handed him a broom.
“Gotcha.”
He went to the first stand on the left. As he swept the concrete, he introduced himself to the farmer behind the table and asked, “How’s the crop?” The man grew sweet corn, which was harvested in late summer.
“Hey. I’m Marcus Hill. The last of it’s still good. You get anything planted?”
“Just yesterday. Lettuce grows fast. I’ll be selling it here by the end of the month. Just a small crop this year, though.”
He went on to sweep and talk to the growers of late summer peaches and tomatoes. As he approached another stand, heavenly scents of dough and sugar filled the air. They’d recently allowed bakers and candy makers into their co-op. When he reached one, he found Jeannie there. They’d met in the middle. “This smells like heaven,” she said.
“I wholly agree.”
“Here, taste this.” The baker set out a plate of fried sugared dough for customers to sample.
Jeannie and Joe each picked a small one. The dough was deliciously warm and the sugar on the outside was sweet as all get out. “That’s the best cookie I’ve ever had.”
The woman behind the stands said, “I fully agree.” Then she introduced herself.
“I’m Joe Larson. I’m helping out a bit, but I’m coming back for bread and some more of that before I leave.”
“Pick out what you want now and I’ll save it for you.”
“I’ll do that.” He chose the sugar dough and some crusty bread then splurged on caramels that Seth liked. Then he spotted the fudge.
What’s your favorite food?
Fudge.
What kind?
Chocolate and walnuts.
He wanted to buy some for Scarlet so much he ached with it. But he’d stayed away from her since Seth came home and he wouldn’t go see her. Not even to bring her fudge.
Jeannie said, “I’m heading over to the counter to check some forms. I could use some help.”
“Right behind you.”
When they reached the counter, she clicked into something on her laptop. “I need to add new vendors like you and their products. I’m checking if they have insurance.”
When they finished up, she turned to him. “So. Would you and your son like to come over for dinner tonight? I have two boys.”
