And then I remember the way his eyes took me in when I offered him a ride. My dickstillhasn’t fully deflated.
But it’s time to push that thought aside and focus on getting this photoshoot done. I’m intrigued to see if the other participant is anyone I know.
CHAPTER 02: CASEY
I sag against my front door as soon as it’s closed behind me. I only have twenty minutes before I need to meet that photographer down in the pumpkin field, but I need to pull myself together before I take another step.
My sexuality didn’t really play a role in my decision to trade New York for Virginia. The need to get out of the rat race, the traffic, and the city is what drove me down here with a desire to replace my suits with boots.
I don’t regret it. In fact, I love it, but it only took the month I’ve been here to realize finding love again might be a bigger challenge than I’d originally thought.
In New York, there are a plethora of options for gay bars and pride events, and you meet a queer person daily, whether it’s your barista or your boss.
Here? Not so much.
And that’s a damn shame because Mason is proof that manual labor on a farm does a body good, and fuck was his body good. The sleeves of hisbutton-down were just tight enough to reveal the bulk of his biceps, and when he leaned forward, practically falling into the engine of the tractor, his ass was in my face…perfect, round, and tight.
My cock twitches in my jeans, and I’m abruptly reminded I need to change mental courses before I show up to this photoshoot with a hard-on and allow everyone to get the wrong idea.
I really don’t have the time to spare, but I jump in the shower, washing off the dirt and grime I’d accumulated from working. I’d been coming back from the far field after checking on the hay bales when my tractor gave out.
With my hair still wet, I slip into a fresh white T-shirt, my thin silver chain now visible against my skin in the V-neck. I throw on a pair of dark, stone-washed jeans, my Aether boots, and shrug into a green and brown flannel before grabbing my favorite hat.
With three minutes to go, I give myself one last look in the mirror and run my fingers through my hair, not wanting to look quite so polished. I’m digging the stubble on my face, so I leave it. The world of finance is so clean-cut that my style always reflected that, and I never allowed myself to grow any kind of facial hair—until now. It definitely makes me look every bit of my thirty-three years, but I’m okay with that.
It’s just about the golden hour, the requested time of the shoot, as I close my front door and hop onto my four-wheeler, taking off for the pumpkin field. In October, the sun sets earlier in the day, so it feels much later than it actually is.
The drive is short, but I get to pass through the Christmas trees on my way. The pine boughs whip me as I ride, coating me in their fragrance.
Owning this farm is a dream come true. It’s separated into four main areas, each one curating something different for each season. Spring’s quadrant boasts beautiful gardens, a hedge maze, and fountains. Summer’s corner is full of raised beds and trellises for all the climbing vegetables. There are also several tables lined up under an awning, and I can’t wait to host my first farmer’s market next year. I’m currently driving through Winter’s section. The choose-and-cut hillside of fresh pines is one of my favorite places. I’m having work done on the barn in this section to turn it into a hot chocolate shack and Christmas wonderland. Despite needing a change from my previous life, I’ll miss Christmas in New York and want to cultivate a piece of that magic here.
Finally, I arrive in Autumn’s domain. Each quadrant is roughly twenty acres, and this one is rolling hills of bright orange pumpkins as far asthe eye can see. Since it’s early October, this section is in full swing with school field-trippers, families creating memories, and little ones choosing pumpkins as big as themselves.
I smile as I survey what I’ve created so far.
I had the idea for the Four Seasons Farm before I purchased this place. Piggybacking off the name of a bougie brand and giving it my flair made me quite happy. After closing on the farm, I hired an incredible team of landscapers and agriculturalists who got the Christmas trees in the ground as well as the pumpkin seeds. I knew I’d need them done first. Seeing the fruits of their labor and my planning is overwhelming in the best kind of way.
As I pull up to the barn in this section, I spot Sadie easily because she’s clicking away at a small display of pumpkins she’s set up. The way she keeps pulling her eye away from the camera to look at the display screen makes me think she’s checking the lighting.
I cut my engine and hop off, making my way to her. She’s so in the zone, she doesn’t even hear me approach.
“You must be Sadie,” I say, causing her to jump.
“Oh!” she gasps, placing her free hand over her heart. “Hi.”
“My apologies. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
She smiles widely. “It’s all right. These shoots sometimes make my nerves jump, too, even though I know all the details.”
I smile, looking around for the other person. I know he’s got to be here somewhere. “So, you, uh, were able to track down another participant?” I ask.
“You would probably be shocked by the number of applicants I had in this town,” she says.
“Is that so?”
“Mhm,” she hums. “I had a hard time narrowing it down, but as soon as I saw his application, I knew who I was choosing. I’m hoping this shoot will open doors for more than just one connection, though, because it seems like there’s quite the community here that could really flourish if someone takes the first step.”
I think about her words, my traitorous mind going straight to Mason.
