AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Any idea where my mother would keep a key to the garage apartment?” he called across the small patch of lawn separating them.
Was there such a thing? Her gaze darted to the garage on the opposite side of the yard, noting it was indeed two story. And resided very close to where she worked every day.
“I… Um.” She’d had high hopes of putting more distance between them than that. “Not specifically. But there is a cabinet full of keys just inside the basement door.”
“I’ll check there.” He wandered closer to her covered retreat spot, his boots stirring the grass that needed mowing. “And for what it’s worth, my grandfather is a hard sell for a roommate.”
“Unusual behavior for a grandparent.” She found it tough to scavenge all the prickly defensiveness she’d felt earlier around him. It would be easier if he went back to needling her about her past. Or her eating habits. “Were you so very bad as a child?”
He threw his head back and laughed. A startling sound. When he met her gaze the next time, his eyes were a hint greener. Mischief danced there.
“Most definitely. But I think it has more to do with his fear that I’ll cramp his style.” He stood closer to her now. Near enough to make her remember how attractive she found him.
She resisted the urge to remind him Everett would benefit from having someone keep a better eye on him. From how fast she’d seen him sprint to help his grandfather earlier, she guessed he already knew that.
“In that case, the garage apartment is a good compromise,” she told him honestly, fighting the urge to step away from him. It would be better for his grandfather to have a relative close by. As for the fact that it would put Cal in close proximity to her, she’d work on an avoidance strategy. She’d had an opportunity to hone that skill in her work for her mother since she’d either been ducking bill collectors or impossible-to-please tenants most days.
He studied her for a moment, frowning. “You’re handling a new neighbor better than I anticipated.”
“You’re the boss’s son. I’m not sure it would help my career prospects to complain.”
“Are you planning to go into caretaking permanently, then?”
“I like keeping my options open.” She felt her defenses sliding back into place. “Do you want me to help find that key?”
“No, but I could use some assistance with another task.”
She resisted a sigh, thinking the universe had put him in her path to test her. And to keep testing her.
She just needed to be strong. To focus on his words and not be swayed by his very green eyes or his outsized attractiveness.
“You’d like to eat healthier?” she guessed, not letting her eyes wander over his already perfect physique.
“Definitely not.” He spun away from her to stroll around the covered patio area. He peered inside the empty outdoor refrigerator. Glanced at the cover of the book she’d been browsing. “Balanced Beekeeping?” He read the title aloud like a question.
“I found it on your mother’s shelf. It’s about living in better harmony with bees.”
He gave her a side-eyed glance, his voice suspicious. “Did you know anything about bees before you took this job?”
She folded her arms. “Can we get back to whatever task required my assistance?”
“It’s about bees, actually.” He hooked a hand in the rafter overhead. Tall people could do that sort of thing. It was fortunate there was a table underneath the fan or he could have hit his head on it. “My grandfather thought it would be a good idea for you to visit the farm with me and see if any of the crops could benefit from the hives.”
His broad chest took up too much space. Too much breathing room. He was much too distracting. But as she skittered back a step, she was able to let his words sink in. About his grandfather wanting her opinion.
“Really?” She’d spoken with Everett briefly about the bees and Hailey’s garden, mostly to distract him while she helped him back to his house that first day. “He wanted my input?”
“Yes. Though in all honesty, I think he was angling to set me up.” Cal shrugged his shoulders, lowering his arm.
“I’ll let him know you’re not my type,” she returned distractedly, already thinking about the possibilities of seeing a big farming operation like Rough Hollow Orchards.
If she had a job prospect in Last Stand after Hailey returned from her trip, it would save having to buy a vehicle, something she had no way of affording. Plus, she’d liked Hailey in the brief amount of time she’d spent emailing with her before she took the job, then their in-person visit where she’d learned the ropes of caring for everything around the property. It would be nice to start over somewhere she already had a sort-of friend.
“So you’re considering coming to the farm?” Cal prodded, clearly surprised.
“Absolutely. I picked some peaches from your mother’s orchard that I need to drop off anyhow.” She returned to her book and sat in the chair, knowing she didn’t have many hours of daylight left to read. Also, she needed the barrier of the book between her and this man who got under her skin far too easily. She cracked open the hardcover volume to the page with a bookmark. “But I’d better return to my beekeeping manual if I want to bring my A game to the farm tomorrow.”
She studiously avoided his gaze, trying to focus on the words but not even seeing them.
