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“Jules,” Tank said in a warning tone.
“Tank,” I shot back. “Lars wants to get to you. And he knows he can do that by messing around with me. Do you really think he would let me out of his sight now?”
Tank paused. “Probably not,” he admitted.
I leaned against the trunk of a nearby tree with a sigh.
“I didn’t want this for you,” he added.
I nodded. “I know.”
“If you’re not leaving, then I’m sending manpower your way.”
I raised my eyebrows. “What does that mean exactly?”
“My MC brothers. I would trust them with my life. They’re good men. I’ll make sure they keep an eye on you.”
I opened my mouth to protest. I envisioned men like Tank, guarding the greenhouse and the farm. Suddenly, it seemed to sink in how serious this whole situation was.
“You know, I wouldn’t blame you,” Tank said.
“For what?” I asked, my voice small.
“Yelling at me for getting you into this. Never speaking to me again. You’re taking this remarkably well and if I’m honest, it’s worrying me a little bit.”
I snorted. “Yeah, well, maybe you shouldn’t have kissed me the way you did. I could have kicked you to the curb if you were gross about it.”
Tank breathed a quiet laugh. Then he grew quiet again and I knew he was slipping back into his broody thoughts.
“This isn’t your fault, Tank,” I said gently.
He sighed. “I just…didn’t want to put you in the line of fire.”
A burst of giggles drew my attention to the end of the orchard’s aisle. Amelia and Jayden went racing by, shrieking with laughter as they squished overripe peaches between their fingers, trying to smear the mess on each other.
I couldn’t go back in time and turn Tank down. I couldn’t undo what had already been done. Neither of us could have known this would happen.
“You can’t live in fear of your past, Tank,” I said. “At some point, you have to live in the moment. Or everything good in life will pass you by.”
He was quiet for a few seconds. Then he cleared his throat and his tone was lighter.
“You sound very wise for someone who’s…what?...twenty-five years old?”
“Very funny. I’m twenty-two. And that’s what siblings will do to you. Make you old and gray before your time.”
As if on cue, victorious laughter echoed through the trees. Amelia went stomping by with peach on her face, howling for Mom.
Tank chuckled. “Sounds like you’ve got your hands full. I should let you get going.”
I clutched the phone tighter. I didn’t want this conversation to end, didn’t want the soothing timbre of Tank’s voice to fall silent again.
“Hey,” I said.
“Yeah?”
“Don’t freeze me out again, okay?” I asked softly.
“I won’t. I’ll bring the guys around in an hour. And call me immediately if Lars shows up, all right?”
