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He nodded. “More than anything, I want to lay down beside you.”
“Then do it,” she urged.
He shook his head. “Duty’s calling. We have to get those melons to New Orleans this morning. Bellamy Acres depends on it.”
“Fuck duty.” Bernie drank in Gerard’s incredible body and then closed her eyes. “You’re right.” She opened her eyes. “When you own a farm, the farm owns you.” She reached out. “Help me up.”
He gripped her hand.
Instead of pulling herself up, she pulled him down until he lay on top of her.
“The melons can wait a few more minutes, don’t you think?” She cupped his cheek and leaned up to brush her lips across his. “Unless you’ve had enough.”
“I have a feeling there’s no such thing as enough with you,” he whispered against her lips and then claimed her mouth in a deep kiss that branded Bernie’s soul.
God help her. She was falling fast.
Chapter 7
Sleeping with a man changed everything in a relationship.
Gerard seemed closer yet more distant than before they’d made love. It was as if he struggled with what he wanted and what he couldn’t have. Because of what his father had done to him and his mother, he didn’t trust himself to always do the right thing. He’d chosen to walk away from love rather than end up hurting those he cared about. He’d push her away like he probably had every other woman he’d ever dated.
All Bernie knew was that this man was worth fighting for. She didn’t need weeks of dating to figure that out. Despite his upbringing, or maybe because of it, he was a good man who cared about people and didn’t want to hurt them. He didn’t want to hurt her. Thus, the wall he was attempting to construct between them.
What he didn’t realize about her was that because she’d loved and lost, she was acutely aware that life was incredibly short. Shorter for some than others. She had to grab for happiness and hold on for as long as she could.
Though they were just beginning to know each other, Bernie knew in her heart this man was special. She didn’t want what they’d shared the night before and this morning to end.
She just had to convince him to stay.
However, first, they had a delivery to make. She needed the money from her watermelon sales to pay her property taxes, which were due in a couple of weeks.
After a few minutes more of snuggling, Gerard kissed her temple. “You’re thinking about the day ahead, aren’t you?”
She sighed. “Hard not to. So much depends on getting my melons to market.”
He kissed her temple again and rolled out of the bed. “Come on. We have a delivery to make, and we’re burning daylight.” He held out his hand.
She laughed, letting him pull her to her feet and into his arms. His naked skin against hers was amazing and far too tempting. Bernie slid her hands down his back to his bare ass and moaned. “Promise me we’ll make time for this later tonight.”
He hesitated a moment.
She thought he might say no, falling back on his vow to walk away from any commitment.
Bernie held her breath, waiting for him to say no.
“I promise,” he said and hugged her close.
She released the breath she’d been holding and hugged him back.
“I’ll make coffee while you get dressed.”
“Deal.” Bernie grabbed a bra and panties and ducked into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. For a moment, she leaned her back against the wall and smiled. After three long years alone, she’d slept with a man.
In the last few weeks of Ray’s life, they’d talked about what she should do after he was gone. He’d given her permission to sell the place and move on.
“You’re still young. There’s no reason you can’t fall in love with someone who can give you the children we wanted.” He’d held her hand in his, his grip weak, his skin stretched thin over his bones.
