putting your name with our business after what you did before, but if it was up to me, you wouldn’t be within spitting distance of this property.”
“I understand.”
“I may not work here and invest my life into it like Wade and Whitney, but Chester Farms is more than this farm. It means a lot to a lot of people. Things that your reputation is going to put a dent in if you can’t behave.”
He stared at her for a long second and in that moment, Kara understood where Tate’s personality came from. Many times Kara leaned out the window and listed to Mr. Chester give a talking-to the drunks who’d come in during the middle of the night. His tone had been scornful. He hadn’t been mocking or hurtful, just blunt honest with the cold hard truth. Tate was that man.
He gave her a hard nod and straightened. “I hope in the time you’ve been gone, you learned a little modesty and self-respect. Mom and Dad worked hard for what this place has become and you’re not going to ruin all that.”
Tears burned hot behind her eyes. “I won’t. I promise. The last thing I want is to hurt anyone.”
His eyes narrowed and he walked away, leaving her alone with the hot ball of shame burning through her insides.
If she could survive Tate, she could survive anyone today. And then John Martin pulled in the lot, driving the same old mud truck she’d once rode around in, and any warmth from the sun drained out.
Something else Kara learned a long time ago? Don’t date your ex’s best friend. Whether for real or not, just don’t. Find some other guinea pig. Her stupid actions had broken up the friendship between the two boys as well and this was another mistake needing to be fixed. She had to somehow explain the actions she couldn’t believe as her own to both of these men. She didn’t even begin to know where to start.
With either of them.
John walked closer. Same lazylike swagger. Same charming smile. He called her name, brought her in a hug with his hands going uncomfortably low across her back. She stepped out of his embrace and reached for a basket to keep this as business and nothing else.
“Hi, John.” She handed over the basket, putting it between them. “Better get out there and get started. The strawberries look amazing.”
He took the basket by the handle and managed to clasp his hand over the top of hers. She couldn’t help but notice he wore no wedding ring. That made things a bit harder. All those dreams and fantasies she’d had of her perfect life when she returned included John happily married and realizing he had never fallen in love with Kara Duncan. The lack of a ring and his thumb caressing her wrist signaled otherwise. “Mom sent me out here. Still loves her fresh spring vegetables.”
“Sweet that you pick for her.” She tugged her hand, but he didn’t release.
“When did you come back, sweetheart?”
She swallowed, embarrassment heating her cheeks. “Few days ago.”
“And you didn’t call me?”
She opened her mouth, but a deep voice behind her cut her off. “We’ve had her too busy here.”
Wade was at her back. She could feel him in the way her skin tingled as his heat seeped through her dress. Her pulse picked up with his nearness and her throat tightened. Since that kiss on the porch, she’d managed to avoid him.
Or he’d avoided her. It was hard to tell who was doing what and so far the tactic was working. Until now.
John smiled anyway, like nothing ever happened. “How long are you in town for?”
“A while, I think.” When her neck itched and crawled, she ignored it, not wanting to show how the mere sight of him made her want to vomit. Not because of him specifically, but because of how she’d behaved and acted.
She had been drowning in Bella Warren and had no idea what to do about it. Nothing she could do but run and start over. It hadn’t taken long for her immature and dreaming heart to grow up to the harsh reality of the real world.
John, whose biggest
“I understand.”
“I may not work here and invest my life into it like Wade and Whitney, but Chester Farms is more than this farm. It means a lot to a lot of people. Things that your reputation is going to put a dent in if you can’t behave.”
He stared at her for a long second and in that moment, Kara understood where Tate’s personality came from. Many times Kara leaned out the window and listed to Mr. Chester give a talking-to the drunks who’d come in during the middle of the night. His tone had been scornful. He hadn’t been mocking or hurtful, just blunt honest with the cold hard truth. Tate was that man.
He gave her a hard nod and straightened. “I hope in the time you’ve been gone, you learned a little modesty and self-respect. Mom and Dad worked hard for what this place has become and you’re not going to ruin all that.”
Tears burned hot behind her eyes. “I won’t. I promise. The last thing I want is to hurt anyone.”
His eyes narrowed and he walked away, leaving her alone with the hot ball of shame burning through her insides.
If she could survive Tate, she could survive anyone today. And then John Martin pulled in the lot, driving the same old mud truck she’d once rode around in, and any warmth from the sun drained out.
Something else Kara learned a long time ago? Don’t date your ex’s best friend. Whether for real or not, just don’t. Find some other guinea pig. Her stupid actions had broken up the friendship between the two boys as well and this was another mistake needing to be fixed. She had to somehow explain the actions she couldn’t believe as her own to both of these men. She didn’t even begin to know where to start.
With either of them.
John walked closer. Same lazylike swagger. Same charming smile. He called her name, brought her in a hug with his hands going uncomfortably low across her back. She stepped out of his embrace and reached for a basket to keep this as business and nothing else.
“Hi, John.” She handed over the basket, putting it between them. “Better get out there and get started. The strawberries look amazing.”
He took the basket by the handle and managed to clasp his hand over the top of hers. She couldn’t help but notice he wore no wedding ring. That made things a bit harder. All those dreams and fantasies she’d had of her perfect life when she returned included John happily married and realizing he had never fallen in love with Kara Duncan. The lack of a ring and his thumb caressing her wrist signaled otherwise. “Mom sent me out here. Still loves her fresh spring vegetables.”
“Sweet that you pick for her.” She tugged her hand, but he didn’t release.
“When did you come back, sweetheart?”
She swallowed, embarrassment heating her cheeks. “Few days ago.”
“And you didn’t call me?”
She opened her mouth, but a deep voice behind her cut her off. “We’ve had her too busy here.”
Wade was at her back. She could feel him in the way her skin tingled as his heat seeped through her dress. Her pulse picked up with his nearness and her throat tightened. Since that kiss on the porch, she’d managed to avoid him.
Or he’d avoided her. It was hard to tell who was doing what and so far the tactic was working. Until now.
John smiled anyway, like nothing ever happened. “How long are you in town for?”
“A while, I think.” When her neck itched and crawled, she ignored it, not wanting to show how the mere sight of him made her want to vomit. Not because of him specifically, but because of how she’d behaved and acted.
She had been drowning in Bella Warren and had no idea what to do about it. Nothing she could do but run and start over. It hadn’t taken long for her immature and dreaming heart to grow up to the harsh reality of the real world.
John, whose biggest
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