Page 13 of Reaching Roland

He huffed, staring straight ahead. “And you’re a little bratty. I never would’ve guessed.”

A man behind us cleared his throat loudly, and I turned around to find him glaring at me. What was his problem?Ohh. Maybe it was the whole calling Roland Daddy thing. Before I had a chance to react, Roland put his hand at the small of my back, inching me forward, and stepped in between me and the sourpuss. “Behave,” he whispered, his lips twitching in a grin.

Since our transport rolled up, I focused on the people jumping off the back of the truck with their full buckets. My stomach growled at all the bright red deliciousness. “Should we eat first?” Roland asked.

Snickering, I shook my head. “No, I actually ate already. They just look so yummy.”

He snorted. “And you want me to believe that little pail is going to be enough.”

He guided me forward, then when I reached the back of the truck, he grabbed my arm and helped me hop up. “You haveexcellent manners. Some of the guys I’ve dated in the past should take lessons from you.” The minute the words left my mouth, I wanted to sink into the ground and disappear. “Not that?—”

Roland waved me off. “I know what you meant.” I collapsed onto one of the bales of hay they had for seats, balancing on the edge so that he’d have room to sit, too. He wrapped an arm around my middle and pulled me in closer so we were squeezed next to each other. “It’s going to be a tight fit as it is without you falling into the little girl on the other side of you.”

He had a point, but sitting this closely to Roland was dangerous. Even more threatening than sitting side-by-side in our barstools at The Tap had been. We’d developed a rapport at the salon where I taunted and teased, but he stayed in his seat. I was in control. Feeling the warmth of his body pressed up close to mine changed the dynamics. How my smaller frame tucked into his larger body felt too intimate, especially after all the other nice things he’d done today.

We were both quiet on the drive out to the rows of bushes. While he chuckled at the antics of the siblings across from us, who were already whining about wanting to go back and play with the bubble table that had been set up for the kids, I gave myself a stern lecture. Roland and I both needed a friend, and I wasn’t going to ruin today for him or myself by acting all wacky because my body didn’t understand that this sexy silver fox treating me so respectfully wasn’t trying to get into my pants. Hell, you’d think I’d be happy about that instead of bummed.

“We’re here,” Roland said, and I realized I’d spaced out enough that almost everyone else had already exited the flatbed.

“Sorry.”

“No problem.” He held out a hand and helped me up. “Are you okay?” he asked as he jumped off the back end, then turned around and held his arms up to me.

As his hand settled on my waist, I exhaled a deep breath. “I’m fine.” He didn’t look like he believed me. Hell, I didn’t believe me, so I patted his chest. “I was just thinking how nice it is to not be here alone.”

Roland lit up. “Good. I was worried I’d bullied my way into your adventure and you were regretting it.”

Roland steered me toward the right, and I noticed the sourpuss from earlier heading toward the left. I appreciated his consideration and bit back a grin. “Not a chance, Daddy. This has already been the best day.”

He stopped short as we entered the aisle and stared at me. “Okay, we just got here, so if you’re this easy to please, you’re going to have to tell me what kind of people you usually hang out with. It sounds like they all need some sense knocked into them.”

“I don't want you to get the wrong idea. I have so many great friends in my life. My bosses both treat me like family, and over the years, I've had some fabulous co-workers.”

“But…” he asked, prompting when I went silent.

Forcing a chuckle and hoping it didn't sound as self-deprecating as it was, I wrinkled my nose. “The reality is, I moved to Takoda because I thought I'd have a better chance of finding romance.” Pressing both hands over my heart and blinking my eyelashes rapidly like that skunk in the old cartoons who was enamored with the cat, I said, “You know, that forever kind of love. That sickly sweet relationship where everyone moans when you speakand make lovey-dovey faces at each other. I wanted that great love.” I hesitated. “Kind of like what you and Rhonda had.”

He smiled softly down at me. “That sounds like a pretty good goal to me. We truly were that couple, and I have no complaints. My guy friends used to fake-gag every time I held open a door for her or complimented her, but they didn’t matter. Only her.”

My gaze dropped to my feet. “Yeah, that's what I pictured, and I thought I’d find that once I moved here. With Takoda not being as small and narrow-minded as the LBB, I assumed I’d be happily coupled, white picket fence and all that by now. Maybe a dog.” I sniffed.

Roland tilted his head and regarded me. “I can't believe that a good-looking guy like you has had a problem finding a boyfriend.”

My heart sped up at his compliment and flustered me a little bit, so I made my way to the nearest bush and started examining it for the ripest, most perfect strawberries. “I wouldn't say I’ve had a hard time finding a man who wanted to be with me, but no one I’d be willing to take home to my parents.”

Roland stepped up beside me and began plucking strawberries, too. “You can’t be serious.”

I shook my head. “No, really. I think part of the problem is I have horrible taste. If there's a straight man or closeted guy in Takoda, and they've crossed my path, I've fallen for them, even knowing that they weren’t going to change their life to be with me all of a sudden. I don't know, maybe I'm broken.”

Roland hummed under his breath. “Maybe you've been looking in the wrong places.”

“That's definitely true. I love to go dancing. There's nothing like shaking my ass on the dance floor.” I gave him a quick demonstration, wiggling my behind and shimming. Roland chuckled. “But my favorite dance club isn’t exactly overrun with gay guys, which is one of the reasons I’ve given up dating.”

Roland turned me toward him, gently nudging my sunglasses up so he could stare into my eyes. Did he realize how beautiful his blue orbs were? I wanted to get lost in them. “Kenny, I'm being serious. You can't give up hope. You're a wonderful human, and I know the perfect man is out there for you.”

Overwhelming emotion coursed through me at his words. Not sure I'd be able to hide the moisture from his penetrating stare, I slapped his hand away with a teasing gesture and settled my frames back on my face. “You don't know that. You barely know me.”

He went back to picking strawberries. “I like to think we're getting to know each other pretty well. We've had some amazing conversations during our Thursday afternoons together.”

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