Page 82 of Hometown Girl

“Okay, but I need a list of everyone you contact.”

Molly shot her an exasperated look. “I can do this, Beth. I promise.”

“All right, let’s go outside and map out where we want everything,” Beth said, gathering her notes. “That way, if there’s something we need cleaned or repaired before the day of the event, we can let Drew and the other guys know.”

Saying his name aloud made her feel naked, like it was some sort of admission that she spent more time than she should thinking about him.

The three of them headed out toward the barn, Beth’s uneasiness bubbling inside of her. After their day planting the garden, she’d expected her friendship with Drew to settle into a nice rhythm, but the opposite had happened. She hadn’t thought it was possible, but he’d grown even more withdrawn than before. She didn’t like that he seemed to have any hold over the way she felt, but between the note in the trash and the obvious distance he’d put between them, she could tell something was wrong.

Why did she care? He was her employee, not her boyfriend.

Even the thought of that sent heat to her cheeks.

“How do you get anything done with all these hot guys around all day?” Callie watched as two of Drew’s guys walked out of the main barn.

“Oh, Beth only has eyes for one hot guy,” Molly said.

Beth stopped walking and stared at her sister. “What? No, I don’t.”

Molly waggled her eyebrows in typical kid-sister fashion. “She’s in denial.”

“I am not,” Beth said. A few more of the crew strolled around the property as if they had all the time in the world. “Don’t they know we’re on a really tight deadline?”

“Maybe they’re on break,” Molly said. “They get those.”

They came up to the main barn, and she saw more men sitting around. Laughing. Taking it easy. Perhaps she’d put too much faith in Drew’s ability to manage these men. All this time, she thought he’d insist on them working at his pace—not a snail’s.

Inside, another small group stood in a circle shooting the breeze. Not a single one of them seemed to notice she was there. Shouldn’t they at least pretend to be working, considering she’d be the one who signed their paychecks?

She scanned the barn for Drew, but he was nowhere to be found.

“Unbelievable.”

“Beth, let’s let Drew handle the staff,” Molly said.

“That’s what I thought we were doing,” she said.

She and Molly deserved their respect too, and they clearly didn’t have it. Beth had to prove herself competent, even if she felt anything but.

“Excuse me?” Her voice did nothing to end the chatter. If anything, the volume of their voices increased, swallowing hers up.

“Excuse me?” Louder and with more authority.

Acknowledgment rippled through the group at the same pace the men seemed intent on working. Slow and steady. Eyes finally turned on the three of them.

“Beth, this is a bad idea.”

“Relax, Molly,” she said quietly. “Someone has to show these guys who’s in charge.”

“Does it have to be you?”

“I assume you all know who I am,” Beth said, ignoring her sister. “But if not, let me refresh your memory.” She stood taller, remembering the importance of looking the part. She might be shorter and smaller than every man who now gave her his full attention, but she’d make sure her presence outweighed them by one hundred pounds. At least.

“I’m the one responsible for this farm. I pay the bills. I sign the checks. So when I come out here and find you all sitting around, chatting and laughing like a group of friends on a camping trip, you can imagine it doesn’t sit well with me. In case you missed the memo, guys, we’ve got a deadline. And it’ll be here before we know it. But none of you seem at all interested in working today, so what do you think I should do? Send you all home and find a crew who is actually interested in earning their money?”

Kent Tanner took a step away from the crowd. He still had the same cocky attitude he’d had back in high school; Beth could see it in the way he looked at her now. “Well, look at that, boys. Guess we’ve been told.”

Beth stiffened and reminded herself not to lose her nerve. She should’ve known there would be at least one.

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