Page 31 of Pick Your Spot

All because Knox Malssum had inherited this farm. Sexy man with kind eyes, good manners, and infectious curiosity.

Which meant she wanted to appear sexy for their date. Or at least not awful.

Thea grinned at herself. Aiming fornot awfulwas pathetic. She could do better. Shewoulddo better.

At the moment, her entire wardrobe was jeans and t-shirts for a base layer. She owned several flannel shirts and a few sweaters that were chosen for warmth, not fashion. At least they were clean. The spring weather meant she could wear a light sweater without visibly sweating, even with the walk to the farmhouse.

Finally, she chose her newest jeans. She hadn’t worn them much yet. Just when she’d gone into town with Jay a few times. Clean and they fit her well.

She didn’t own sexy underwear, but for the first time, she considered ordering something online. Her cheeks flushed at the thought and then her body followed suit when she thought about Knox seeing her wearing her choices.

Thea wasn’t ready to jump into sex with Knox, but the fact that she was already thinking about it was great. She’d never been this intrigued by a man. Never anticipated a kiss more.

Never had her body rev itself up just at thethoughtof sex.

She wasn’t ready to jump into bed with the man—not yet—but she didn’t think it would be long.

She shouldn’t. Logic said sleeping with the boss was a terrible plan. Although he treated her like the soil consultant she was and not an employee. In that sense, he was her client, which made her the boss. That was the way it had worked back in Iowa. She’d never known a soil consultant to work with only one farm.

Things were different here in Vermont. Mostly because she and Jay had clicked. They’d worked well together and he’d become her friend as well as her client.

Knox treated her in the same way. Her words and opinions had power. He trusted her and let her lead the way on the job.

So, consultant, not employee. And even if was a matter of semantics, it helped. The chemistry between them was combustible and she wanted to explore it.

Sex with Knox would be off-the-charts spectacular. Which should make the anticipation sweeter. She’d denied herself so many things for so long. She didn’t want to miss out on what felt like a once in a lifetime connection.

Finally, Thea chose her prettiest sweater. A light blue that was impractical when she worked with compost most of her day.

She hadn’t been able to resist the soft sweater when she’d bought it back in Iowa before shit had gone sideways. She hadn’t worn it often. Not at all since she’d left the state.

Tonight was the night.

Her body tingled at the thought, and she had to remind herself tonight was the night for the sweater, not for sex.

Grinning, she dressed and slipped on her sneakers. She mostly wore steel-toed work boots, but she had sneakers for other days.

Feeling ridiculously excited, Thea left the cabin and headed to the orchard. Fox bounded up before she’d walked for five minutes. She rubbed him down and grinned. “Are you escorting me to my date?”

The dog grinned and walked alongside her. “It’s been a long while since I had a date, Fox. And I’ve never had one with a man as kind and sexy as Knox. I should be stirring up the compost right now, and I don’t even care that I’m not.”

She was almost dancing with excitement. Like she was a girl, not a woman over thirty. How sad had her life become that she was this excited about a dinner date with an intriguing man? “Nope. Not thinking about my sad life. It’s a good life, Fox. I love working with the land and with people who want to heal it. People who are open to try things in new ways.”

She nodded. “Just because my life isn’t one many would choose doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with it. I live on this amazing land. I have a safe place. And a first date.”

Fox barked in agreement. She patted his head. “You’re right. It’s a great life. Maybe a little small, but it’s about to get bigger.”

Because she was on a date.

As she neared the farmhouse, Fox butted her legs and melted into the forest. She wondered how long he’d lived on the land and how he’d come to be here. And why he wouldn’t leave the orchard and go to the farmhouse.

All those thoughts faded away as she entered the last of the trees and spotted Knox sitting on the steps. The sun was lowering in the sky behind the house, and he was in the shadows.

Anticipation shivered through her, and her feet stumbled. She grinned as she straightened herself out. Giddy. She was giddy with excitement, over a dinner with Knox.

He ambled toward her with that confident stride of his. Unhurried but with purpose. Maybe he was as happy about the date as she was. Doubtful.

When she was close enough to see his face, she realized he was grinning, too. He took her hands and leaned down.

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