Page 47 of Pick Your Spot

He laughed. No one had ever made him laugh so easily and so often. Their first round of sex had blown his mind, but his attraction was about so much more than the physical. This woman fascinated him and made him want to better the world. Which reminded him of his original intention in searching her out in the orchard.

Taking her hands, he held them out to the side. “I almost got distracted again, and I’m blaming you. Again. Stop being so damn irresistible for a minute so I can tell you the news.”

She squeezed his hands where he held them. “You’re a charmer, Knox Malssum.”

“Only for you.”

She laughed and he kissed her again but managed to keep it quick.

“I’ve talked them into not selling for the moment. I don’t know how long we’ve got, but for now, they’re onboard with exploring our options and finding out if the farm is something we want to keep.”

Thea bounced on her toes and swung their hands. “Seriously? They don’t want to sell right away?”

“Seriously. Jolie is one hundred percent on board. I think she’ll be showing up here in the next few weeks to help. She’s the most excited.”

“And the others?”

He shrugged. “They’re all intrigued by the prospects. Well, maybe not Burke, but his mission in life is to make sure we’re all happy and taken care of. He takes the role of big brother very seriously. He was probably always that way, but losing our parents amplified the trait. Knowing I want this so badly and seeing the others are intrigued, he agreed to give it six months before we reevaluate.”

“That’ll bring us to harvest time. That gives us time to show them what the farm could be. Show them all the potential.”

“I didn’t even tell you the best part.”

Her eyes widened again. “What’s that.”

“We’re going to get you a Worminator.”

For a long beat, Thea simply stared at him, as if waiting for the punchline. He nodded.

Finally, she squealed and threw herself around him. He caught her easily and swung her in a tight circle, wondering if any other woman in the world would be as excited about compost.

And why he found it so appealing.

The next morning, Thea held Knox’s hand as they exited her cabin. She’d rarely spent an entire night with a man, and she’d expected it to be awkward. A too small bed, potential snoring, morning breath.

None of that had happened. They slept entwined, and as far as she knew, she hadn’t snored. Morning breath hadn’t been a factor as Knox had woken her with his mouth on her breasts. And lower.

He’d only had one condom, but they’d found several other ways to spend the time in bed and the tiny shower. Knox’s shoulders had barely fit through the shower door but the tight space hadn’t stopped them.

She’d had so many orgasms in the past few hours she wondered if the smile would ever slide off her face. And she couldn’t wait to feel Knox’s body inside hers again.

They were stirring the compost when Fox loped in for his morning greeting. Now relegated to her second favorite type of hug in the world.

After he’d wiggled down, the dog headed to Knox for a full-body rubdown. Fox had accepted Knox easily as part of the family, as part of their everyday.

Thea could imagine them doing these tasks years into the future. Decades even. It scared her how easily it was to imagine Knox as a permanent fixture in her life.

They had six months to prove themselves. To prove that the farm was viable. To show progress and growth.

If they didn’t succeed, would the family want to sell? She imagined the best times to sell a farm was either in the spring when buyers could see the potential or the fall when that potential was realized.

The property was beautiful at all times of the year. Apple blossoms everywhere in the spring, gorgeous greenery throughout the summer, and a bounty of apples in the fall. Even in the winter, with feet of snow hiding the land and helping it rest, there was a special kind of beauty. That quiet solitude, the sleeping trees, the time to fix equipment and plan for the future.

It was way too early to be so sure but she was. She wanted to spend those seasons here with Knox. The best way to ensure that was to work their butts off to make the farm as profitable and attractive as possible.

Starting with choosing the right Worminator for the property.

The task of watering and stirring the compost didn’t deter Knox. He didn’t mind getting his hands dirty. Her skin flushed as she thought of how those hands had pleasured her throughout the night.

---