Page 38 of Love Off-Limits
“Well, then I would argue that arms like Tyler’s would make anexcellentlife preserver.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Kelly, he’s a farmhand.”
She rolled her eyes. “You’ve never let that stop you before.”
“Shut up. I was eighteen years old. You cannot hold that against me.”
“You were eighteen thelasttime you got caught making out in the goat barn. How old were you the first time it happened?”
“Oh my word. You are as bad as my brothers. I swear it only happened the one time. Once, Kelly.Once.”
“With Dillon, right?” She sighed. “I was here that summer. I’d have taken your place in a second.”
“I should have let you. He was a terrible kisser.”
“Really? That’s so disappointing.”
“Oh, I know. Just let Sergeant slobber all over your face and then you’ll know exactly what the experience was like.”
“Oh, gross. Please stop,” she said with a laugh.
“Regardless,” I said, reiterating my earlier point. “I can’t date him while he’s working here. We have rules for a reason.What kind of example would that set?”
She shrugged dismissively. “I’m not saying it would be a good idea for you to meet him for a midnight rendezvous in the goat barn. But you’re both adults. You could be discreet without the children knowing what you’re up to.”
“Did you just refer to your farm staff as children?”
“They’re a particularly young bunch this year.”
“Poor Tyler. He probably feels so old.”
Kelly stood. “Old, and probably tired by now. He’s been chasing chickens for two hours.”
“What? Why?”
Kelly grinned. “He left the yard gate unlatched this morning. They’re wandering all over everywhere.”
“Why doesn’t he just feed them? All he needs to do is shake the grain can and they’ll come running.”
“True. But he’ll only have to chase them one by one once to never forget to latch the gate again.”
I laughed. “You are so evil.”
“It’s how I learned. I’m using your father’s methods here. Don’t judge me.”
“So youdidn’thave another reason to bring up Tyler?” I asked.
“Oh. Right. I did, believe it or not. He’s filming things. Is that okay?”
“Filming?”
“Yeah, like with a video camera. Not during work hours. But in the afternoons and evenings, he’s just...recording. Stuff on the farm, people on the farm. I don’t know. I don’t think it’s hurting anything, but I thought you might want to know anyway.”
A surge of warmth pulsed in my chest. I honestly didn’t have any idea what level of skill Tyler had as a videographer. But he’d leftRandom Ito go out on his own; it made me happy that he was working on something, maybe even trying to put together a portfolio. Even if it was just random shots of the farm.
I suddenly wanted to talk to him about it. Ask him what he was working on. “I don’t think it’s a problem,” I said, “as long as it doesn’t interfere with his work, but I’ll talk to him about it just in case.” I stood up. “Actually, I’ll go see if he needs help getting the rest of the girls in, and I’ll mention it to him then.”
“Perfect. That means I can go bathe Sergeant and Samson. They were out playing with the pigs this morning and came back smelling like the bottom of the manure pile.”
