Page 28 of Frosty the Farmhand
Does he know about Reid and me?
Does he know he stayed at the cabin the last two nights?
The breath leaves my lungs, my vision blurring, but I try to keep the panic at bay. I don’t want to wake Reid. I can’t face him when it feels like my past is repeating itself. Except it’s so much worse.
Because this time, I know the feelings I have for the man naked in my bed are real and that he feels the same in return. It’s terrifying—a feeling I’d never dreamed I’d have again.
Not until Reid.
And Ilikeit here.
I like my job and the Sterlings—but I’d gotten too comfortable, hadn’t I? I’d let myself feed into thefamilymentality.
I let myself think this could be different.
Now my only hope is to see if my new job would be willing to take me early—the job I hadn’t thought about once while having Reid curled up in my arms.
Giving him one more look, I try and memorize every curve and shadow, every dip and line of his perfect face and body.
I try and memorize everything for the days when I wake up alone and miserable, knowingthiswas the happiest time of my life.
Blinking back tears, I dress quietly and head to my truck. I need to walk among the trees—I need to prepare.
Because the next time I see him, I’ll undoubtedly break us both.
The extra timein the orchard did nothing to calm my nerves. I’d thrown up the two sips of coffee I had this morning behind a bush on the far side of the farm, the liquid souring my stomach as the world started to spin around me.
The way things ended with Dante had been brutal but they’d been nothing like this. And Reid…God, why does it have to be this way?
I blink back the tears that have threatened to fall since I left the cabin. I can’t afford to start now; I’ll never stop.
And then I won’t be able to do what needs to be done.
My heart stutters in my chest at the sight of Reid walking across the lot. I see him before he sees me, and the inclination to run has never been higher than at this moment. His gait is light,his expression full of hope and contentment like a man that is still feeling the aftereffects of a night of orgasms.
A night spent with me.
How did I let this happen?I’d let myself get too attached—too caught up in the goodness radiating from him.
I’d let myself be happy.
More than happy.
But it hadn’t taken long before it was ripped away with one ominous text, two if we’re being technical. The parallels to my departure in Wyoming had drawn the same path to Montana and I’d be out on my ass soon enough.
No reason to drag Reid into it.
It’ll be easier for both of us if he isn’t wrapped up in my bullshit when his uncle fires me—easier for him to forgive his uncle instead of some guy he got naked with a couple of times.
I’d never want to come between him and his family because he loves them and they think he hung the moon.
I’m going to miss it here so damn much.
Already, he’s drawing attention from the few people milling about. He should because he’sperfect—such a better man than I am—weaving through the trees like there’s some kind of invisible thread between us.
“Hi,” he says, the single word of greeting breathy, causing a white puff of air. His eyes are sparkling as he holds out a cup of coffee toward me. “I got this for you. I think I remembered your order. No peppermint—that’s for later.”
His cheeks pinken and I know it’s from my proximity and not the cold.
