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“Just tell him he’s on his own, whether or not he has plans.” The words come out harsher than I intend and Dani slants her eyes at me, frowning. “You’ve seen him every night this week,” I say more gently.
Her expression softens and I feel like a needy little baby. “You’re right. Let’s have a sisters’ night, just you and me.”
My smile probably looks goofy, but I’m too happy to care.
***
The day is already hot at eight AM in June, even in the mountains, and I’m thinking about going inside and trading my t-shirt for a tank top when an unfamiliar car pulls up the drive. There are already two women from the college at work with the animals and I’m not expecting more people to show up, but with five women and their four significant others living here, unexpected guests are rarely surprising.
When I see the two men emerging from the car, my heart pumps and ice runs through my veins. It’s an overreaction, I know, but my interaction with Dell last week has made me jumpy.
I plaster on a smile as I open the gate and walk out of the pasture to meet the two guys I tested my flirting skills on in the diner earlier this week. Even though they agreed to volunteer at the farm, I hadn’t expected to see them. Colson, a broad, muscled white guy who looks far younger than I feel, gives me a sheepish smile. “We’re a couple days late. Any chance we can still help?”
“I’m just glad you’re here. We can use all the help we can get.”
His friend, Aiden, a wiry, Black guy with a beard and thick, dark hair, offers his hand politely.
I shake it. “Do you need credit for volunteering?”
“Like course credit?” Aiden smiles eagerly. I’ve never understood people who got excited about extra credit in school, probably because grades were never something that mattered to me.
How different might my life have been if I had cared? Maybe I’d be in college with these guys, flirting with them at parties, my biggest concern getting a C on an assignment.
“Nope. Sorry,” I say. “Usually people want a record of their volunteer services if they’re part of a service-oriented fraternity or they need community service hours for the court systems.”
“We don’t need that.” Colson pops his hands on his hips and grins. “Just put us to work.”
There’s an ulterior motive here, there has to be. Hopefully, they just want another opportunity to flirt with me.
They seem harmless, but Aiden is giving off some edgy vibes I don’t love. I’ll just have to be careful and keep my distance as much as possible.
I get them set up hosing out and cleaning water troughs and head to the barn farthest from the house to visit the pigs. They’re all soaking in the mud, and snuffling happily. I fill their trough and add more water to their mud.
In the barn, I grab a wheelbarrow and pitchfork and get to work cleaning out their bedding.
“Hey.”
I turn to see Colson in the doorway to the barn, the sun on his back putting his face in shadow.
“Oh.” I take a step back reflexively.
He walks into the barn, hands raised, palms out. “I just want to clear the air. I’m not trying to get you alone and intimidate you into going out with me.”
“It kind of feels that way.” I grip the handle of the pitchfork more tightly. I don’t want to piss the guy off, but I also need to set clear boundaries and this situation is not okay with me.
Thankfully, he doesn’t come any closer. “Hold on to that pitchfork, but I promise I’m not here to hurt you.” He shakes his head. “I hate that there are so many assholes in the world that I even have to say that.”
“You can hate it, but it’s still the reality.”
He shoves his hands in the pockets of his cargo shorts. “I get that. I just want to verify that you’re not interested in me or Aiden. You were just flirting for tips, right?”
I slump, feeling like the asshole I am. “It’s worse than that, actually. I flirted with a guy earlier in the day and it had no effect.” Flirting isn’t the whole truth, but it’s close enough for this guy. “I wanted to know if it was me or him, so I tested my skills on you guys.”
He raises his brows and shakes his head. “Makes sense. And I can guarantee you’re not the problem. You’re gorgeous and your flirting game is on target.”
“Thanks for that. I’m sorry I manipulated you.”
He swipes a thumb over his bottom lip. “I don’t love that, but I appreciate you being honest with me.” He glances out of the barn and turns back to me. “Just to be clear, I’ve got no shot with you, right?”
