AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He cleared his throat nervously. “I am. I…Merry and I are going to dinner.”
“I know, her mom told me. Thought you were staying in?”
“I made reservations last week at the Lodge, so my brother is going to stay with Jace.”
“Hello!” Sam hollered from behind him.
“Hey, Sam. Well, you have fun at dinner. We’ve got her demon dog up at the house overnight, so at least you won’t have to worry about rushing back to let her out.”
“That’s good.” What an awkward conversation to be having with his boss and his date’s father. “We won’t be out too late.”
“Relax, Clark. I’m not here to bust your balls. I came to drop off the box and let you know you’ve been a tremendous addition to this farm. I’m glad you’re here. What you do in your personal life is none of my business. As long as you treat my daughter with respect, I won’t get involved.”
“I will, sir.”
“Then have a good time. And free piece of advice, be sure to tell her how nice she looks.”
“I will, thanks.” Clark stepped back into the house and set the box down on the table. “I’m going to put the soup in the fridge for Jace, all right?”
“I got this,” Sam said, waving without turning around. “Have fun on your date.”
Clark called a goodbye to Jace and Sam and when he stepped out onto the porch, he noticed Chris hadn’t crested the bottom of the hill. While every fiber of his being cautioned him to mind his own business, he jogged to catch Merry’s dad.
“Sir, hold up a moment.” Chris stopped, waiting for Clark to pull up alongside him. “At the risk of overstepping, I think Merry wants to have more involvement with the farm. She went out with me to check the north sector one afternoon and wanted to know all about what I did and specific things to look for. She could be an asset if you gave her a chance.”
Chris stayed quiet long enough to make Clark squirm, and admitted, “She said something along those lines before you got here, but she hasn’t brought it up since. I figured she liked her job at the school and her interest in learning the ropes here was just a passing fancy.”
“I think the school job gives her a steady paycheck, but her heart is set on following in your footsteps one day.”
“And she’s told you this, huh?”
“More or less.”
“I’ll talk to her.” Chris grinned. “You’re a brave man.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Dating a woman who will be your boss one day.” Chris chuckled, taking a few steps up the hill. “Have fun tonight, Clark.”
Clark straightened his tie nervously as he walked the distance to Merry’s house. Every excuse he’d been using to keep his distance had been blown to smithereens. The Winterses knew, and Jace was on board. The rest was between him and Merry.
He stepped through the gate and, taking the front porch steps in one monster stride, knocked on the door.
Merry opened it slowly, a vision in a tight sapphire-blue velvet dress that hugged her curves, enhancing her round hips, and his fingers curled against the urge to splay his hands there. The dress was v-cut, her breasts rounding over the neckline, and her arms were bare thanks to the tank sleeves. Her hair was pulled over her left shoulder in an intricate braided coronet, the ends free and curling. She looked elegant and classy.
Maybe I should have canceled that reservation and stayed in after all.
“Wow, you look nice,” she said, her gaze stopping on his empty hands with a frown. “I thought you were bringing take-out?”
“Merry…” He climbed the remaining steps until they were at eye level, afraid to touch her even as every fiber in his body wanted to push her back into the house and wreck that perfect, gorgeous hair so it flowed through his fingers while he kissed her.
“Clark?”
He leaned close, his mouth teasing the shell of her right ear. “I can’t think of a word strong enough to describe you.”
Merry turned her face, her lips mere inches from his, and smoothed her hand over his tie. “I never thought you’d be one for cheesy lines.”
He kissed her then, his arm hooking around her waist and fitting her body to his. She tasted and smelled sweet and while he’d never considered himself a lover of sugary things, he’d make an exception for Merry.
