AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I’m not thinking this through. What am I doing?The shoulder devil and angel war with each other:
“You can’t start something knowing you’re leaving.”
“Sure you can. This won’t be anything serious. You deserve a little fun. Look at what you’ve gone through. You’re not going to marry this girl, for god’s sake. Take her out, see what happens.”
“Are you ready for this? You’ve been hiding from the world for almost a year. Why would you think it’s a good idea to travel this road if it’s a dead end? You’ve made your decision, you’ve made promises—you are leaving in a couple months.”
“Screw that. This girl is magic. Let her cast her spell and see what happens. It will help the weeks pass by, and no one will get hurt.”
“I’d love that,” she says, snapping me back to reality.
“Great. I’ll pick you up at six?”
“Perfect.”
I can tell by her smile and the blush of her cheeks she’s pleased I asked. Satisfied I put myself out there, I’ll pretend I’m just a normal guy, asking out a beautiful woman on a date. She’s the first person in as long as I can remember who isn’t aware of my past, of the devastation involved. She isn’t from this town, she hasn’t been overrun with town shenanigans, and she doesn’t see what everyone else does when they look at me. I forgot how much I needed a woman to want me, to see and experience who I am without the pain and loss. Everyone in this town can recite my story, and while they empathize, for once, it’s amazing to let the sun shine on my face.
I take a few steps back, and she follows me to the tractor. She climbs up and settles onto my lap. I can’t help but remember what’s under her jean shorts—the curves, the way her body moves. Solia has my alignment off course, veering into the breakdown lane. I want to unwrap this gift, touch what’s inside, and treasure every inch.
Once I rev the tractor’s engine, I concentrate on the descending tracks leading back to the barn. The crowd has certainly grown since we left. Families are scattered everywhere, children running through the fields, smiles abundant. It’s precisely the environment my family strives to provide for this community. Every homegrown business is rooted in this type of pride. As if Solia could sense my emotion, she spread her legs wider, squeezing her calves against my lower legs, possibly to keep from tilting forward. Whatever the reason, I’m rock-hard, ready, and struggling to focus.
Pulling the tractor against the barn, I turn off the engine. Solia loosens her grip and climbs off. I take an extra beat to make things less noticeable and then she undoes her hair and lets her soft, brown waves fall to her shoulders as she glances back at me.
“I’d call a crowd this size a success.”
Shannon appears in my peripheral vision, and her eyes practically pop out of their sockets. “Oh, hey, Jackson. Sorry, I didn’t—I could’ve had Lucas bring them.”
She’s stunned to see this beautiful woman, or any woman, for that matter, climb off my lap. I’m not surprised by her shock and awe. Today I surprised myself. Shannon squints at me, and it’s a perfect buzzkill.
“This is Solia. She’s new to town, and I was giving her a tour of the farm.”
“Oh, that’s great. Hi, Solia. I’m Shannon, Jackson’s sister. Welcome to town. What brings you to our corner of the world?” Shannon hands me a pair of work gloves and points to the line of people waiting for the tractor.
Solia smiles in my direction, probably realizing I’m not sure what her response will be since we’ve exchanged but a few words.
“I came here for a fresh start, a chance to be in a place that captured my heart years ago. My family owns a cabin on the other side of the lake, and I’m trying to stop them from selling it. So far, it’s been pretty great. I should check out the rest of the place. I’ll see you later, Jackson. I’m sure you both have so much to do. Thank you for the tour, and it’s nice to meet you, Shannon.”
Shannon looks from me to Solia and back with an expression only a brother could understand. Hope and promise linger in the air between us.
“Hold up, Solia. I’ll walk with you and show you around. Bye, brother.”
My mouth has been wired shut, so I wave like an idiot and say nothing. I want to tell Shannon to get lost, grab Solia by the waist, and find a spot in the fields isolated from the crowds where I can show Solia how badly I want her.
Watching her from behind, her hips swaying as she walks away from me, is torture. Shannon leads her toward the barn, and I climb up onto the tractor.
What have I gotten myself into?
God only knows what dirt my sister will pry out of this woman.
As I restart the engine, Shannon turns her head and glances my way with a smile and a thumbs-up, unseen by Solia.
I return her smile. My sister only wants to see me happy again.
Six o’clock can’t come fast enough.
* * *
Ipark my truck on a side road, and we start toward the center of town.
