20. Sydney
Chapter twenty
Sydney
The following days were a blur. The last samples were collected, there was more mind-blowing sex, and more dead ends. Nothing I came up with had me getting out of this unscathed while saving their farm.
Though Preston was an ass, he was a smart one and covered his tracks. I had no real evidence of his blackmail, but I was sure he had evidence of what I’d done, and there was no way for me to go to his house and steal it. I was supposed to be done by the end of the week, and I was still at a loss.
Even the car had been returned a few days ago. When it was, Brooks seemed as sad about it as I felt, until I insisted he would still have to drive me around because I didn’t know where I was going. To be honest, it was because I liked it.
I’d never met anyone who cared about what they did the way he did. Even though he spent most of his time with me, there was almost always someone who needed something from town or needed his help doing something. He always seemed to be working during the day, and there’d even been a few nights where he’d been called away. He was determined to see everyone here succeed, and he was willing to run himself into the ground over it.
Even so, he always made sure to let me know he was paying attention to me, that he was thinking about me. I’d never had a partner—or anyone really—who made me feel like I was this important. It was something I thought I’d never tire of.
I was curled up on the couch with my laptop when Brooks came and slammed himself down next to me. Chicken was in his bed in the corner, sleeping soundly, not being a menace for once. He really was like a cat sometimes.
“What are you doing now?”
“You act like I’m the workaholic here,” I said playfully.
“Well, you are always working.”
“No. I came here on a work trip, and I feel like I spend more time just watching you help everyone than actually doing my job.”
His cheeks pinked at my words. I’d noticed they did that every time I gave him a compliment, especially about work. It seemed he wasn’t used to it, which made me want to do it even more.
“I’m just editing some photos. Would you like to see?”
He looked surprised. “I’m allowed to?”
“I think these are just about done. They aren’t perfect. I took them with my phone at the festival, but with some touch-ups, I think they really came together.”
I turned my screen and watched him flip through the images. There were some of the different products and produce. Some of Bailey talking with one of her customers. Even some of Blake and Beau laughing hysterically at something.
He didn’t say anything, just continued to flip through until the album was over.
“What do you think?” I asked.
His gaze flicked up to me. “I think if you can do all this with just your phone, you’d be the best photographer this town has ever seen.”
I tucked my hair behind my ear. “They’re okay. I may touch them up a bit more later.”
I shut my laptop and set it aside. Brooks took that chance to shuffle over to lay his head in my lap.
“It looks like neither of us can take a compliment.”
I ran my hands through his hair instinctually. “I guess not.”
His touch drifted over my thighs as he lay there. “I have a surprise for you.”
I raised my eyebrows. “What is it?”
“It wouldn’t be much of a surprise if I told you, would it?”
I huffed. “I guess not.”
He then suddenly stood, holding his hand out. “Ready?”
I took it easily. He led us to the truck, and when I hopped up onto my side, Brooks was already in the driver’s seat, holding a blindfold in his hand. He gestured for me to turn, and I did, letting him secure it behind my head.
“If you wanted to take me to the woods to murder me, you could have done it weeks ago,” I teased as I felt the truck ease into movement.
“No murdering tonight. I promise.”
I laughed as he took my phone and played some music. The song was my favorite, and I was surprised he’d managed to pick it out.
It took a while before the truck came to a stop. “I’m going to get things ready, and I’ll be right back to get you.”
“Still sounds like murder, but fine.”
He scared me briefly when he kissed my cheek, then disappeared outside.
I sat with the blindfold on, trying to gauge any little sound that might tell me where we were, but there was almost nothing. I felt the truck rock a few times, but nothing other than that.
I couldn’t tell how much time had passed when my side door opened and Brooks stepped onto the side bar. He bent inward, and I could feel how close his face was.
“Put your arms around my neck.”
I did as instructed and gasped as he placed his arms the rest of the way around me and lifted me bridal-style from the car before he shut the door.
I let my body rest against him, listening to the hard beating of his heart. It was a rhythm I felt like I’d come to know over the past few weeks, and one I’d come to cherish.
I was set on the edge of his truck bed, resting my hands on the thick textured plastic.
“Take off the blindfold."
I did, and gasped at what I saw. We were parked in a field, not unlike the flower field we’d been before, but this one was all tall grass as far as the eye could see. The sun was just beginning to set, bathing the world in oranges and golds. Far, far out in the distance, you could see the backdrop of the mountains, the sun bouncing off the snow still gracing the caps. I didn’t think I’d ever seen anything as beautiful before.
“This is…”
“I know,” he said, sitting next to me. “And I thought we could have a small snack while we watched.” I turned, and the back of his truck had been turned into a cozy fort, with blankets covering the bottom, pillows laid all the way around, and a charcuterie board sitting in the middle, piled high with fruit, cured meats, and cheeses.
I was stunned into silence. This was all just so… perfect in a way I could have never imagined.
“I love it,” I said softly.
Brooks kissed me, “I’m glad.”
We scooted back together against the pillows. The sun kept setting, soon turning the sky into pinks and purples. As I ate some of the salami, Brooks pulled out a bottle of wine and glasses from behind him. It was a pretty bottle, and the wine bubbled as he poured it. I took a sip, the fizz dancing across my lips, and its sweet, fruity taste pairing perfectly with the other things on the board.
“Are you a secret sommelier?” I asked.
He laughed. “No, the old woman in the grocery store just knows her shit and is happy to help a desperate farmer in need.”
“Desperate indeed,” I giggled.
We enjoyed the food and wine until the bottle was gone and the sun had fully disappeared, plunging the sky into darkness. Brooks put away everything so we could cuddle up. Stars began flickering around us, so clear it was like we could see the whole Milky Way from here.
“You can’t see the stars in the city,” I said.
“Why?”
“All the lights make it almost impossible to see anything other than the moon. But out here it’s like I can see every one.”
“It is really pretty. I’ve never thought about it before now, but with you, sometimes it feels like I’m seeing everything with fresh eyes. It’s hard to explain.”
“I feel the same way.” I turned to face him, and he did as well. Our faces were so close I could feel his breath tickle my nose.
He kissed me softly. It was just as sweet as always, something I’d come to love about my days. Waking up next to him, our morning talks, our late nights. It was all blending together and starting to feel like it could be my forever.
His hands traveled my body, touching my tits, my waist, my thighs.
“Does anyone come out here?” I asked against his lips.
“Nope,” he said. “Just us.”
“Good.” I flipped him over and started unbuttoning his pants. His zipper hissed down and I popped him out of his jeans, his length hard and ready to go.
My mouth came around it easily, sucking him down as far as I could in a single take. He groaned, his hands coming around to touch my head. I pulled up and ran my tongue around the tip the way I learned he liked, earning me a small shot of precum that I lapped up happily. I’d never gotten this hot just from bringing a partner pleasure, but something about seeing him writhing under me had my cunt tingling.
I pushed my thighs together, rubbing, hoping for some friction. “Do you want me to fuck you?” he asked. “I can see you wanting; let me give it to you.”
I pulled off him and looked up to see his blue eyes shining at me. He still had his hat on, and something about it always made him that much hotter.
I gripped it and placed it on my own head.
“How does it look?”
“Good,” he said, his voice thick with need. “Really good.”
I was glad to be wearing a dress so I could easily pull my panties aside and position myself over him.
I sank down all at once, obsessed with the feel of him stretching me quickly.
“Fuck,” he growled, his hands going to my hips. I bounced on him, loving the way he filled me over and over again. Every once in a while, I would go as far down as I could and grind, rubbing my clit against him.
“Honey, you feel so good.” He grabbed my hips and pushed up, taking the lead. Brooks normally let me ride him, but once we started fucking in earnest, he would give it to me just the way I liked. As if we were so in tune that he knew exactly what I needed, even when I didn’t ask.
I pulled up and off and listened to him whine for a second.
“Don’t worry, baby. We’re far from done.”