Rough and Rugged: A Meet Me In Milwaukee Charity Anthology

Chapter Three

Braden

Trouble is right. Tina Marie is a girl in a woman’s body who knows exactly what she wants—me. Nineteen with a mind of her own, she been running this place for two years—ever since her dad passed away. She’s a force to be reckoned with and refuses to back down from a challenge. Hence, despite my protest, Tina Marie has been coming at me with everything she has.

I’ve been here one month and have received so many fruit pies, it’s ridiculous. Tina Marie takes the old saying “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach” to heart. I leave each one untouched and not just because I’m not big on fruit pies—there’s only one I like—but because I know one bite I’d be hooked. Hell, I’m already am.

She finds a reason to visit me several times a day, each time standing so close, her breasts rub against my chest. My cock is so hard by the end of the day, I have to jack off to relieve the pressure. Tina Marie has crawled her way into my heart with that curvy body of hers and quick wit. She’s smart as a whip and I’ve learned a lot from her in my short time here. Her mother still hates me, but there’s nothing I can do about that. Her concerns are unwarranted. I won’t be laying a hand on her precious daughter—no matter how much I want too. A fact Tina Marie can clearly knows. She has mentioned to me several times that she can tell the effect she has on me and demands to know why I won’t just give in.

Now that’s a good question. Most men in my spot would’ve had her on her back weeks ago, but I refuse to go down that road. Tina Marie is too much for me… too young. I can admit that. She scares the hell out of me. After my ex, I vowed to never love again and I’ve already broken it. If I don’t give in to what my heart—and body—wants, then maybe I can get away still intact. Things were bad with my ex before she left, that’s why it didn’t surprise me. With Tina Marie, I’d lose my mind if it happened. She evokes feelings in me that I didn’t even know I had… possessiveness and borderline obsession. Whenever I see another man speaking with her, the first thought in my head is to destroy him. See, not normal at all. My ex never made me feel those things—and I married her.

“Hey there, Mr. Foreman. How’s it going today?” Speak of the devil.

I turn my back to her, focusing on the rows of apple trees, looking for what, I don’t know, but I make a good show, studying them as if my life depended on it.

“You’ve been here a month now… still liking the job?” Tina Marie asks, as if I’m not actively ignoring her.

Aware that she is my boss, meaning that I have to at least acknowledge her, I shrug my shoulders and say, “It’s okay—for now. Might look for something else later.” Liar. I love my job. It’s hard work but easier than logging. I didn’t realize until I got here how many varieties of apples there are. Cold Water Ridge takes pride in their apple heritage, even naming the streets after them.

Bear loves it here too. He comes home every day, rattling on about school and the fun he and Tina Marie had. His adulation of her has gotten to the point that I had to tell him yesterday to limit his time with her. I don’t want them getting any closer than they already have. If I can’t control myself, we might have to leave. I informed him of that fact as well, one he took pretty hard. I am the worst father.

Tina Marie laughs, then knocks the leaf out of my hand that I had picked up to avoid looking at her. She steps in front of me, her breasts pressed against my chest as usual. “Liar. You love it. The hands adore you as well. Said that you remind them of my dad. He was a good man too.”

Fuck. Mentioning her dad made her sad. Tears begin to well up in her light eyes and I don’t… I just react. “You’re right,” I softly say, pulling her into my arms. “I do like it. And I doubt that I’m as good of a man as your father was. According to the locals, he was a saint… and you’re damn close to one. He’d be proud of you, angel.”

Wrapping her arms around my neck, she tugs me closer and lifts her head until our lips are within touching distance. I shouldn’t have called her angel. I should step away and get back to work. But for the life of me, I can’t. I am, however, strong enough not to give her the kiss she’s silently begging for. When she realizes that it’s not going to happen, she drops her head onto my chest. We stand like that for several minutes, just holding each other, seeking comfort. Finally, we pull apart when the sound of others approaching reach our ears.

“What did you need?” I ask, putting us back into the boss/employee zone. It’s safe there, but Tina Marie doesn’t let me off the hook that easily.

“You know what I want… and someday, I’ll get it.”