CHAPTER 24
Walker
“Thought those were my apology cupcakes?” I remind Tally as I lean against the refrigerator, watching as she frosts one cupcake after another and places them on a platter to take over to the farmers market.
The woman has been a machine all week, baking and decorating and plotting with her sister far later than I could stay up.
The plan is to bring the baked goods to the farmers market today and make more content.
And I suppose hopefully sell some cupcakes.
Who the fuck knows. The girls seem to have a plan, and I’m trying not to get in the way of it.
My only plan since Tally arrived two weeks ago has been to stay away from her.
Which I’m failing at spectacularly because here I am again, staring at the way she sways her damn hips to some sad song.
It’s hypnotic really, the way her lilac-spandex-covered ass rolls from one side to the other, the caramel waves on her head jostling with her movement. She’s got on a white crop top that falls off one shoulder, exposing the straps of her lilac bra.
I push off the fridge and step closer to her. “You almost done?”
From this close I can smell the sugar from whatever she’s making mixed with her shampoo, and the combination has my cock stirring even though the past few days have been nothing but a shit show and I’m stressed to all hell over the tulips.
Although the longer I stand in this room, right behind her, with her warmth so close it sets my skin on fire, the urge to touch her, to smell her, to taste her grows exponentially.
I pull back and put my hands in my pockets as she looks over her shoulder. “Almost.”
With a cupcake in her hand, Tally spins toward me. I’m expecting her to offer it to me, but instead she takes a huge bite and then closes her eyes as she hums. Forget her hips being hypnotic. The sight and sound of Tally closing her eyes and eating a damn cupcake is downright erotic.
A whimper slips past my throat, and Tally’s eyes fly open. “Want one?”
“Well, they were supposed to be for me,” I grumble. “Though I don’t even eat cupcakes.” The pout that forms on her lips has me adding, “But I guess I can try one of yours.”
The way Tally lights up fills me with insane pride. I did that.
Like a man who knows he’s thoroughly fucked, I watch Tally grab another cupcake and slather it with frosting. She watches me pensively as I bite into it. I’d probably have faked loving the cupcake, but I don’t have to.
“Fucking hell, that’s—” I take another bite and groan, my eyes falling shut. “What is that?” I stuff the rest of it into my mouth. It’s the best thing I’ve ever eaten. Hands down. I had no idea a cupcake could taste like that. Sweet and salty, spongy, decadent. “Holy shit, Tally. What the hell?”
Her shoulders relax, and her surprised laugh rings out. “It’s a honey cupcake with salted caramel frosting.”
I shake my head as I look around her, wanting more.
She giggles and grabs another one, but I’m staring at the frosting bowl I’d like to stick my head in.
“How the hell did you make this?”
“There was this bakery on the Capemy parents used to take us to every year after Daffodil Festival,” she tells me as she swipes the frosting onto the cupcake for me.
“They had honey cupcakes, and my dad always loved them. I went back a few years ago, wanting to surprise him with a batch on my way home from Nantucket that summer, but the bakery had closed.” The smile that was on her face slips and her lips twist. “I told my dad that I wanted to get the recipe so I could make them for him because we hadn’t been able to go on vacation for a long time, and he’d just smiled and said he bet I could make them even better.
Then he stayed up all night with me and taste-tested every version until I got the recipe just right.
” She dips her finger into the bowl of creamy frosting and grins.
“The salted caramel frosting was my own addition, though. He loved these cupcakes.”
It’s clear as day she misses her dad, and that ache to make things easier for her squeezes my chest. “Of course he did.”
She licks the frosting from her finger and my dick jumps as she pierces me with those golden eyes. “We’re going to fix this, Walker.”
I take a slow breath through my nose, trying to calm my raging dick.
I’m pretty sure these cupcakes could broker peace, but I doubt they’ll put off Frank’s plans.
Even still, as stressed as I am about the farm, none of our problems are really her fault.
The tarps on the tulips were a Band-Aid.
To save the farm, we’ll need a lot more than cupcakes and a few more weeks of spring.
—
“Is it always this crowded?” Billie asks as we walk to the farmers market with more bouquets of flowers. We sold out of everything on the table in the first half hour.
“It’s normally a decent turnout but nothing like this.”
My sister shakes her head. “It’s insane. And why does everyone keep trying to take your picture?”
I pull the cowboy hat over my face to hide. “People are weird.”
“Tally looks pretty today,” Billie continues as we reach our table.
I do anything to avoid looking in her direction.
She looks gorgeous, and I’ve already stolen more glances in her direction today than I should have.
After setting up the table with us, she disappeared and returned in a yellow sundress that had every man in the vicinity blinking like cartoon characters.
It’s got light pink flowers on it anddips low enough for me to see the swell of her pretty breasts.
She looks so damn beautiful. I just want to pull her beneath my arm and hold her there.
Which is insane since she’s not mine and I’m not making the mistake of being alone with her again. It only ends badly, with me wanting to push her up against the wall and taste her mouth. I can’t stop replaying the sounds she made the other night in her bed. Whimpering my fucking name.
“Hi, Walker!” Rayna says, cutting through my thoughts, as soon as we place the bouquets on the table. The rest of the Liberty Ladies are by her side like a row of flowers, each one wearing a brighter color than the last.
“Hi, ladies,” I say. The cupcakes are now all gone, but there’s still a line of people waiting for the extra flower arrangements. Tally and her mom have been manning the table with Quinn while Billie and I sorted our stock issues.
“Don’t forget about book club tomorrow night,” Babs says.
“Book club?” Billie enquires.
Tally lights up at her interest. “Oh, you’ll have to come! Your brother really enjoys book club. Don’t you, Walker?”
I blow out a breath but don’t respond.
Gail smiles at my sister. “Oh, you should definitely come.”
“Yeah. And we decided next week’s book is going to be a cowboy romance in your honor,” Babs nods toward me.
“Not a cowboy,” I grumble.
My sister laughs and Tally knocks her hip against mine. I glance down at her and get a whiff of her sweet scent right as our eyes connect. Those damn golden eyes. She licks her lips, and I swear the entire farmers market fades away.
Then she reaches up and snatches the cowboy hat right off my head. “Fine, I’ll be the cowboy for the day.”
“Oh, you know what they say in those cowboy romances?” Penny says, appearing out of nowhere.
With my hat still held tight on her head, Tally turns to her sister. “What?”
Penny flashes her a wicked grin. “Wear the hat, ride the cowboy.”
Tally’s head falls back, and her loud, raspy laugh has my dick twitching.
“I wanna wear the hat!” Quinn whines.
Without missing a beat, Tally turns and plops it on his head with a smile. “Looks better on you, anyway.”
He grins back at her like she’s the best thing he’s ever seen. I’m right there with him.
The Liberty Ladies all move on down the line as Gail rings up their purchases, and I try to focus on anything but these feelings swirling in my chest.
Quinn tugs on my arm. “Can I go play in the fields?”
I grab my hat back and look to Billie, who nods, and I give him strict directions to stay within hollering distance. The farm abuts the brewery so I can see Quinn as he runs up and down the rows of pink and purple tulip beds.
When I turn back, Rosie is walking toward us carrying the damn coffee mugs that say THIS IS DEFINITELY COFFEE in one hand and a bottle of champagne in the other.
She hands Tally one and Penny takes the other two while Rosie precariously pops the champagne, the cork flying behind her.
She giggles as the liquid fizzes over, and she pours each of them a generous amount.
I grunt in annoyance as my sister laughs beside me.
Rosie taps her glass against the other two. “This is some turnout.”
Tally smiles and winks in my direction. “All thanks to our viral cowboy.”
I’m about to give her a quick response but fall silent as I catch my sister smiling at the three women. She’s so focused on their easy banter and teasing. Those sorts of friendships are what she’s missing in her life. And more than anything in the world, I wish I could give it to her.
I’m just about to grab Billie’s attention so she doesn’t feel left out when Tally reaches right in front of me and yanks on the hem of my sister’s shirt. “C’mere.”
My sister’s surprised “Oh, okay,” has my stomach somer-saulting.
Tally hands her a mug. “Don’t make me drink it all myself. I’m a lightweight.”
And then she shares her drink with my sister.
She shares her friends with my sister.
And my stomach is in a free fall. I’m so screwed.
—
Hours later, I’m out in the fields, tending to the tulips and trying to forget how good today was.
After we finished up at the farmers market, Rosie invited everyone to the brewery for an early dinner.
She said it was the best day the brewery had since opening weekend three years ago so she wanted to celebrate.
Billie spent the whole day chatting with Gail and the Darling girls, and Quinn managed to drag Tally and Rosie onto the dance floor as a live country band performed.
The Darlings—and Rosie—welcomed my family into their fold, and it reminded me all of the things Billie and I missed growing up.
It’s always just been us. And I’ve always wanted to be enough for her.
Enough of a brother, of a pseudo father, a terrible, makeshift mother.
But after today, watching Tally, Penny, and Gail laughing and dancing together, I realize that’s the kind of family my sister deserves.
I’m just one person. I can’t be all the people.
When Billie finally took Quinn home, Tally asked if I wanted to stay for a drink with her. I said no because I had work to do and I needed space from her to think.
Now, I’m heading up the hill after checking on the daffodils, ready for a nice long shower and bed, when I see a flash of light coming from the big house.
Then someone steps onto the porch, shrieks, and launches off the front steps.
My eyes narrow as I try to make out who it is.
When the light of the moon hits her like a spotlight, Tally’s angelic features come into view and I see a huge smile on her face.
She runs straight toward me until she’s launching herself right into my chest. I don’t hesitate to grab her by the ass, lifting and squeezing her to me so we both don’t fall over.
“Eli shared our viral post online!” she squeals.
“What?” I’m slightly out of breath with her so close.
Tally’s golden eyes glow in the moonlight. “Eli! He shared the post, and one of his old hockey buddies, Daniel Hall, commented, asking if we had any wedding openings this spring.”
“That’s a good thing?” I honestly don’t understand half the words she’s saying, but she seems happy.
Tally laughs and then she squeezes my cheeks between her palms and stares down at me.
“Yeah, Cowboy. That’s a good thing. Daniel is like a huge hockey star, and his wife is this big-time author.
Penny is freaking out. She’s obsessed with Hannah.
They want to do a vow renewal here! Can you imagine how big this could be for the farm?
This is it, Walker. I feel it. Everything is going to be all right! ”
Tally is still in my arms, and once again, our lips are too close. Golden waves of her hair act like a curtain around us as we stand in the middle of the meadow, the budding daffodils and glittering stars our only witnesses. A man could act reckless out here and no one would know.
“I like seeing you smile, Wildflower.”
Tally’s mouth curves. “I like when you call me ‘Wildflower.’”
“Yeah?”
Her teeth dig into her bottom lip.
“Yeah.” The word is whispered. “But I liked it better when you called me your wildflower.” Her thumb slides across my bottom lip and she tugs on it.
I grunt. With her legs wrapped around my waist I can feel her warmth. Can imagine how easy it would be to head right back to the house, slam the door, and forget about everything else.
“Tally.” Her name comes out as a rasp. I’m pleading for her to pull back. To stop us from making this mistake.
She leans just a bit closer and rubs her soft lips against mine. “Shhh, Cowboy, let me play for a minute.”
My dick throbs against my zipper as her tongue peeks out, and I practically growl when she slides it against my lips, tasting me.
That’s all it takes for me to snap. Gripping her ass with one hand, I slide the other up and wrap it around the back of her neck, needing control. “Okay, Wildflower, let’s play.”
My lips crash into hers, and it isn’t a fire that sets my body aflame.
No, it’s a tidal wave that pulls me out to sea.
An out-of-control disaster that could consume us both and drag us under.
I don’t care, though. I could drown in this woman without even realizing it because I’d rather keep my lips on hers than ever breathe again.
Just as I imagined, her lips taste like sugar—probably from the incredible cupcakes that got us into this mess to begin with—and something else I can’t quite put my finger on.
I lick into her mouth, seeking more. She moans, and her legs tighten around my waist. Her fingers grip my hair, and she tugs, giving me just that little bit of pain that I crave.
Then she scrapes down my scalp and nips at my lips.
Fuck, this woman is perfect.
“Tally,” I mumble.
“Shhh, Cowboy, you’ll ruin it.” She pecks my lips one more time and then she’s sliding down my body and pushing down the skirt of her dress, hiding those gorgeous thighs, which I just had exactly where I wanted them.
My fingers ache to reach for her. To pull her back against me and take another taste.
But she rushes off in the direction of her mother’s cottage, her hair bouncing as she goes, a pretty smile on her face when she glances over her shoulder one more time.
And fuck if that’s not the most gorgeous view on this whole damn farm.