CHAPTER 30
Tally
“So tell me why you really stayed away from the farm all these years.” Walker strums his fingers through my hair, almost putting me to sleep with his touch.
We’re lying in a brand-new bed in one of two bedrooms in the cottage.
This is one of the bigger cottages that I’ve always loved.
Probably because it’s in the wildflower field.
After round one—or maybe it was round one and a half?
—of sex, he carried me in here, telling me he needed more room to play.
I wasn’t complaining when I had my third orgasm of the night with my head buried in a pillow as he took me from behind.
Now we’re both still naked, the sheets tangled around our waists as I relax my head on his chest.
Still, I really don’t want to answer his question. My fingers curl around the smattering of hair on his chest, and I absently pulse my grip as we talk. It’s a mindless movement, but it eases some of the tension from this topic. “We don’t have to talk about it.”
Walker’s fingers dig into my hair, and he tugs so I’m looking at him. “Please. I want to know.”
Warmth rolls through me at his interest. “That’s sweet, Walker, but—”
“No buts.” His grip tightens. “Let me in, woman.”
“That’s what he said,” I respond with a giggle.
Walker rolls his eyes. “I’m being serious.”
“Damn. For a man who doesn’t like talking, you are saying an awful lot of words.”
“I like talking to you.” He says it almost defensively.
And though it’s a soft admission, it comes out a bit harsh.
Like he’s mad that he feels this way and even more mad that I haven’t realized.
I have, but sarcasm is my defense mechanism.
If I keep people right on the outskirts of touching the real me, there’s less chance I’ll get hurt when this temporary fling comes to an end.
Because it always does. I’ll leave, and he’ll forget about me.
Because I’m just the temporary girl. The one who comes in and fixes things for a bit, not enough to be the one to keep.
Even so, with the way he’s looking at me, I find myself spilling the truth. “I never went to college. I’m sure you’ve noticed that this farm doesn’t make a ton of money.”
Walker’s brows furrow.
“Don’t get me wrong, my parents would have mortgaged the land or sold off part of it if it meant I could go to school.
I couldn’t let them do that. And Penny was the bookworm.
She was good at all that stuff, so I just figured their investment was better funding her.
” I sigh as his grip loosens on my hair and he goes back to running his fingers through it.
My gaze falls to the window in the corner of the room; there are no curtains up yet so the lightning storm outside continues to brighten the space.
“I figured that if I traveled to different resorts as a seasonal worker, I could save up money and eventually be able to afford culinary school without being a burden to my family. I’ve enjoyed it, too, don’t get me wrong; I’ve really enjoyed it.
I’ve gotten to work for some incredible chefs, and the one in Nantucket this summer, she’s one of the best pastry chefs in the country.
Restaurants hire her to fix their menus.
To train their staff. And she asked me to help.
” I bite my lip. “So that’s my story. I wasn’t running, and I don’t hate being here.
I just have a plan that I need to see through before I can think about coming back.
” I tilt my head to look up at him again.
“And I’ve already been accepted into the New England Culinary Institute in the fall. ”
“Tally, that’s incredible.” He leans down and presses a kiss to my forehead. “You’re incredible.”
“Well, I can only go if I make enough this summer to get me through culinary school without working. They offer the entire program online, but I want to do it in person.” I bite my lip. “I just want to experience it, ya know?”
He brushes his lips against mine. “You will.” I’m swept up in the kiss as he breathes me in, as my nerves ping-pong around in relief from finally having told someone everything.
Sure, Penny knows bits and pieces, but even she believes I left here because I wanted to. I never wanted my sister to feel bad that she went after her dreams. I did, too. It’s just taken me on a different path and a bit longer than others my age.
“So tell me about your idea to sell baked goods at the festival and farmers market.”
I shake my head. “It was a silly idea. There’s no time. I’m supposed to be helping you prepare the cottages and everything else around the farm. Besides, I don’t have anywhere to bake.”
Walker’s fingers dig into my hair and he tugs me so I’m looking at him again. “You’ll use the kitchen in the big house. We’ll make it work.”
“We?”
“Yeah, we. You help me with jobs around the farm during the day, and I’ll help you at night.”
My eyes widen. “You can’t be serious.”
“It’s a good idea. You can charge a pretty penny for those cupcakes. I know I’d empty my bank account for a bowl of that frosting alone.”
I smile and Walker leans down and brushes his lips against mine. “Besides, the farm isn’t paying you for all your help.”
“It’s the least I can do.”
That’s the understatement of the year. The guilt I feel for not having done more while my father was alive will forever haunt me.
I bite my lip, though, because I know what my father would have done in our position.
Walker may not like it, but that’s just because he doesn’t realize how this town works.
“I do think we should take Eli up on his offer, though.”
Walker growls and his hands dig into the flesh of my ass as he pulls me close. “Don’t mention another man while you’re naked in bed with me.”
I chuckle. “Men. You’re all the same.”
“Yup.” His dimple pops as he grins down at me, and I’m so shocked by it I almost forget my words. “But I’ll think about it.”
“Really?”
Walker pulls me onto his lap, and immediately I feel his erection growing between my legs. “Really. Now, no more talking, woman. I need you.”
“Again?” I grip him between my fingers, stroking up and down slowly.
He stares down at where I’m holding him. “I’ve got weeks of wanting you to make up for. I’ve fought this since the day you stepped foot on this farm.”
“You were in a towel,” I say before rolling my thumb over his crown.
A smile hooks his lips. “I was.”
I sit up, my breasts hanging heavy, my want making me grind against him. “You looked so good, Cowboy.”
That smile expands.
“So three whole weeks you fought these feelings.” I grip my breast as he groans watching me. “So desperate I got ya to break.”
He laughs and his hands squeeze my hips. “You say it like it’s nothing, but you have no idea what a feat it is. I don’t want things. Don’t dream of people.”
My movements stop. My palms fall to his chest. “What do you dream of?”
The apple of his throat works. “My sister being happy. My nephew’s smile. The land beneath my feet. A simple, easy life.”
His eyes rove over my naked body. “You.”
Me. Elation has me lying flat against his chest, and I press a kiss right above his heart.
His mouth goes to the crown of my head. “You make me think of nothing but you. Damn distracting is what you are.” His hands roam up and down my back and then he squeezes my ass.
“Can’t have that,” I whisper conspiratorially.
We hold one another’s gaze, and with the light of the moon cutting through the dark cottage, I don’t miss the longing in his brown eyes.
I don’t like the way he’s suddenly looking at me. Like this is so much more than either of us signed up for. Because falling for a man and raising babies on this farm isn’t part of my plan.
I blink, cutting off our eye contact. Giving up my dreams for a man isn’t happening. “Well, I’m glad we scratched the itch,” I say, even though the words feel all wrong as they come out.
Walker’s hands fall away from my body and he shifts, turning on his side and staring at me.
“Oh, you think you’ve gotten your fill?” He says it like he knows exactly what I’m thinking. No one has sex like that and doesn’t want to go back for seconds. Thirds. He spanked my freaking clit. I’ll be craving that high for a long, long time.
“I’m not the one who’s been fighting this attraction, Cowboy.”
A wicked smile finds his mouth, and his fingers trail down my legs, spreading me, his middle finger sliding inside me in one indecent stretch. “So you’ve had your fill, Tally?”
I can’t hold back the moan or the way my body arches for his touch.
His lips find my collarbone, and he presses hot kisses against my already heated skin. He stretches me with a second finger, and I cry out in response.
“That’s right, Wildflower, open for me. Your mouth might be telling me one time is enough, but your body gives you away.”
“Just don’t want to distract you,” I rasp.
His mouth finds mine in an instant; his tongue licking at me like he’s so damn hungry. Like I’m his favorite dessert. “As long as you’re on this farm, you’re a distraction.”
He presses my clit and rolls it so softly that I pant.
“Which means that, until you leave for Nantucket, you’ll be in my bed. Letting me fuck you. Letting me pleasure you. I’m not accepting anything less than that.”
I shift us so that I’m straddling him again, this time sucking him inside me in one quick thrust. His eyes squeeze shut on a curse. “Fuck. Me.”
“Only because you asked so nicely.”