14. A Spot Of Bother
Chapter 14
A Spot Of Bother
H aving sex in the moonlight in the middle of an apple farm should have been on Knox’s bucket list. Thea had about blown his mind.
Sexy. Giving. Funny. Knox had never laughed so much during sex. And he’d never, ever had sex that had left him completely wrecked.
He wanted nothing more than to keep his arms around Thea and stay right where they were until he had the energy to make love to her again. She was absolute magic.
But he needed to get rid of the condom and help her clean up. In the middle of an orchard without a bathroom in sight.
Knox ran his hands over Thea’s sexy body and kissed her hair. “I need to deal with the condom.”
She nodded and lifted her head to smile at him. “And now we’ve found the downside of sex in the forest.”
He laughed and kissed her. “Worth it.”
“Totally.”
In the end, Thea had a few tissues in her pockets. “When you work with compost, you learn to be prepared.”
Seemed like he might have to add tissues when he added condoms. Because it had totally been worth it.
They walked hand in hand as they strolled back to her cabin. His thirst for her had been momentarily slaked, but his body had already recovered, and he was thinking about their next time. And how soon it could be.
The orchard from this direction was a maze to Knox, but Thea’s steps were sure as she led him to her home. It rose as a black shape in the night, the outline growing more distinct as they neared.
She hadn’t left on a light but it still exuded homey vibes. Her face lit up when she pulled out her keys to open the deadbolt and the door. He hated that she’d lived without even that basic safety measure for so long.
He bolted the door behind them and then disposed of the tissue-wrapped condom in the garbage. No leaving garbage in the orchard.
Thea put a kettle on the stove and turned on the heat. Then she leaned against the counter. “I can’t believe we did that.”
He laughed. “I know. I’ve been wanting to make love to you almost from the first moment, but I didn’t expect our first time to be in the orchard.”
Her smile widened. “But you did expect there to be a first time?”
He shrugged. “Hoped. And I’m thrilled that there was. I’m hoping for a second time when you’re ready. Unless you’re having regrets?”
Laughter filled the small room. “Impossible to have regrets after that.” She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist. “I’ve never experienced anything like that. I think my shivers still have shivers.”
Relieved to see both her smile and delight shimmering in her eyes, he leaned down to kiss her. “We’re pretty spectacular together. Sex has never nearly killed me before.”
She laughed again, and Knox wondered how he’d ever gone without hearing that sound.
The kettle whistled, and they broke apart from another kiss. Thea turned off the burner. “Would you like some tea? I’ve got a few flavors.”
She gestured at a shelf of mason jars filled with tea leaves. “Is the apple cinnamon made from our apples?”
Her eyebrows shot up. “No, but that’s a really good idea. Although I don’t have a clue how to make tea or get the apple flavor. I wonder if that’s another use for the blemished apples.”
His head spun with ideas. “I’ve got a spreadsheet on my laptop for ideas to build more profit from the farm. I’ll add tea to it.”
“What else is on it?”
He grinned. “Anything I can think of. I put in the usual, like apple pies and tarts. It would be great if we had someone in the area who liked to bake or cook. We need something unique to lure people into buying our products. If we’re going to make a go of the farm, we need to keep costs down and profits up. Having a ready-made market would be great. So if we had a local baker looking for apples to use, that would help.”
Thea’s expression turned thoughtful. “I don’t know much about baking, but I bet there are tons of people who do. There’s plenty of time before harvest to look into finding sources. Do you think your family will want to keep the farm that long?”
Her shaky voice betrayed her nerves, and he felt like an ass. “Hell, I was going to tell you the news, but I got completely distracted by seeing you in the moonlight like some kind of fairy witch spreading her beauty to the trees.”
Her face flushed, and he had to kiss her again. “You’re addictive, Thea.”
“Yes, you are.”
He laughed. No one had ever made him laugh so easily and so often. Their first round of sex had blown his mind, but his attraction was about so much more than the physical. This woman fascinated him and made him want to better the world. Which reminded him of his original intention in searching her out in the orchard.
Taking her hands, he held them out to the side. “I almost got distracted again, and I’m blaming you. Again. Stop being so damn irresistible for a minute so I can tell you the news.”
She squeezed his hands where he held them. “You’re a charmer, Knox Malssum.”
“Only for you.”
She laughed and he kissed her again but managed to keep it quick.
“I’ve talked them into not selling for the moment. I don’t know how long we’ve got, but for now, they’re onboard with exploring our options and finding out if the farm is something we want to keep.”
Thea bounced on her toes and swung their hands. “Seriously? They don’t want to sell right away?”
“Seriously. Jolie is one hundred percent on board. I think she’ll be showing up here in the next few weeks to help. She’s the most excited.”
“And the others?”
He shrugged. “They’re all intrigued by the prospects. Well, maybe not Burke, but his mission in life is to make sure we’re all happy and taken care of. He takes the role of big brother very seriously. He was probably always that way, but losing our parents amplified the trait. Knowing I want this so badly and seeing the others are intrigued, he agreed to give it six months before we reevaluate.”
“That’ll bring us to harvest time. That gives us time to show them what the farm could be. Show them all the potential.”
“I didn’t even tell you the best part.”
Her eyes widened again. “What’s that.”
“We’re going to get you a Worminator.”
For a long beat, Thea simply stared at him, as if waiting for the punchline. He nodded.
Finally, she squealed and threw herself around him. He caught her easily and swung her in a tight circle, wondering if any other woman in the world would be as excited about compost.
And why he found it so appealing.
T he next morning, Thea held Knox’s hand as they exited her cabin. She’d rarely spent an entire night with a man, and she’d expected it to be awkward. A too small bed, potential snoring, morning breath.
None of that had happened. They slept entwined, and as far as she knew, she hadn’t snored. Morning breath hadn’t been a factor as Knox had woken her with his mouth on her breasts. And lower.
He’d only had one condom, but they’d found several other ways to spend the time in bed and the tiny shower. Knox’s shoulders had barely fit through the shower door but the tight space hadn’t stopped them.
She’d had so many orgasms in the past few hours she wondered if the smile would ever slide off her face. And she couldn’t wait to feel Knox’s body inside hers again.
They were stirring the compost when Fox loped in for his morning greeting. Now relegated to her second favorite type of hug in the world.
After he’d wiggled down, the dog headed to Knox for a full-body rubdown. Fox had accepted Knox easily as part of the family, as part of their everyday.
Thea could imagine them doing these tasks years into the future. Decades even. It scared her how easily it was to imagine Knox as a permanent fixture in her life.
They had six months to prove themselves. To prove that the farm was viable. To show progress and growth.
If they didn’t succeed, would the family want to sell? She imagined the best times to sell a farm was either in the spring when buyers could see the potential or the fall when that potential was realized.
The property was beautiful at all times of the year. Apple blossoms everywhere in the spring, gorgeous greenery throughout the summer, and a bounty of apples in the fall. Even in the winter, with feet of snow hiding the land and helping it rest, there was a special kind of beauty. That quiet solitude, the sleeping trees, the time to fix equipment and plan for the future.
It was way too early to be so sure but she was. She wanted to spend those seasons here with Knox. The best way to ensure that was to work their butts off to make the farm as profitable and attractive as possible.
Starting with choosing the right Worminator for the property.
The task of watering and stirring the compost didn’t deter Knox. He didn’t mind getting his hands dirty. Her skin flushed as she thought of how those hands had pleasured her throughout the night.
“Keep your mind out of the gutter and on the compost, Thea.”
She laughed, something she was doing often. “It’s all your fault. You’re too sexy standing there stirring up dirt.”
They were still laughing and teasing when they reached the farmhouse an hour later. Sexy banter with a drool-worthy man. Who would have thought she was even capable of that? Certainly not her.
“I’ll make some coffee, and we can sit out here on the porch to research Worminators. I’m going to guess you already have opinions.”
She nodded. “Strong opinions. And don’t forget to keep the coffee grounds. We’ll add them to the compost piles.”
“Always with your mind in the compost.”
Soon they sat side by side with his laptop in front of them. She pulled up her bookmarked tabs on her phone, and he opened them on the laptop to look them over.
When he didn’t swear or pass out at the prices, she relaxed a bit. “I know they’re expensive.”
He shrugged. “Most investments are. You can’t make money in a business without investments. Good equipment is always worth the cost. If you buy cheap stuff, you end up having to fix it or buy new. Better to start off the right way. Even Burke would tell you it’s a cheaper option in the long run.”
She leaned her head on his shoulder. “Now, that’s some sexy talk.”
He burst out laughing and turned to kiss her. Of course, her body reacted predictably and she melted in only moments.
When Knox pulled back, he grinned at her. “I like being able to do that.”
She nodded. “Me too.”
With a sigh, he turned back to the laptop. “We should be responsible adults for a while. The sooner we get your Worminator ordered, the sooner we’ll be on our way to profit and convincing my family to live here.”
“Do you think they’ll be happy here? It’s kind of in the middle of nowhere.”
He nodded. “We grew up in small towns. For business and career reasons, we’ve mostly moved to big cities but we all like the quieter life. With Phail and some other towns close by, we’re not truly isolated. Not when we have vehicles.”
Then he frowned at her. “I’m sorry you were alone here without access to a vehicle or keys to the buildings. The lawyer never mentioned you lived on the property. I’m sure that’s not what Jay wanted.”
She sighed. “I miss him so much. He was a good friend. I don’t think he thought much about dying. He was healthy and probably expected to have many years ahead of him. The heart attack was a surprise because he’d never had heart issues that I knew about. He never mentioned taking medication.”
Knox shook his head softly. “It amazes me how alike he and Fox were. I wish they’d figured their shit out before the end.”
She nodded. “There are a lot of signs proving that Jay wished things had turned out differently, but I don’t know if he ever made any effort to contact his brother.”
Knox frowned. “I’m determined that’s not going to happen to my family. We’re still in contact with each other, and I can’t imagine that being different, but I want us closer. Even if I can’t convince them all to live here, owning the farm together is a strong connection. It gives as a reason to get together and have conversations. We’re not going to drift apart like Fox and Jay.”
She squeezed his hand. “I don’t think you will. Even without the farm, you’ve got strong bonds with each other. You’re going to make it work. You’re not going to lose each other.”
He kissed her lightly. “Thanks. Your belief helps. And we’re going to make kickass improvements to the farm to help with that.”
They were deep into comparing Worminators when her phone rang. It took her a moment to realize what the noise was. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a phone call.
Her phone rested on the table and the name of the caller flashed across the screen making her stomach tighten.
Knox’s voice was hard and angry when he demanded. “Who the hell is Asshole Andy and do I need to kick his ass?”
Maybe she should have changed the name she’d assigned her former boss, but it was a perfect fit. She took a deep breath and patted Knox’s arm. She considered ignoring the call, but curiosity compelled her to find out what he wanted. It had been months since his last email and he’d never called before. “I’ll tell you in a minute.”
Then she answered the phone and put it on speaker. She didn’t want any secrets from the man beside her. “Hello.”
“You’re a difficult woman to find.”
Well, that was weird. She hadn’t had any missed calls and he’d never asked her location in the emails. Not that she would have answered him. Instead of responding, she waited to see what else he would say. She didn’t have to wait long.
“Where are you?”
She wanted to tell him it was none of his damn business. Instead, she asked, “Why does it matter?”
“Your job is waiting for you.”
She frowned at the phone. It wasn’t as if he’d fired her. She’d quit. “Not interested.”
His fake laugh tried to ooze sincerity. “Of course you are. You know the people in the area, and you understand the land here.”
“That isn’t what you told people before.”
She could almost see him gritting his teeth while he controlled his temper. “That was a misunderstanding. There was no reason for you to walk away. The job is waiting for you.”
“Still not interested. Goodbye.”
He was sputtering when she disconnected the call.
Knox wrapped his arm around her shoulders and tugged her in for a hug. “Asshole Andy lives up to his name.”
She choked out a laugh. “He certainly does. It’s been over a year since I quit. He’s sent a couple of emails offering the job back, but that’s the first time he called. I can’t imagine why he would think I’d have any desire to work with him again. And he’s never asked where I was before.”
Knox rubbed her shoulder. “That makes his comment about you being difficult to find very odd.”
She nodded. “It does.”
“Do you want to tell me what happened with the jerk?”
She shrugged. “Not a lot to tell aside from what you heard. I worked for him as a soil consultant. He had a business that matched farmers with consultants. Hiring an individual consultant can be expensive for small farmers, so Andy ran a business where we worked part-time with a variety of farmers.”
Knox kissed her hair. “Tell me where the asshole part comes in.”
She sighed. “He told more than one farmer that I was implementing his ideas. He took credit for everything I implemented and told one man I was lucky he continued to keep me on the payroll.”
“Yep, Asshole Andy fits.”
“He didn’t expect me to find out. However, several farmers started questioning me. They wouldn’t accept new ideas from me without his approval. Said they knew I wasn’t the expert I claimed to be. Andy had trashed my reputation.”
“And stole credit for your work. Did you sue?”
She laughed harshly. “Not a chance. It was a he said, she said situation and would be difficult to prove. I quit, but no one in the area would hire me. No farmers trusted me.”
“And then you came to Vermont and found Jay?”
That brought a smile. “Yes. We met in a diner where he and some friends were debating pesticides. Jay saw me roll his eyes at one comment and next thing I knew, we were debating regenerative farming and soil. In an hour I had a new job and a new friend.”
“Why would Andy be calling you now? Why would he think you’d want to work for him again?”
She shrugged. “Good questions. He’s an arrogant man. Maybe he believes his own bullshit.”
“Or maybe it’s been an entire season without your ideas, and the farmers are realizing he’s the one who was full of crap. I wonder how his business is doing without you.”
Another shrug. “Honestly, I’ve never had any interest in looking him up. I can’t believe he would think I’d have any interest in talking to him again but I am curious as to what changed.”
Knox frowned. “You think this guy could be dangerous?”
That made her laugh. “No. He’s a self-important businessman who wants the world to think he’s amazing.”
“Sounds like he’s used to getting his way.”
“Maybe, but he’s not getting it this time.”
“He wants something from you. If you get a dangerous vibe from him, will you let me know?”
She nodded. “Of course, but Asshole Andy might be arrogant but he’s not dangerous.”
Knox kissed her hair. “Okay. Now let’s choose our Worminator.”