Twenty-Six
Keith
Work was busy, and I was never so thankful for it.
Bart was constantly on my mind, but I hadn’t heard from him for a couple of days.
He was still adjusting to life on the farm and once one cow had given birth a few more would be right behind, so they’d all be busy.
I told myself that, but I didn’t believe it.
And I wouldn’t be going to Asa’s for a few months. Just then my phone rang.
“Hello?” I answered through my truck’s Bluetooth without even looking.
“Hey, what are you doing for dinner?” Bart asked.
“I don’t think I have anything planned,” I said, surprised by not just his call but his question.
“No hot date?” he asked.
“No! I mean no. I was going to go home and cook whatever I could drum up for myself.”
“Come over for dinner, I’m cooking.”
“Really? I’m not sure I should.”
“Be here at five or it’ll all be gone. See ya, babe,” he said, once again leaving me speechless.
“Guess I got a hot date for dinner,” I said to myself as I drove to my next appointment.
A while later I turned down the road and passed the sign for the dairy.
It felt strange, but also exciting. I’d never gone to eat at the house of someone I’d hooked up with.
I mean most of those were from out of town, but even when I lived in Woodland it didn’t happen.
“I should have been pickier about who I went out with.” I drove up to the house and there he was at the grill wearing an apron with a cow print on it and waving a spatula at me.
“About time you got here,” he said as I walked up.
“I wasn’t sure if I should bring anything, so I just grabbed a six pack.”
“You didn’t have to bring anything except you,” he said before walking up and kissing me. “I’ve missed you.”
Saying I sagged with relief would have been the understatement of the year. “I’m so glad you called. I’ve missed you too, and I didn’t want to bother you. I know you’re busy.”
“I’m never too busy for you. Call me anytime. Or send a text. I’m good with that,” he said. “I hope you’re hungry. I wanted to give Asa a break, so I made a pot of beans and burgers.”
There had to be at least twenty burgers on the grill that he was turning as fast as they were cooking and my stomach growled at how good they smelled. “I can eat.”
“I hope you can eat a lot,” he said before flipping them one more time.
“Is there anything I can help with?”
“No, I have it but take the beer inside and put it in the fridge.”
I walked inside and stopped in my tracks. “Is that Annie?” There she was in the kitchen next to Asa, drinking her bottle looking happy as can be and not even appearing out of place. “I thought no cows in the house?” I said when Asa looked up.
“Well, she hasn’t shit yet, and she is pretty cute.” He shrugged and went back to feeding her.
I shook my head and hid my grin as I took out a beer and put the rest in the fridge. “Beer?”
“No thanks, son, this one keeps me too busy for that.”
“Thanks, Asa, it’s nice to be here.” I looked down and realized I still had my work clothes on since I’d finished late and rushed over. “Mind if I wash up?”
He waved me off and I walked down the hall to the bathroom.
After washing my face as best I could and washing my hands up to my elbows, I was about as clean as I was going to be able to get without taking a shower.
“Did you fall in?” Bart said from the other side of the door as he pounded like he was going to break it down.
I flung it open catching him with his fist still raised and a mischievous grin on his lips. “Just getting as clean as I can. It’s dirty work after all.” His eyes bounced between mine before he lunged at me and kissed me hard.
“I’m so glad you came. I know it’s only been a few days, but we really need to get better about communicating.”
“I’ll admit I’m not the best at that. I was waiting for you to contact me.”
“Didn’t want to be pushy huh?” he said.
“Didn’t want to make a fool of myself if you weren’t interested.”
With an incredulous look, he kissed me again. “Have you seen yourself lately? Who wouldn’t be interested?”
The emotions he made me feel overwhelmed me, and for a moment I could only stare at him.
Wanting to remember every little feature.
The line of freckles across his nose, the way his brown eyes had a little bit of gold mixed in and how his hair was more a deep red than brown.
“Have you seen yourself? You’ve put on some muscle since you’ve been here.
All this country living looks good on you. ” I slid my arms around his waist.
“Did I not look good before?” he asked and stuck out that bottom lip making it too tempting for me to pass up as I sucked it into my mouth.
“Moo moooo.”
“What the?”
“Annie, sorry, baby, I was getting a little good loving, no need to be jealous,” Bart said before scooping her up. “Come on, dinner is ready.”
“This is the craziest thing I’ve seen this week,” I said as I followed them down the hall and back to the kitchen where Noah and Asa were both sitting at the table grinning.