Chapter 20
“I’m not payingfor all these vegetables, you know,” Amber said as Theo added yet another bunch of greens into the canvas market bag. She waved to Sawyer Manning, who was lifting a crate of butter lettuce out from the back of his farm truck, displaying the bulging muscles his profession had gifted him with. “No offense, Sawyer. You know I always buy your aunt’s honey.”
The following Saturday on their run, Amber had caught a whiff of corn dogs and dragged Theo to the farmers’ market. Her idea backfired when Theo purchased two reusable bags and proceeded to fill them with enough fruits and vegetables to feed her entire building for the week.
“I didn’t think you were,” Theo said. He handed Sawyer cash and stuffed another bunch of kale in the bag.
“No offense taken,” Sawyer replied, tipping his worn straw hat toward her with a roguish grin. They had gone to school together, and Sawyer had taken over his family farm a few years ago. Amber always made sure to stop by his stand to pick up his aunt’s local honey and baked goods if he had them.
“Sawyer, have you met Mayor Clairmont?” Amber asked. “Sawyer’s a part of the Northfield Sustainable Agriculture Initiative,” she mentioned.
“Can’t say that I have,” Sawyer admitted. He took a bandanna from his back pocket and wiped his hands off, offering one.
“Call me Theo, please.” Theo said, shaking his hand.
“The initiative could really benefit from more community support, maybe even a partnership with the town,” Amber said casually. “Sawyer, the mayor’s been looking for ways to support local sustainability efforts.”
Sawyer nodded. “Any help from the town would make a huge difference.”
“I’d like to hear more about that,” Theo said, nodding. “Maybe we can set up a meeting to see how the town can help.”
As they headed toward the Amish farm stand, Amber couldn’t help but smile.
“I’d tell you how good you are at this job, but I can tell you’re already patting yourself on the back,” Theo said dryly.
Hannah, the young girl behind the table, had an assortment of jams and fresh baked goods displayed. Amber’s mouth watered. Theo put a glass jar of sauerkraut in the bag.
“I am, aren’t I?” she said delightedly. She took the sauerkraut out and replaced it with a bag of to-die-for snickerdoodles.
Theo took them back out.
She stopped and glared. “Hannah, tell the mayor he does not want to mess with keeping these cookies away from me. It will get ugly.”
Theo grinned, dimples and all, and she melted a little. “Compromise?” He held up a carton of peaches. “I’ll make you a peach crumble with these.”
Amber snatched it from him. “We’ll take both,” she said. “Hannah, have you met the mayor yet? And how are your parents? Are they here today?”
“They’re around here somewhere. My mom said she missed seeing you at the Maple Street Center.”
“Oh, really?” Amber shot a glance at Theo, but he was looking over the fruit. “Tell her I said ‘hi,’ please. Come on, Mr. Mayor, the kettle corn is over there.” Amber hustled them on before Theo could ask any questions, stopping at every table to introduce him to everyone she knew.
Now, back at her apartment, freshly showered and wrapped in her silk kimono, Amber couldn’t help but marvel at the sight of Theo putting away food in her kitchen as if he had been doing it for years. And here she was, absolutely killing it with his PR campaign. Was this a forever type of job? She wasn’t sure, but for now it felt incredibly good to be acing something for a change.
A month ago, she had been living off bananas and ramen, with her bank account scraping the bottom, and a constant stress headache hovering. Now, there was a sexy, buttoned-up mayor casually making himself at home in her kitchen, while she watched in just her robe. The contrast was stark. Overwhelming. Thrilling.
But what struck her the most was that more and more, she could be herself with Theo. There was no need to channel anyone else, even with all of her chaos and quirks on glaring display. He seemed to want to be around her, mess and all.
Life was wild.
“Drink this,” Theo said, handing Amber a green concoction. Amber barely flinched; she was so used to them now.
She sipped and swung her bare legs from the counter where she sat and let herself preen a little. Just a bit. Because she was damn proud of herself for helping Theo.
“That was pretty good work with the yoga ladies last week, right? And the farmers would be so happy to have you supporting local agriculture. Oh, you’re going to the outdoor movie night tomorrow, right? I’ll be there with my family. It’s always a fun night with all the kids and there’s snacks and a dance party.. .” she trailed off, realizing she had been close to rambling. She flashed him a quick, sheepish smile. “Sorry, I got a little excited.”
It was just...she didn’t feel like being very glamorous right now. She was freshly scrubbed, her hair was wet, and she felt a raw, unfiltered happiness bubbling inside her in a way that was unfamiliar but not unwelcome.
“It was brilliant work.” Theo grinned at her and opened the fridge to put away the lettuce and kale. He even washed it before storing it, she noticed before getting distracted by the show. Theo’s shorts clung to him, outlining powerful thighs and draping interestingly around other...parts.
From where she sat, she could see the high, taut curve of his ass and the black waistband of his underwear peeking out of the top. The sight sparked a warmth in her that had nothing to do with the heat outside and everything to do with the sexy man in front of her.
If she wasn’t careful, she might just tug him by the waistband of his shorts into the V of her legs and wrap herself around that hard body. She wondered what he would do.
She knew he felt the attraction between them as much as she did, but she doubted he’d act on it. He’d probably never done an impulsive thing in his life for one, but that whole boss-employees dynamic was another big red stop sign for him.
She picked up a peach from the basket on the counter and rolled it in her hand, a confusing mix of emotions swirling inside her. Theo had bought strawberries and cherries too. They were ripe and fragrant in her small kitchen, soft to the touch, and still warm from the sun. She narrowed her eyes.
“That’s it. That’s all I get? I just set you up with a direct line to your biggest variable in the election, and all you’ve got for me is ‘good work’?” She mimicked his deep voice.
“I’ll cut it for you.” Theo took the peach and rinsed it, then moved her ankle aside with one big hand to open the cabinet under her and pull out her cutting board. The feel of his hands sent a flood of warmth through her body. He deftly peeled the ripe fruit and sliced it, then turned to the fridge again. Unaffected. It was like waving a red flag at her.
She picked up a slice of peach and bit into the juicy wedge. She picked up another and weighed it in her hands, and without thinking, let it fly toward Theo’s back.
He turned around with such a look of shock on his face that she burst out laughing. “Oh, relax,” she choked out. “Haven’t you ever had a food fight?” His face was a glorious mixture of disbelief and horror, which made her giggle even harder. Mr. Straight and Narrow Theo Clairmont had just experienced his first, and probably only, food fight. “Your face,” she got out. “You look so?—”
Splat.
A peach slice landed on her neck and slid down into the deep cleavage of her robe while they both watched in shocked silence.
And then it was on. Amber grabbed another slice of peach and threw it at Theo, only when she turned around toward the counter, he was right behind her.
“Oh no, you don’t,” she said, snatching the entire pile of fruit slices into her hand before he could. He crowded her against the counter with his body, his arms caging her in on either side. For a second, she struggled, her instinct to fight kicking in, but when her bottom pushed back into him, she froze. Theo was achingly hard against her. The hum of the refrigerator and the ragged breaths she drew in echoed in the kitchen.
She leaned back, testing his strength. His heavy shoulders curled securely around her, his forearms with the sun-kissed hairs that so mesmerized her were on either side of her body until one of those big hands wound around hers and she let her fingers go limp around the peaches. Warm, sticky juice ran over her palm and between her fingers, but Theo didn’t let go.
Instead, slowly, so slowly she wanted to scream for not knowing where and when, his hand grasped hers and brought it back to his mouth. He sucked the juice off her, running his sleek tongue around and between her fingers, letting her feel the sharp nip of his teeth in the fleshy part of her palm. The eroticism of his hot mouth on her made her moan, and she dropped her head back against his shoulder.
Her free hand lifted to tangle in his hair, pulling his head down closer. His lips were against her ear. She could feel the faint rasp of his beard against the sensitive skin of her cheeks and see the dark sweep of his lashes hiding his eyes. She tilted her head back farther, swaying her bottom back teasingly against him.
He pressed against her hard then, a sudden thrust that pushed her into the counter with a firmness that made her gasp. His cock was a hard ridge against her soft bottom, and she let out a little ‘oh,’ of sheer delight at the contrast before pressing back greedily. His other hand settled against her throat, thumb resting lightly on the pulse fluttering there.
“You love to tease.” The sharp bite of the counter into her hips and the hot hardness of him behind her, trapping her body between them, made her dizzy with need. “Don’t you?” He thrust again, a firm, controlled press that left her nearly breathless.
“Mmm,” she moaned.
Theo laughed softly. “What’s that, sweetheart? No mouthy little comments?”
She felt more than saw the white flash of his teeth. The hand against her throat dipped down into the front of her robe, where it closed over her bare breast underneath. Theo’s thumb trailed over leisurely, pushing the silk open from each side. She looked down and caught her breath at the sight of his large, tanned hand against the smooth, white curves of her breasts. Delicately, he stroked the robe over the hard point of her nipple, brushing the silk back and forth. Goosebumps broke out on her skin. She felt the sharp points of his teeth grip the side of her neck, licking the sweet peach juice there, and her knees gave out.
The world seemed to narrow down until Amber could only feel the heat of their bodies and the rapid beat of his heart against her back while he tasted her.
“Amber, open up, my hands are full.” Johnny’s voice broke through their bubble.
Theo stiffened immediately, the warmth in his blue eyes gradually replaced by a guarded coolness as he lifted her gently off him. Amber stepped back, closing her robe, and trying to smooth her hair to regain some semblance of normalcy.
“I’ll get the door,” Theo said.
Johnny appeared in the kitchen doorway, his eyes flicking between Theo and Amber, taking in the scene—the scattered fruit, Theo”s stained shirt, Amber”s flushed cheeks—with a frown.
”Am I interrupting something?” Johnny”s voice was tight, the underlying tension palpable.
”No, just a...food fight. You know, as adults do.” She tried for a laugh, but it fell flat in the charged atmosphere.
Theo remained silent; his gaze locked with Johnny”s in a silent standoff.
After a moment that stretched too long, Theo cleared his throat. ”I was just leaving. Johnny, a word please?” He nodded toward the door.
Johnny”s eyebrows rose in surprise, and Amber”s curiosity piqued. What could Theo possibly need to discuss with Johnny? And why now, in the midst of their...whatever this was?
“Yeah, let’s go out to my car for the rest of the bags. I brought stuff to make breakfast.” Johnny said finally.
“Wait,” Amber said to Theo as he turned to follow. “I...” for once she didn’t have a thing to say. Everything she felt was in her eyes, though.
Theo smiled faintly. “Drink your juice.”
She stared at the door after it closed, the taste of peaches on her lips.