Betting the Farm (10 page)

“I know that.”

Surprised, she swung her gaze back to his. “You do?”

“I’m not nearly as oblivious as I pretend to be.”

For the first time since he’d entered her bedroom, Kai
smiled. “Good move, though.”

“Years of experience,” he said. “So, where do you see things
going with Fritz this time around?”

Kai shrugged. “I have no idea. We’re just getting to know
each other again.”

“And fast if you’re moving in with him.”

“I’m not moving in with him. He’s living at his
grandmother’s old place. I just need space of my own for a while, that’s all.
Out from under your roof.”

“And away from your mother’s attempts at matchmaking and
turning you into a social butterfly.”

“Well, yes, those too,” she said wryly.

“I’m not happy that you’re moving out, or that you’ve chosen
to live in the Carters’ backyard, but I won’t play hardball about it. You’re an
adult now and I understand the need to stretch your wings. I just wish you’d
stretch them in a different direction.”

Kai tensed again. “You just said you didn’t dislike Fritz.”

Her father stood, plowing a hand through his graying hair.
“I think you’re moving entirely too fast with him. You’ve only been back a few
weeks. Next thing you know you’ll be engaged, or worse, pregnant.”

Would either of those be so horrible?
If she posed
that question to him, his head might explode. Her body felt as though it wilted
a foot. “Dad,
please
. Give me some credit, okay? I’m responsible, I
promise. And no matter what happens between Fritz and me, I’m not going to
disappear from your life altogether.”

Deep down, Kai knew that’s what he was afraid of—that she’d
turn into a mindless brood sow with ten kids staggered like porch steps and a
future of nothing but snotty noses and dirty diapers, waiting on Fritz hand and
foot. Ruby was a shining example of how you could be a wife to a farmer, raise
a good, stable family and yet still maintain a sense of self-worth. She was
vibrant and outspoken, happy and fulfilled. She’d raised her sons to be fine,
hardworking young men who took tremendous pride in their heritage and the
future success of Carter Farms. Kai wished her own family could see things the
way she did. It wasn’t all about how much money you had in your bank account or
a lofty social standing.

Her dad walked over and dropped a kiss on her forehead. A
tiny peace offering, although it may be temporary once her mother regained her
voice. “I hope you still plan to start working for me on Monday.”

“Of course,” Kai said with as much enthusiasm as she could
muster. There were doubts dogging her about the job. Things like the perception
of nepotism by the other employees and whether it would affect how they treated
her. Josh didn’t find it a problem, but not much bothered Josh. And that was
another thing—Josh didn’t seem to do a whole lot of actual work. Would the two
of them butt heads over his laziness, or would her father show favoritism when
it came to her too, and not entrust her with anything important?

“You need to talk to your mother,” her dad said,
interrupting her thoughts. “Not now, but soon. I’d give her time to let it sink
in first and allow her to cool off.”

“I wish she wasn’t so concerned with what other people think
or say.”

“You need to understand I have hefty responsibilities to
this community, Kai,” he said sternly. “Some of those include maintaining
certain business relationships. Like it or not, fraternizing outside of the
office plays a large part in doing so. Elizabeth is very good at keeping up
with that aspect for me. At least try to see her side of it for a change.”

In other words, don’t be so selfish.

Kai nodded, feeling thoroughly chastised. “Yes, sir.”

He stopped in the doorway of her bedroom, hands sliding into
his pockets. “Do you need anything before you go? Money or credit cards?”

“I’m good, Dad, thanks.”

“All right then. I guess I’ll see you Monday,” he said
before heading downstairs.

Kai flopped back on her bed. That had gone about as well as
could be expected, considering. But then again, her father was the calmer, more
reasonable parent. Her mother would be a different story.

Kai stood in the loft’s threshold, her throat choked with
emotion and her eyes cloudy with tears.

Gone were the boxes and clutter, the layers of dust. Now
everything sparkled in the sunlight streaming through the windows. The air
smelled faintly of pine and fresh linens. All the appliances and countertops in
the tiny kitchen shined like polished silver. Even the wood floors gleamed.

There were new additions too. A set of soft-blue,
full-length curtains held back with bright white ties, hung over the windows
and French doors. On the bed was a coverlet in the same shade of pale blue. A
pile of fluffy pillows in eyelet shams were stacked against the headboard.

That’s when Kai noticed the bed itself. It wasn’t the same
bed she and Fritz had made love on last night. This was a brand-new one made of
scrolling, white wrought iron. It was beautiful and feminine without being too
frou-frou. At the foot of the mattress lay a folded quilt in a star pattern of
darker blues and grays.

The bathroom had gotten a makeover as well—a navy cloth
shower curtain and matching rugs, and thick white towels with a small navy
stripe.

In the kitchen, there was a brand-new coffee pot, canisters
and dishtowels. On the counter sat a folded note, her name scrawled across the
front in Fritz’s nearly illegible handwriting. Kai’s hands shook as she picked
it up.

I remembered how much you like blue. Don’t worry. I kept
the receipts, just in case you hate everything.
Kai shook her head at the
paper.
See you tonight. ~F

Then,
P.S. Check the canisters.

Kai gave a blubbery laugh and wiped her wet cheeks with the
back of her hand.

Peeking in the first canister, she already knew what she’d
find tucked inside. Each one held a box of condoms in different styles. She
tore open a package and tucked a foil packet into the pocket of her dress in
case the opportunity arose to use it, before racing out the door and down the
steps.

The barn was empty, so she ran all the way over to Ruby and
Joe’s house. When she got there, she rapped on the back porch’s screen door
while she caught her breath.

“Come in!” Ruby called out from the kitchen.

The wonderful scents teasing Kai’s nose told her Ruby was
baking. “Something smells delicious.”

Ruby pulled her in for a quick hug. Kai needed one of those
more than she realized.

“I made sorghum sassies. Help yourself while they’re still
warm.”

Kai gently lifted a cookie from the wire rack, popping the
entire thing into her mouth with a happy moan. While she chewed, Ruby poured
her a glass of tea. After she’d washed the cookie down, she said, “Lord, that’s
a good cookie. You are one of the finest cooks to ever pick up a spoon.”

Ruby scoffed. “I could make these blindfolded. It’s an old
recipe given to me by my grandmother. “

“That just proves my point. It’s as if the baking gene gets
passed down through the generations just like the recipes. You probably came
out of the womb knowing how to make buttermilk biscuits from scratch.” Kai
swiped another cookie, this time breaking off bite-sized pieces like a
grown-up. “You said you make these with sorghum syrup?”

“Sure do.”

“Where do you get the syrup?”

“Henry Bennett. He lives just up the road apiece. Been making
it for fifty years or better. Last time I talked to him, he mentioned he was
teaching his grandsons how to carry on the family tradition. I hope they do
because it’s the best sorghum syrup I’ve ever tasted.”

“I’ve never tried it before now, but if that’s the secret to
these cookies, I would have to agree.”

“Joe loves it on biscuits, better than cane syrup or honey.”
Propping her hip against the counter, Ruby grinned, raising her eyebrows. “Did
you see the loft?”

Kai’s throat got tight all over again. She bobbed her head,
tears pricking her eyelids, and Ruby wrapped an arm around her shoulders,
squeezing her tight.

“Oh, honey, don’t cry. He would be embarrassed if he knew he
made you cry over it.”

“It’s just so thoughtful, Ruby.” Kai sniffed. “I can’t believe
how perfect he got it.”

“Fritz is my attentive one.” Ruby turned her loose. “Always
has been. Sensitive too, he just doesn’t want anybody to know about that
particular trait.”

Kai nodded, agreeing with her. “It’s too much, though. I
have to pay him back for the money he spent.”

“Good luck with that,” Ruby said wryly.

“Well, if he won’t let me, I’ll just have to figure out
another way to reimburse him. Y’all have already gone out of your way in
letting me stay here. I’m not going to become a mooch.”

“Nobody thinks that of you.” Ruby grabbed her oven mitt and
pulled another batch of cookies out of the oven.

Kai knew better than to try to refute Ruby’s statement. The
time would come when she could repay their generosity in kind. Right now, she
wanted to see Fritz so she could at least give him a bit of affectionate
compensation.

“You wouldn’t by any chance know where Fritz is at, do you?”

“He’s working over in the Turner field, getting it ready to
plant hay I believe. Once he finished with the loft, he stopped by and made
himself a sandwich for lunch before heading out.”

“Think he would mind if I rode over for a quick visit?” Kai
asked. If Fritz was busy, and chances were the time spent working on the loft
this morning was precious time he didn’t have, he might not appreciate another
distraction.

Ruby smiled. “I doubt he’ll mind but you can take him
cookies to sweeten the pot.” She stacked cookies inside a small plastic
container, snapped the lid on and handed it to Kai. “Do you remember where the
Turner field is?”

Oh yes. She had very fond memories of the Turner field. Of
bright moonlit nights spent mostly naked on a blanket, crickets chirping in the
background, and the fragrant smell of wild honeysuckle growing on the nearby
fencerow. Turner Creek too. That cold water sure felt incredible on a warm
summer evening when two overheated young bodies needed cooling off.

The property was owned by the Carters, but families who
farmed large tracts of land sometimes named them for easier reference, or in
this case, continued to refer to them by the prior owner’s name. It was hard to
keep things straight when you had several “back forties” or “north twenties”.

Kai turned away before Ruby noticed the telltale flush on
her cheeks. “I remember.”

* * * * *

The new tractor idled, quietly too, Fritz noted, while he
refilled the planters attached to the back of it with seed. He made two more
trips to the bed of his truck for full bags before deciding he had enough in
there to plant the remainder of the field. He wanted to get finished with this
particular task by the end of the weekend. Monday they were scheduled to start
harvesting silage corn, and that was a timetable he had little wiggle room on
because of the risk of spoilage once cut and their buyers’ demands. By the time
they finished with that job, it would be nearing time to start on seed corn.
Plus, they leased combines and machinery precisely for those jobs, and all the
equipment was set to be delivered on a certain date. He couldn’t afford to let
them sit while he played catch up. Time wasted was money wasted.

He caught a flash of red out of the corner of his eye and
glanced back to see Kai’s Camaro pulling in behind his truck. She straightened
from the driver’s seat, slipped her shoes off one at a time, tossing them back
inside the car before slamming the door. Barefoot now, she began picking her
way through the tall grass at the edge of the field in order to get to the
freshly tilled dirt. She’d gathered the hem of her dress up in her hand, one of
those wholly feminine actions that drove men wild, especially when it showed
off those sexy long legs.

Damn if she wasn’t a sight for tired eyes, or any eyes for
that matter.

Today she wore another sundress, a practice Fritz was
growing rather fond of, this one white with small red cherries on it. It tied
behind her neck, which he could see because her hair was swept up in a
ponytail. A sharp bolt of lust hit him right between the legs. He knew what
that tender spot below her ear would taste like on his tongue, knew the sounds
she’d make if he bit her there, and how her nails would feel digging into his
skin as he drove inside her, hard and deep.

Yeah, he was already long gone.

And if he didn’t stop thinking about
that
particular
kind of plowing, he’d never get the real thing done.

“Hi,” she said with a bright, beautiful smile, tipping her
face up for a kiss.

Fritz obliged her, restraining himself from demanding
something deeper. “Hey you. This is a nice surprise.”

She shook a small plastic container in front of him. “Ruby
sent cookies.”

“You drove out here just to bring me cookies?”

“No.” She kissed him again, longer this time. When she
pulled away, her bottom lip was damp. It took all he could do not to lean down
and suck on that plump morsel of flesh. Screw those cookies. Not discounting
his mom’s amazing baking abilities, but Kai’s mouth was tastier.

“I couldn’t wait to say thanks for everything you did in the
loft. I never expected you to go as far as you did, and I’m going to pay you
back for all the money you spent, but I love it. All of it, Fritz.”

It probably wasn’t a good thing, the way his chest tightened
when she used the word
love
, even in the context of his paltry decorating
skills.

“You’re welcome, honey, and I don’t want your money. I just
wanted it to look nice when you saw it cleaned up for the first time. Make it
look homier instead of like a junky ol’ bachelor pad.”

“Mission accomplished.” She nodded toward the idling
tractor. “That thing is huge. And shiny.”

“It’s new. I’m trying it out before we buy.”

“They’ll let you do that?”

“Don’t you test drive a car before you buy it?”

“For a few miles maybe. I don’t think they’d appreciate it
if I drove it seventy miles an hour down a dirt road and brought it back
covered in clay dust.”

“Apples and oranges, baby. They want to sell me a tractor. I
gotta know if it does what I need it to do. Besides that, I’m a good customer.”
Fritz winked at her.

She rolled her eyes. “I bet. So, will you take me for a ride
in your big green tractor?”

He grinned, a filthy image of her riding
him
filling
his perverted mind. Kai just grinned right back, although her cheeks looked
pinker than usual.

“Sure.” He closed the tops on the seed bins and tossed the
empty bags in the back of his truck before showing her where the steps were.
“I’ll let you go up first. That way if you slip, I can catch you.”

That garnered him a saucy look. “If you’ll recall, I have
been on a tractor before.”

“Not one like this, you haven’t.”

She climbed the steps and popped open the door on the cab.
Fritz heard her mutter something that sounded like “Holy shit” before he
followed her up and closed them inside. What it lacked in headroom, it made up
for in comforts.

“Wow.” She ran her hand across the top of the computerized
display panel. “This is like the Cadillac of tractors.”

“For what this bad boy costs, you could buy several
Cadillacs.” He sat down on the plush leather seat and patted his thighs.

“How are you going to drive with me in your lap?”

“You’re going to do the driving.” He started pushing
buttons, resetting their speed to a bit slower than he’d been running before,
and released the emergency brake, still keeping his foot on the regular brake
and the clutch. The transmission remained in neutral.

“What?” she squeaked. “I can’t drive this thing! It’s
enormous and brand-spanking new. What if I break it?”

“How on earth would you do that?” When she sat down, he bit
the back of her shoulder. “All you have to do is keep it pointed in a fairly
straight line. I’ll handle the rest.”

“Oh. Then I should be able to handle that.” She squirmed
around on his lap, getting comfortable. Meanwhile his dick decided to take
notice of the warm female flesh pressing down so close to its vicinity.

“Ready?”

Her grip was so tight around the steering wheel her knuckles
were nearly white. She bobbed her head and he put the tractor in gear. When he
eased his foot off the brake pedal, the big machine began to creep forward.

She wouldn’t take her eyes off the row ahead of them, scared
she’d mess something up. What she didn’t know was they were planting grass seed
for hay. There was no wrong way to do it in his book, as long as the seed went
into the ground, which the planter behind them handled efficiently. For all he
cared, she could plant the field in figure eights or write her name in cursive
letters. Besides, if she messed something up, he’d fix it.

After a minute or so, she said, “This isn’t so bad. It’s
kinda fun.”

“Do it for ten hours straight, you might think otherwise.”

“But you have to admit, the amenities have come a long way.
You have air-conditioning, a CD player and a big comfy seat. If you had a
refrigerator and a television, you could practically live in the thing.”

“They make ’em with built-in coolers too.” He squeezed her
waist. “And the seat’s even heated.”

“So spoiled.” She shook her head, making her ponytail brush
his cheek. Fritz reached up and gave it a tug.

“Just because it’s comfortable doesn’t mean I don’t get
bored sitting inside one all damn day.”

“I guess I hadn’t thought about that aspect of it. What do
you think about while you’re riding?”

Where did his mind go when he was in here alone for hours on
end? Lately, it wandered to her, what they did together, how much he missed her
when she wasn’t with him. All the dirty things he wanted to do
to
her
and all the fun things he wanted to do
with
her. To say she’d consumed
him already would be an understatement. It bothered him somewhat, to be wrapped
up in her again this deeply, so soon after her return to Serenity, but not
enough to want to back away, not even an inch. He supposed he deserved what he
got if it all went south tomorrow. He wasn’t kidding himself that it couldn’t
either, as bad as it hurt to consider.