He stared down at the pie, wondering about the woman who would take the time to bring him a freshly baked apple pie. And not only that, but she’d used his mother’s recipe.
Then there was the house. Yes, he leased most of his land to her family, but there had never been any kind of agreement over the house. They had a key because they were the closest neighbors, and you never knew when there would be an emergency of some kind. Especially when he was gone most of the time.
The place should have been dusty, musty, and rundown. Instead, it smelled fresh, like someone had opened a window recently. The table and furniture were polished to a sheen and the kitchen sparkled. It was obvious that someone had been taking good care of the place. And without even having to ask, he knew it was Erin.
What was worse, was that he still wanted her. Badly. His body was screaming for release and his dick was still rock-hard and waiting, jammed against the zipper of his jeans. They’d damn near set the place on fire, they’d generated so much heat. How in the heck could she ever come to the conclusion that he didn’t want her? It was just past noon and he’d already fucked her twice. Almost three times, if you count the close call on the stairs.
As he continued to eat, it came to him. Only an inexperienced woman, one not sure of herself, could ever think he didn’t want her. She’d put herself down in a way that seemed natural. Too natural. As if she’d been doing it for so many years, she actually believed the crap she was spouting.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. What was wrong with all the men around here that a woman as gorgeous as Erin didn’t know just how desirable she was? For that matter, why weren’t the men beating a path to her door? The fact that she turned to him, a virtual stranger, was telling.
Scraping back the chair from the table, he placed the empty pie plate in the sink, giving himself a mental reminder to wash it and take it with him when he went to the Connors’ home for supper. After this morning’s performance, there was no way he would miss it. Glancing at his watch, he noted that it was just after half-past twelve. Plenty of time to put away the rest of the groceries, unpack, and take a shower before he had to leave.
Jackson’s sister or not, he decided he might have to rethink his strategy. An affair might be out of the question, but there was no reason he couldn’t flirt with her a little. Build her confidence. The more he thought about it the more he liked the idea.
He snorted at himself. Yeah, great guy that he was he was doing this for her own good. The truth was, he wanted her more than he’d wanted any other woman. Just to touch her, kiss her, and maybe pet her a little would be an exceptional treat. The hardest part would be trying to retain some kind of control over his horny body.
With that in mind, he decided that another cold shower was the first thing on the agenda. His cock was still at full salute and he knew that if he stood a chance at having any control, he’d have to take care of that little problem. He’d just imagine it was her soft little hand wrapped around him. His cock twitched. For once, they were in agreement.
He could hear the loud voices as he approached the back door of the house. So caught up in their argument, they didn’t even noticed that he’d arrived. Propping himself against the open back door, he crossed his arms over his chest and waited for them to notice him.
The mouthwatering smells drifting from the kitchen told him he was in for quite a treat for supper. If he wasn’t mistaken, that was baked chicken with stuffing he was sniffing. He’d also bet his last dollar that it was his mother’s special recipe for stuffing that he was smelling. His stomach growled in anticipation.
Erin was bent over, peering into the oven at whatever she was baking, giving him a perfect view of her behind. Her faded jeans perfectly cupped her luscious ass, making his fingers itch to do the same. She’d fit his hands perfectly this morning. The soft cotton shirt she was wearing hugged her pert little breasts to perfection. He was so caught up in his lustful thoughts that it took a moment for the argument to register in his brain.
“You knew I needed your help with this.”
“I’m sorry, Jackson.” Slamming the oven door, she then proceeded to lift the lid off one of the pots on the top of the stove. “I had other things to do. I’ll help you in the barn after supper.”
Jackson was sitting in a chair at the head of the table with his long legs spread in front of him and a bottle of beer in his hand. Taking a slug of beer, he rubbed the cool bottle against his forehead before dropping it back on the table. “I really wanted to get that done this morning, Erin.”
“Well, too bad. I was busy this morning.” Lifting one of the pots from the stove, she drained it into a colander in the sink. Clunking the empty pot down on the counter, she shook out the remaining water and dumped the contents into a clean bowl. Abel watched with glee as Erin added milk, salt and pepper and began to whip the potatoes. He licked his lips in anticipation.
“Yeah, delivering pie.” Jackson’s reply was curt as he took another pull from the bottle. “Your time and muscle would have been put to better use moving hay bales. Old man Adams is coming to pick up a load tomorrow. You know we need the extra money that pulls in.”
Erin set the potatoes aside before she turned and let him have it. “The darn hay will get moved tonight before I go to bed.”
“Yeah, but not getting it done means I have to work tonight, and I had a date for some dancing and romancing later.” The smile on his face left no doubt that he had more on his mind than just dancing.
Erin snorted. “Sorry to upset your love life, but I’ve been up since the crack of dawn this morning. I cooked breakfast, did four loads of laundry, most of which belonged to you and Nathan, cleaned the house, made a grocery list, and baked three pies. After I delivered a pie to Abel, I made your lunch and then I spent the rest of the afternoon in my berry fields. The blueberries will be ready to harvest in about another two weeks.” On a roll now, she barely paused for a breath. “Then, I left work early so I could hurry home and cook for you and the guest that you invited to supper. But, I can promise you that your damn hay will be moved tonight.”
Jackson held up his hand. “All right, already. You win. You’re as busy as I am.”
Abel’s brow creased in a frown. That was the understatement of the century. While his buddy sat on his butt, Erin worked nonstop. Even while she’d been putting Jackson in his place, she’d been busy dishing up carrots, peas, and ears of corn. Just when it seemed as if Erin was gearing up for another round, the sound of someone thumping down the stairs stopped her.
“Is supper ready yet?” Nathan Connors appeared in the kitchen, his hair still slightly damp from his shower. He’d traded in his police uniform for a comfortable pair of old blue jeans and a soft blue shirt.
Before Abel could announce his presence, Nathan spotted him. “Hey, Abel. Come on in.”
Erin spun around from the counter, her eyes wide. He could tell she was wondering just how long he’d been standing there. The moment they made eye contact, she turned away and pretended to be busy. Abel couldn’t help but notice that her face was flushed, and he had a feeling it was more than the steam from supper causing it.
Abel sauntered into the kitchen and laid the empty pie plate on the table, his eyes never leaving Erin. Before the moment could get awkward, his attention was drawn away from her as he was enveloped in a bear hug from Jackson. Slapping each other on the back, in a way that would have felled lesser men, Abel felt as if he had finally come home.