“I get it. You know, you should join the CrossFit gym where Kaden works out. A bunch of guys meet up for workouts and get drinks after.”
“Not sure my son-in-law would want me hanging around,” I say with a laugh.
“Kaden loves you. Everyone loves you. And besides, you never go out. It might be good for you now that Billy and I are out of the house.”
“I go out,” I say, following her around the house.
She laughs. “Sure, Dad.” The garage door is open and she tells me to wait a sec. She comes back out a few seconds later with bottles of water and hands me one.
“I do too go out. I even have a date tonight,” I say, testing the waters.
“A date?” Her jaw drops open.
“I wanted to tell you,” I say honestly. “I haven’t dated anyone since your mother died and—”
“No, Dad, it’s great. Billy and I have been saying that for a year. And now you’re in that big house, all alone.” She smiles. “So tell me, who is this woman?”
“Her name is Lucia. And she works out at Nettle Bank Farm.”
Kourtney’s eyes widen. “Wait. What?” She shakes her head.
“Lucia,” I repeat. “I met her at your friend Valerie’s diner, actually.”
“Hold up,” Kourtney says. “I just want to be sure we’re talking about the same Lucia.”
“You know her?” I frown, not expecting that. Kourtney’s worked as a receptionist for the last few years, as far from a farm as possible. It’s a shock to even see her out planting flowers right now. She was never an outdoorsy girl.
“Let me get this straight.” Kourtney passes the driveway. “You are going out with Lucia, the twenty-two-year-old girl who works part time at a farm? She doesn’t even have health insurance, Dad. She’s like, a child.”
“How do you know so much about her?”
“Because she’s my friend Mirabella’s sister-in-law. And yes, she’s very pretty, and very sweet, but Dad… you’re like twice her age.”
“So it’s an age issue?” I ask, lifting my eyebrows at my daughter, who is grown up in a lot of ways, but in others, she has a lot to learn. “Not an issue about her career choice?”
She moans. “It’s about all of it. She is all wrong for you, Dad.”
“How do you know?” I ask.
“Because you wear a suit and tie and go into the office on Christmas Eve. She’s the sort of girl who didn’t even remember to pick her bridesmaid’s dress up from the shop for her brother’s wedding. She’s got her head in the clouds. And you… you’re so down-to-earth.”
What my daughter doesn’t realize is that is exactly what I want — a partner who can help shake me out of my comfort zone and remember there is a big wide world out there.
Maybe Lucia is that partner.
“Look, I love you. And I really appreciate your concern. But I’ve gotta get home. I have a date tonight.”
Kourtney groans as I take off running. “I’m so calling Billy about this,” she shouts.
I laugh as I run back to my six-thousand-square-foot house for one. She can call Billy all she wants. But I’m a grown ass man, and I know what I want.
Chapter Six
Lucia
He brings me flowers. Pink Gerbera daisies. He has on a pink shirt that matches. Dark denim jeans, brown leather shoes. Polished, but comfortable. It makes me happy that I decided to iron a sundress to wear for the date. I open the door to my apartment that is over the barn.
“I’ll just put these in a vase before we head out,” I say. “Do you need anything? Water?”
“No, I’m good,” he says, taking in the modest space. It’s small, but I love it. Every morning I open the window and can hear the birds singing and the rooster calling. “This place looks like you,” he says.
I laugh. “What does that mean?” The flowers are beautiful, and I take my time arranging them in the black enamel vase.
“Lace curtains. A quilt on the bed. Jars of pickles lining the counter.”
“Oh, those?” I pick up a jar and hand it to him. “Bread and butter pickles. My favorite. My mom taught me to can. Her mother — my grandmother — taught her.”
“Sounds like you have a pretty great family,” he says, taking the vase of flowers and setting it in the center of the small table for two.
“Absolutely. It’s just my brother, mom and me, but we’re close. My mom was sick a lot when I was growing u —, she had cancer. My brother practically raised me. And it brought us all together.”
“I understand,” he tells me. “My wife, well, she passed away two years ago from cancer. So I know what you mean. My kids, they are my whole world now.”
“You’ve been through hell, then,” I say, reaching for his hand. “I’m so sorry, Logan.”
He holds tight to my hand. “Me too. Eve was a good woman, and losing her nearly killed the kids. But she was sick for many years like you mom, it sounds. And I’m glad she is no longer suffering.”
I blink back tears as he speaks. “Thank you for the flowers,” I tell him. “They are beautiful.”
His bright blue eyes meet mine. “Just like you.”
I smile, stepping closer to him, and he cups my cheek as if it is the most normal thing in the world. When it isn’t. This is so far from normal it’s crazy. What I’m feeling right now, I’ve never felt before. The charge of emotions swirling in this kitchen have my heart pounding and my mind racing. Is it possible to feel so much for another person after a single conversation?
Yes. Yes it is.
Because when Logan leans down, and his lips brush against mine, I want to sink into him, into this moment, and never let go.
Chapter Seven
Logan
The kiss goddamn brings me to my knees. This woman before me makes my heart fucking melt. She’s pure sunshine and I feel like I’ve been living in a rainy day. She makes anything feel possible. Makes us feel possible.
Her lips part and her tongue finds mine. I wrap her up in my arms, not ever wanting to let go. She whimpers against my mouth, and the kiss deepens, turns from something sweet to something so much more.
“God, I want you,” she moans, her words surprising me. I mean, hers are the words I want to hear, but the fact she is on the same page as me is a goddamn relief.
I run my hands over her back, the curve of her waist under my palms as she presses against me. All of me.
“Lucia,” I growl. “I want you too. But girl, that isn’t why I invited you out to dinner. Why I brought you flowers.”
“I know,” she says simply, looking up into my eyes. I want to pick her up and take her to bed, push up her sweet little sundress and smell her fucking roses. “But we’re both obviously ready to turn this up a notch.”
I swallow, my cock twitches. “I haven’t since…”
She nods, understanding. “If it’s too much, too soon… Look, I never do this either.”