Her breath left her lungs in a rush, and she slowly shook her head. “I don’t even know what to say.” She dragged her gaze from the men heading to the barn back to Scott’s face. “I hate being a charity case, but I know I need the help. And I should be pissed at you for being so high-handed, but… well, I need the help.”
He bent slightly so that his face was directly in front of hers. “Lizzie, I would never do anything to hurt you or embarrass you. Don’t think about this as charity. Believe me, every one of these men would step up for each other. And in turn, at some time, you’ll be able to pay them back by doing the same when one of them has a need.”
Nibbling on her bottom lip, she turned his words over and over in her mind as they snagged a memory of something her grandmother used to say when she was fixing a meal for a neighbor in need. “Lizzie, remember that helping others is a gift. And when you allow someone to help you, you’re giving them a gift as well.”
Offering a jerky nod, she blinked back the tears. “Well, I guess we’d better show them what needs to be done.”
Before letting her go, he bent and took her lips in a quick kiss. She startled, realizing he kissed her in front of his friends. Blush hit her cheeks as she grinned, walking hand-in-hand with him toward the barn.
Two hours later, Lizzie stood rooted to the ground as her heart pounded in her chest, and she looked at her barn. Her grandfather had kept the barn in good repair, but in recent years his ability to climb a ladder and reach certain places had diminished. Now, in front of her stood a perfectly-repaired barn, freshly painted red with white trim.
In addition, several fence posts that were showing signs of rot had been replaced along the pastures and pens. There was nothing she could do that would ever repay their generosity, but she vowed to start making pies, determined to deliver them to each man who had helped.
Formally introduced to Mitch and Grant, she could not help but smile, thinking of her teenage crush on most of the Baytown Boys there, including the two McFarlane brothers, Aiden and Brogan, Callan Ward, and Zac Hamilton. Gareth Harrison and Lance Greene were new to her, but Jason Boswell, owner of an auto shop, had once worked on her car. Along with Colt came Hunter and two more detectives, Mark Robbins and Elizabeth Perez. Finally, she met Joseph, someone working with Jason.
The group made her nervous simply because she had never been around that many handsome men at one time and was sure the testosterone level at her farm just raised a million percent.
Now, she wondered if they were staying for lunch and how she would feed them all. Before she had time to worry about their empty stomachs, she heard more cars pulling into her lane. Thoughts reeling, she turned to see a large group of women, platters in their hands, coming around the side of the house, led by a smiling Carrie.
Before a sense of panic descended, she felt Scott’s hands on her shoulders and his breath brushing across her ear as he whispered, “Relax, babe. Everybody here just wants to be your friend.”
There was no time to process his words before he wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and they met the women together. The other men came forward, taking dishes from the women’s hands and heading toward the kitchen.
She greeted Carrie as her son Jack bounded toward the men. She hugged Belle, Jillian, and Tori, then met Scott’s accounting partner, Lia, and her daughter, Emily. Tori’s son was toddling next to her, pulling on her hand as soon as he saw the goats in the distance. Emily was bouncing up and down with excitement, barely listening as Lia admonished her to wait before going to see the animals.
Aiden lifted Emily into his arms, and Mitch grabbed his son, both men walking the children over to the fence where they could see the baby goats. At that moment, she decided there was nothing sexier than a hot man holding their child. Glancing to the side toward Scott, her vision filled with him doing the same with their child. Blinking, she jerked, forcing that thought from her mind and turned back toward the women.
Katelyn’s baby was big but not able to toddle yet, seeming content to stay in his mother’s arms, shoving his fist into his drooling mouth. Introduced to Brogan’s wife, she smiled at the baby tucked sleepily in Ginny’s arms.
Carrie continued the rounds, and besides a very pregnant Jillian, she met three other pregnant women, Maddie Hamilton, Jade Greene, and Rose Boswell. Last was a beautiful blonde who rushed to her and said, “I’m Sophia Bayles. I can’t wait to talk to you about some logo designs for your farm and your goat milk products!”
Once more overwhelmed, Lizzie realized it was not with anxiety or fear, but a warm rush of delight moved over her.
Grateful that Carrie seemed to be taking over the group instructions when she ushered the women into the house, she observed the men setting planks of wood on sawhorses in the backyard. Looking around for Scott, she caught his eye and he hustled over.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Well, I had been worried about how to feed all of the men, but now that’s not a problem. But I don’t have enough chairs for everyone!”
“No worries, babe. I think some of the women brought blankets for us to spread on the ground. We’ll put the food on the table and just have a big picnic.”
Faster than she thought possible, the makeshift table in the backyard was loaded with salads, casseroles, platters of fried chicken, sandwiches, fruit, and chips of all varieties. Pies, cakes, and cookies filled one end of the table. Sodas and beer were pulled from icy tubs.
Tori must have seen Lizzie’s shocked expression because she laughed and said, “We’re pretty used to throwing together a party very quickly. Mitch and I have a small cabin on the beach, and we often have impromptu get-togethers there.” Looking around, Tori added, “Pretty soon, we’re going to need more playpens!”
It had not escaped Lizzie’s attention that Scott claimed the spot next to her, his body leaning close as they munched on their food. She felt him hover and assured, “I’m fine. It’s a little overwhelming, but everyone is so nice.”
The conversation drifted to her plans for the farm, and she was thrilled that it was met with such enthusiasm.
“Mama, I want to have my birthday party with the baby goats!” Emily exclaimed.
Looking at their daughter, Lia and Aiden grinned. Turning their attention back to Lizzie, Lia asked, “Her birthday is in a month. Do you think she could have her party here?”
About to burst with excitement, she nodded. “I should have all my licenses by then. That would be amazing!”
Jack looked over, his expression much more serious than most preteens, and said, “I really would like to help out here, Ms. Weston. If you ever need me, please let me know.”
She watched Carrie beam at her son, Colt smiling with pride as well. Now that she had seen Jack with the animals, she realized he could be an enthusiastic addition and would be able to help. Nodding, she said, “We’ll get together with your mom and dad and talk about what would work with your schedule.” She knew she had said the right thing when Jack’s smile widened, and a bit of childish enthusiasm spilled forth as he fist-pumped the air.
After eating, she gave everyone a quick tour of the farm, letting the children pet the baby goats as Scott warned the adults about the head-butting older goats. Everyone was charmed by the alpacas, and Tori and Mitch’s son, Eddie, screamed with delight at the chickens scratching in the dirt in their pens.