Chapter Five

  Abel stood in the back doorway and watched until the truck was faded from view. Even after she’d disappeared from sight, he stood and surveyed the land behind his home, contemplating what had just happened. Finally he let out a long sigh and took himself back into the kitchen. Snagging the remainder of the pie off the counter, he sat at the table and dug into the rest of it.

  Rolling the tasty apple around in his mouth for a moment before chewing it, he replayed everything over in his mind. There was more to Erin’s reaction than him just turning down her offer of an affair. It went deeper than that. For a moment, when her defenses had dropped, she’d seemed shattered. The last thing he’d wanted to do was hurt her.

  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.

  Jackson released him before stepping back and sizing him up. “Well, if it isn’t Mr. Big-Time Author come to supper.”

  Abel just grinned at him, knowing full well that Jackson had read every book that he’d written. “You know me. I’ll never turn down a free meal. Especially not one that smells as good as this.”

  “Cooked it myself,” Jackson joked.

  Abel motioned to the beer bottle on the table. “Yeah, I can tell how hard you were working.”

  Nathan pushed past his brother and slapped Abel on the back on his way to the refrigerator. Pulling out two more bottles, he opened them and took a mouthful of beer before handing Abel the other bottle. “If we had to depend on our cooking to survive we’d starve to death. It’s a good thing that Erin takes pity on us and feeds us occasionally.”

  His eyes went back to Erin, but she ignored them all as she continued to prepare supper. Both her brothers seemed more than content to sit back and let their sister do all the work. Plunking his bottle of beer on the table, he walked over to the counter, and laid the empty pie plate that he’d brought with him on the counter. “What can I do to help?”

  Erin’s mouth dropped and her face was filled with astonishment. You could hear a pin drop in the kitchen. Jackson and Nathan were staring at him like he was some alien life form that had wandered into their midst. Shaking his head in disgust, he picked up the bowl filled with the whipped potatoes and another filled with carrots and carried them to the table.

  “But you’re a guest…” Erin sputtered.

  “Yeah,” Jackson seconded. “Erin can do that.”

  For the first time in his life, Abel wanted to take his friend out back and beat him senseless. Instead, he settled for putting both hands on his hips and glaring at him. “I know she can do it. She just shouldn’t have to do it all by herself.”

  His gaze was locked with Jackson’s and he sure as hell wasn’t backing down. For a moment, anger gleamed in his friend’s blue eyes, but then it seemed as if his sense of humor got the better of him, and he began to chuckle. The tension that had filled the room moments before dissipated as Jackson moseyed up to the counter and picked up the large platter that held the steaming chicken.

  Carefully placing it on the table, he picked up a carving knife and fork and began to slice the bird. “What?” he said as everyone continued to watch him. “This is men’s work. I can do this.”

  Abel just shook his head. His friend was somewhat of a male chauvinist. It surprised him that he’d never noticed that before. He supposed that’s what came of staying away for so long. You didn’t really know people anymore. Oh, he knew the important things. He’d still trust Jackson with his life, but he no longer trusted him to be fair to his sister.

  Erin was peeking at him out of the corner of her eye as she carried the last of the steaming bowls over to the table. She glanced at everything one last time, as if to assure herself that all was right with the meal, and then she finally pulled out her own chair to sit down. Abel moved quickly and managed to get there in time to hold her chair for her. That garnered him a look of surprise and a shy look of pleasure.

  “Showing off your big-city manners,” Nathan teased.

  “No,” he replied. “Just helping to seat a pretty lady.” Winking at her, he grabbed the closest bowl and began to heap food on the plate in front of him. “This all looks fantastic, Erin.”

  “Thank you.” Her voice was low and soft, and the smile she gave him was filled with pride.

  “That’s a good man. Butter her up and you’ll get more free food while you’re here.” Jackson’s voice broke the tentative link between him and Erin. But before he could berate his friend, he was already onto another topic. “Speaking of which. How long are you home for this time?”

  Erin had sucked in her breath the moment Jackson asked the question, telling him that she was interested in his answer. Acting as nonchalant as possible, he tasted some of the potatoes and savored their flavor before he answered. “Indefinitely. But for the rest of the summer for sure. Possibly longer. It’s time I went through the boxes of stuff belonging to Mom and Dad. I’ve put it off for far too long.” He smiled to himself when she released her pent-up breath on a deep sigh.

  He had seated himself right next to Erin when he’d sat down for supper, and after he’d enjoyed his first few mouthfuls of food, he decided it was time to have some fun. The conversation flowed around the table as Nathan related something funny that had happened when he’d been out on patrol today. Erin had finally relaxed and was smiling while she listened to her brother. Abel casually allowed his left hand to slide under the table next to him.

  Her whole body stiffened in shock when his large hand cupped her knee. Taking his time, he trailed his fingers up the inside of her thigh, stopping just before he reached the top. Color slowly seeped up Erin’s face until her cheeks were a nice rosy hue. Abel continued to eat his supper as he trailed his fingers up and down her legs in a slow and easy fashion.

  “You okay, Erin?” Jackson was looking at his sister with a quizzical look. “I didn’t notice earlier, but you seem really red. Did you get too much sun today?”

  Erin had to clear her throat twice before she could speak. “No, I’m fine. Just a little flushed from working over a hot stove.”

  Jackson nodded, satisfied with her explanation. “Erin’s made herself a nice little business selling berries with your family’s land.”

  “Really?” Abel turned slightly to face her, noting that her breathing was a little more rapid. Giving her a break, he moved his hand lower and settled it just above her knee. “Tell me about it?”

  Erin took a deep breath and let it out slowly before responding. “I worked with the wild blueberry bushes that were already there and planted some more. It’s a totally organic operation.” She shrugged as if it were no big deal. “I pick so much and sell it to local stores and restaurants, and I also have a u-pick operation when the berries are in season. I put in a new road where our property line meets and built a small shed for equipment and such.” She ate a mouthful of potatoes and chased it down with some milk before continuing. “I’m really busy from the end of July until mid-September, but it works out well for me.”

  Nathan snorted. “It works out better than well. Erin employs about a dozen kids from the high school during harvest time, either part-time or full-time.”

  Jackson nodded. “Yeah, she does. We use the rest of the fields to plant some hay and alfalfa. It works out well for us.”

  “It works out better for me,” Abel added. “I want to thank you for taking care of the house. It certainly wasn’t part of the agreement. To tell you the truth it just never crossed my mind.” Both men were looking at him with blank looks in their eyes, strengthening his belief that it was all Erin’s doing.

  “I told you it was no big deal.” She glanced at her brothers and back at her plate. “I’m over that way all the time and it only takes a few minutes to open a window or run a dustcloth over things.”

  Abel responded by sliding his hand up the inside of her thigh again, and this time he didn’t stop until he reached the top. He could feel her feminine heat seeping from her crotch even through the layer of denim, and he felt his dick begin to stir in response. He licked his lips, imagining just how good she would taste. The urge to haul down her jeans, spread her legs wide, and lick every inch of her sweet pussy was almost overwhelming. It didn’t matter that her brothers were sitting right next to him and would probably kill him if they could read his mind.

  Erin jumped when his palm cupped her intimately, choking on a piece of chicken. Abel was forced to remove his hand long enough to thump her on her back.

  “Are you sure you’re all right?” Jackson watched as Abel continued to pat her on the back.

  “I’m sure,” she sputtered. Jumping up from the table, she went straight to the sink and poured a glass of water for herself. Taking her time, she sipped slowly all the while keeping her back turned to them. When she finally regained her composure, she went to the oven, grabbed a potholder, and pulled out a casserole dish that had been left warming there.

  Abel watched her as she dished up a steaming chocolate pudding mixture and topped each serving with fresh cream. He could sit and watch her all day long. There was something about the way she moved that was restful. Even when she was busy, her movements were unhurried and precise. Some of her hair had escaped from the confines of her braid, and little locks curled slightly in the heat. Her skin was flushed and her full lips were parted in concentration as she worked.