Dermot dragged her into his arms and held her tight. Im sure he never wanted you to be unhappy, sweetheart. You know that. Maybe he just wanted to make sure his animals would live out their lives on your farm.
She sniffled and looked up at him through watery eyes. You think?
I think, Dermot reassured her. If you can find someone to buy the farm who wants to keep the goats, then I think maybe your father would be happy. Remember what Ben said? he continued. Ellen and her husband have been looking around for a farm of their own. They want to start a goat dairy. Why dont you let them know that you might consider selling?
She thought about his suggestion. My brothers and sister would certainly be happy. And I know Ellen and Kyle. Ive met their two children. Theyre definitely goat people. She paused. Wed have to make arrangements for Eddie. Hes not going to want to leave the farm. Hes lived there his entire life.
Im sure you could work something out, he said. Now, we forgot our cheese inside. I think we should go back and talk to Ellen about your farm. You dont have to decide right now, but you could let her know it might be an option.
I really havent thought seriously about selling, she said. I made a promise to myself that Id stay at least a year before I made any decisions.
And how long have you been running the farm? he asked.
Almost a year?
There you go. He tipped her face up and wiped the tears away with his fingertips. Come on, lets go back inside and see what she has to say.
But now that the idea had found a place in her mind, Dermot began to question his reasons for suggesting it. Was he really interested in her happiness or were his motives purely selfish? If she didnt have the farm, then she was free to move wherever she wantedto Seattle, perhaps?
He wasnt going to deny that hed spent some time imagining what life would be like living in his house instead of hers. As much as he loved the farm and the animals, he was starting to realize how much his grandfathers business meant to him. Maybe it was in his genes. The Quinn family had been on the water for generations, first as fishermen in Bantry Bay and now as boat builders. Like Rachel, he had family traditions to uphold.
Dermot opened the door for Rachel. When they got back inside, he pressed his hand to the small of her back, hoping to calm her emotions with his touch.
Youre back! Ellen said. You forgot your cheese.
I know, Rachel said. I wanted to talk to you before I left. Ben mentioned that you and Kyle might be looking for a farm, a place to raise goats.
Ellen nodded. Weve been looking. Its been difficult. Weve seen a few places but they havent been perfect. Its a huge risk and an even bigger investment. My father has agreed to help, but we plan to spend the rest of our lives on the place, so it has to be just right. She laughed. Like Clover Meadow.
Well, Im glad to hear that. Because Ive been thinking about selling.
Ellen gasped, her eyes opening wide. Oh, my gosh. Really?
Rachel nodded. Im still weighing all my options, but well, dont buy a place until youve talked to me first. Could you do that?
Yes, yes. Of course.
And dont tell Ben. Lets keep this between us. You, me and Kyle?
Sure. I know how the gossip gets around. I promise to keep this strictly confidential.
Good, Rachel said. She grabbed the box. Thank you, Ellen. And I guess well be talking in the future.
Ellen smiled. I sure hope so.
When they got outside, Dermot slipped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. Are you all right?
Rachel nodded. I feel relieved. Like a weight has been lifted. I suddenly have options.
Options, he said.
I think we should go out for lunch. My treat. Theres a great drive-in in Elkhorn. They have the best cheese curds, she added.
I am beginning to love cheese, Dermot teased, grabbing the box from her arms. Bring it on.
Rachel leaned in and stole a kiss. Come on, then. Im hungry.
As they drove down the country road, Dermot turned up the radio and sang along with a love song. The windows were open and the warm breeze buffeted through the truck. It was another perfect day, he thought to himself. There wouldnt be many of them left. But now he had even more reason to hope that he might not have to count the days. Rachel might be his forever.
THE FEDEX TRUCK RUMBLED into the yard at exactly 10:00 a.m. Dermot and Rachel were walking back from the barn, Benny trailing after them. Rachel shaded her eyes against the morning sun. I wonder what this is about.
No doubt another missive from her siblings lawyers. The last time theyd sent registered mail. Now they were assaulting her with overnight packages. She thought they might finally give up now that Jane wanted to send her two sons to live at Clover Meadow. The balance of power had definitely shifted.
The driver hopped out of the truck and circled around to meet her in the middle of the drive. Rachel Howe? he asked.
Thats me, she said. She signed for the envelope, then took it from his hands. But it wasnt from a lawyer. This is odd, she said to Dermot, staring at the bill of lading.
What is it? he asked.
Its from some kind of literary agency. Lynn Barrett Literary Agency in New York. Have you written a book that I dont know about?
No. I never kiss and tell. What about you?
She shook her head. I wouldnt have the words to describe it all.
Hmm. Maybe you should give it a try. Talk dirty to me and all kinds of interesting things might happen. He growled softly, then pulled her into his arms.
Rachel slipped out of his grasp. You are going to have to learn to behave yourself, Mr. Quinn. If Jane is sending her boys here, we cant have them corrupted by your out-of-control libido.
Ill have you know, my libido was well under control until I met you.
Rachel opened the envelope and reached inside to pull out a smaller one. Inside was a letter and she skimmed it as they walked to the porch. Oh, my God, she said, sitting down on the step. They want to know if Id be interested in illustrating a childrens book. Rachel reread the letter. Remember I told you about that publisher I talked to at the convention? She passed my card on to one of her authors. Shes asking if I have an agent. She looked up at Dermot. I cant believe all of this is happening now.
This is a good thing. Do you have an agent?
No. I work with the greeting card publisher direct. Now Briar Hollow wants me to buy more goats. And then, in between milking goats and drawing skunks and ducks, and caring for two high schoolage boys, Im supposed to illustrate a childrens book. She groaned. Maybe in my spare time I could go to medical school and rewire the house.
Dermot laughed, pulling her close. It always helps to overreact, Rachel. Just throw all your insecurities out there and see what sticks.
Im not overreacting, she protested. Dont you see whats happening? Im going to have to make a choice. The farm or my art. One or the other. I cant continue to do both. And this is a really good opportunity.
Youll figure out a way.
Youll figure out a way.
How?
Ill stay a little longer than I originally planned.
No, Rachel said. No, that is not a solution. You have your own life to get back to and Im not going
But I kind of like living here in the middle of your life, he said. Mostly, I like sleeping in the middle of your bed.
Rachel had already decided that she wasnt going to take advantage of him any longer. He was far too kind to her, and though it made life easier, she had to figure out these things on her own.
Im going to turn it down, she said.
You dont even know what its about, Dermot reminded. Why dont you find out before you make a decision that you might regret?
She met his gaze. He was right, of course. Dermot was always right. He took a measured approach to any decision, weighing all his options, examining the pros and cons. Rachel suspected if he were the one running the farm, theyd be milking two hundred goats, turning out cases of soap and making their own cheese. All right. I wont make any quick decisions. But all of this is making me a little nervous.
Well go into town later and post another ad at the grocery store. And then, well put an ad in the local papers. And well find someone to help you out on the farm.
Rachel leaned over a dropped a kiss on his lips. Youre really too good to me, you know that, dont you?
I have ulterior motives, he said, a wicked smile curling the corners of his mouth. Which I am about to reveal.
You smell like a goat, she said. I smell like a goat.
We could always take a shower, he suggested. Together.
Right now, she didnt want to think about all the things she had to do, all the decisions she had to make. She just wanted to lose herself in an intriguing exploration of Dermots incredible body. Rachel tugged off her boots and set them on the steps. Ill race you.
She ran inside, pulling her T-shirt over her head as she hurried through the kitchen. Dermot followed, hot on her heels, nearly catching her on the stairs. She screamed as she eluded his grasp, then slipped into the bathroom and shut the door behind her.
Theres only enough hot water for me, she called. Youll have to wait.
Come on, Rachel. We can share a shower, cant we?
You know what happened the last time we did that. We got distracted and ran out of hot water before I even got my hair washed.
I promise. Ill keep my hands to myself this time around.
Promise?
Im taking my clothes off right now, he said. Im almost naked. Oh, yes, now Im naked.
She opened the bathroom door a crack and peeked out. He was standing in the hallway, his clothes at his feet. Can I come in?
Her fingers twitched with the urge to touch him. He was already aroused. With Dermot, it was easy, she mused. He made it obvious that he wanted her as much as she wanted him. When it came to sex, she didnt have to think. She just felt.
She opened the door wider to let him pass. As he did, Rachel let her hand drift across his belly. He moaned and turned into her touch.
Im counting on you to behave, she said in her most seductive tone.
Then stop messing with me, he replied. Dermot reached behind the shower curtain and turned on the water.
Rachel quickly skimmed her jeans to the floor, then kicked them aside along with her socks. Im just making sure youre only interested in a shower.
Dermot grabbed her and kissed her, stopping her come-on with his lips and his tongue. When he finally drew away, Rachel stepped behind the curtain and into the claw-foot tub. He joined her a moment later, wrapping his arms around her waist. His mouth found hers again and he kissed her, hungry with desire. Rachel arched against him as his lips trailed over her shoulder and onto her breasts.
She slowly stroked him as he explored her body with his lips and tongue. The water made him slick, and before long, he was fully aroused and moaning with desire. Rachel knew exactly what would drive him wild, and when she closed her lips over the head of his shaft, he gasped, his hands braced on her shoulders, his eyes closed.
If this was the last man shed know intimately, Rachel could live with that. The memories of what they shared were so deeply etched into her mind that she knew shed be able to recall every caress, every reaction, by just closing her eyes.
She tempted him with her lips and her tongue, surprised by how easily she could bring him to the edge. And then, she took him too close. Dermot grabbed her arms and pulled her to her feet, his eyes closed, his jaw tense. Rachel watched as he struggled to maintain control.
He gently drew her against his body, her back to him, his fingers slipping between her legs. Every nerve in her body tingled, his touch causing her pulse to race. He could read her reactions, and when she had reached the point of no return, Dermot slipped inside her.
The feel of him buried deep was almost more than she could take. The fears and insecurities that had kept her from loving him were gone. Why couldnt she feel like this all the time, as if there were no way anything could come between them?
The sensations coursing through her body obliterated rational thought, and a moment later, she was caught in the vortex of her release. Rachels body went boneless and it was all she could do to stay upright. A moment later, he found his own release, his hands clutching her hips as he drove into her one last time.
They clung to each other beneath the shower, her backside nestled in his lap, both of them trembling in the aftermath of their orgasms. It would never be like this with another man, she mused. The passion they shared was singular and powerful, and becoming more frightening to her with every encounter they shared. How would she ever do without this?
Though she wanted to imagine a happy ending for the two of them, the odds didnt seem to favor them. Was she willing to give up everything shed known, everything she promised, to find a life with him? And was he ready to make that kind of commitment?
There were too many questions left unanswered and she was running out of time to ask them all.
THE STORM BEGAN IN the middle of the night. Lightning flashed and the thunder was so loud it rattled the windows. Dermot sat up in bed, reaching out for Rachel. But her side of the bed was empty.
He tossed the sheet aside and stood, searching the room for something to wear. In the end, he pulled on a pair of jeans and walked downstairs barefoot. He found her, curled up in front of the television, tuned to the weather channel. Whats going on? he asked.
Tornado warning, she said.
Tornado? Really? How close?
She pointed to the television. About twenty miles. Rachel drew her knees up, wrapping her arms around her legs. I hate bad weather, she said. In town, they have the sirens to warn you. But out here, you just have to listen to the storm. It was so hot and humid today. I knew this was coming.
He sat down next to her, his gaze fixed on the television. Are there a lot of tornadoes around here?
Rachel nodded. Sure. We get some each summer. They dont always do a lot of damage. She shuddered. I was terrified of tornadoes when I was younger. My dad would listen to the radio and wake us up in the middle of the night and wed go down into the cellar and wait for the storm to pass. My mother would sing songs and try to distract me, but it didnt help.