Do you smell something burn She groaned. I left the pie in the oven
And I turned the oven on to bake the potatoes, he said.
Rachel jumped out of the bed and ran for the bedroom door, then turned and pointed to him. Stay here. Do not move. Ill be right back.
Dermot rolled onto his back and threw his arm over his eyes. A pleasant exhaustion settled over him and he let his thoughts drift. Hed spent last night on a bus somewhere in the Dakotas. Hed jumped off the bus and almost immediately loaded a pallet of feed into Rachels truck. Then hed dried dishes, milked a herd of goats and prepared a salad, all the while trying to stop thinking about grabbing Rachel and carrying her to the bedroom. No wonder he was tired.
The next thing he knew, she was beside him again. The room was dark. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her body against his.
You fell asleep, she whispered.
I didnt, Dermot said. Did you save the pie?
Its pretty much inedible. But Ill make another tomorrow.
Sorry. I didnt think to look inside the oven before I turned it on.
Close your eyes, she murmured. You need your sleep. We have to get up in six hours.
Dermot turned his face into her soft hair and inhaled the scent of her. Making love to her would wait. It was enough to lie next to her, to run his hands over her body and kiss her silken skin.
When his grandfather had sent him off, hed expected to find a little bit of himself along the way. Hed never thought that hed find a woman, as well. Rachel needed him, and for the next six weeks, hed do what he could to make her life easier. And if the compensation included sharing her bed, hed consider the job a success.
3
RACHEL OPENED HER EYES and looked around her bedroom. Frowning, she glanced down to see that she was still wearing her clothes. How had she
Memories of the night before came rushing into her head. Dermot. Theyd fallen asleep in her bed. She rolled over to find his half of the mattress empty. A sick feeling came into her stomach as she considered the possibilities.
Had he left sometime before dawn to return to the stone cottage? Had he gathered his belongings and sneaked away in the dark of night, finished with farm work and the woman who pretended to be his boss? Or maybe he was just an early riser, she mused.
Pushing up on her elbow, she picked up the alarm clock and squinted at the time. Six-fifteen? With a cry, Rachel bolted upright and swung her feet over the edge of the bed. Shed overslept! How had she overslept? The alarm was set for four-thirty. She always woke up before it rang.
She tugged her dress over her head and pulled on the first work clothes she could find. Slipping her feet into her shoes, she stumbled to the bathroom and grabbed a band to tie up her hair.
The sun was already well above the horizon as she raced across the yard. It was crucial that she keep a regular milking schedule to maximize yield. After eleven months, shed never missed milking timeexcept for today.
This is exactly what you deserve, she muttered to herself. A man comes into your life and you forget about all your responsibilities.
With a soft curse, she yanked open the door to the milking parlor. To her shock, a row of goats was lined up on the platform in the midst of being milked. She found Dermot nearby, scattering clean straw on the floor. Eddie and Benny stood to the side, watching him. Dermot glanced up and gave her a little wave as she approached.
What are you doing? she demanded.
My job, he said. Dermot lowered his voice. You looked so relaxed, I didnt want to wake you. I figured Id give it a go on my own this morning.
You cant do this by yourself, she said.
Sure I can. You taught me what to do last night. It didnt seem too complicated. Eddies been here to help me along. I mixed and fed them their corn and pellets. I figure Ill just be another hour. You can go back to bed if you like.
Rachel frowned. She could do the whole herd in four hours. How was it possible that he could best her speed after only one lesson? You must be missing something, she said.
He held out his hands. Check it out. Im pretty sure Im doing it right.
Rachel walked through the parlor, checking all the settings on the machines and going over her regular list of tasks. After a thorough inspection, she was forced to admit that Dermot was right. Hed done his job well.
All right, she said. Im impressed.
His expression of concern was broken by a wide grin. Yeah. I know what Im doing.
She glanced over at Eddie and he gave her a wink and a reluctant smile, then walked out of the barn, Benny scampering after him. Was her uncle aware of what was going on between them? How long had Dermot stayed in her bed last night?
Rachel kept her questions to herself as they finished with the last of the goats, washed up in the sinks in the pump room and then walked the herd to the pasture. Rachel stood on the gate as she watched the goats graze, smiling to herself. It was nice to know that she had someone to count on, someone who could take the pressure off her, even if it was just for a few hours.
Theres a kind of comfort in the routine, Dermot said as he stood next to her. I can understand why people would like this life. And theyre so smart. That little Benny is a riot. He jumped up on the ledge in the barn and was leaping around like a circus animal.
Eddie treats him like a dog. But I draw the line at letting him live in the house.
Why would you ever want to leave this place? Dermot asked.
Rachel leaned back, gripping the top rail of the fence. Sometimes I can see myself staying here. It would be the perfect spot to raise a family. She drew a deep breath. And then there are moments when Im so tired I feel like crying. When I feel like there has to be more than milking goats for the rest of my life.
What do you want? What do you dream for yourself? Dermot asked, his voice quiet. He reached out and brushed a strand of hair from her eyes, but she quickly turned from the gate and began to stride down the lane, frustration causing emotion to swell in her throat.
Hed just proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that she wasnt cut out for this. What took him just a few hours to learn had taken her a lifetime. The longer she stayed, the more she was coming to realize that her heart just wasnt in it anymore. Yes, this was home, yet it seemed like a weight around her neck, dragging her down into a life she wasnt sure she wanted.
Hey, wait up, he called. When he caught her, he reached out and grabbed her hand, but this time Rachel wouldnt allow herself to feel anything. She had six weeks with Dermots help, six more weeks to get her act together or admit that her siblings were rightrunning the dairy was no life for a single woman.
We need to bring some straw down from the barn, she said. No doubt that would take him a few minutes at the most to complete, a job that took her a half hour to do.
Whats wrong?
Nothing, Rachel said. Really. Im just I havent had breakfast and Im hungry.
Are you angry that I didnt wake you? I just thought you might like to sleep in for once.
When they reached the barn, Rachel pulled open the huge sliding door and they both walked inside. Usually she was forced to bring the pickup truck around and wrestle the bales of straw and hay up onto the truck bed or break them apart and carry them to the goat pen in pieces.
When they reached the barn, Rachel pulled open the huge sliding door and they both walked inside. Usually she was forced to bring the pickup truck around and wrestle the bales of straw and hay up onto the truck bed or break them apart and carry them to the goat pen in pieces.
I need you to bring four or five bales of straw to the building behind the milk parlor. Drop them down through that trapdoor, then carry them around to the parlor. Can you do that?
Sure, he said, frowning.
His gaze searched hers and she knew he was wondering about the sudden shift in her mood. You need some gloves.
He reached behind him and produced a brand-new pair of leather gloves. Eddie gave me these this morning.
Fine, she muttered. Lets go.
As she stepped away, Dermot grabbed her arm and pulled her close. Theres just one thing we need to take care of first, he said. Wrapping his hands around her waist, he picked her up and drew them both down into a pile of straw.
A huge cloud of dust and chaff rose up around them and Rachel began to sneeze. Dermot sat up and waved his hand in front of him, coughing. When the dust had finally settled, he glanced over at her and chuckled. That always works in the movies.
Rachel couldnt help but laugh. What were you planning to do once you got me into the hay?
He cupped her chin in his hand and kissed her. This, he murmured. His lips moved to her neck. And this. He bit her shoulder gently. And a little bit of this.
He pulled her onto his lap and wrapped her legs around his waist. Rachel closed her eyes and enjoyed the feel of his hands and his mouth on her body. When he moved lower, she held her breath and then his lips teased her nipple beneath the fabric of her T-shirt. Her frustration quickly dissolved and Rachel enjoyed the pleasant sensations pulsing through her body.
He caught the hem of her shirt in his fingers and slowly drew it up, pressing a line of kisses across her belly, bending her back until she felt dizzy with desire.
Did you forget your underwear this morning, boss?
I believe I did, Rachel said.
Good. It tends to get in the way. A moment later, his mouth came down on her nipple and Rachel gasped, the shock sending currents of pleasure through her body. Her thoughts focused on that small spot, as if hed found the core of her desire.
It had been so long since a man had wanted her. Furrowing her fingers through his hair, she moved against him, desperate to have him continue his exploration. He took a momentary break to pull off his shirt, giving her a wide expanse of skin to touch.
He had an incredible body, slender, yet muscular, burnished golden by the sun. Rachel imagined what his life was like in Seattle. Though he seemed to fit perfectly on the farm, there was no doubt that his life in the city suited him better.
But that didnt mean he wouldnt remember their time on the farm. Shed make sure he never forgot. She pulled her shirt over her head, then ran her fingers through her tangled hair. Now what?
A slow grin curled the corners of his mouth. Holding tight to her, he got to his feet and then set her down. He kicked off his shoes and reached for the button on his jeans.
Wait, she said. Rachel undid the button herself, then slowly lowered his zipper. She should have been nervous, but she wasnt. This was exactly what she wanted, what shed hoped for last night. And now it was happening and she wanted to enjoy every last moment.
She skimmed his jeans down over his hips, his erection tenting the fabric of his boxers. He kicked the jeans away and she moved back up, smoothing her palm along the length of his shaft. He was so hard, so ready.
Condom, he murmured.
She didnt want to stop now, didnt want to wait. Rachel needed to know how deep his need ran. Slipping her hand into the waistband of his boxers, she wrapped her fingers around him and slowly began to stroke. We wont need one, she said. Not right now.
He leaned back against the post and watched her, his gaze shifting between her face and her hand. Rachel knew he was close, and every now and then, hed draw in a sharp breath and close his eyes, as if fighting off the first tremors of his orgasm.
He seemed to grow harder with each stroke, and Rachel leaned closer, her breasts brushing against his chest. He groaned and then his breath froze. A heartbeat later, his body jerked and Rachels hand grew slick with his orgasm.
He reached down to stop her and she slowed her pace, pressing her lips to his chest. He shuddered when her tongue circled his nipple, his fingers tangling in her hair.
When he was completely spent, she stepped back and looked up at him. If she thought his desire would be sated, she was wrong. His gaze smoldered, searing her with unhidden need. I guess that wasnt the way things went in the movies either, she said.
She reached down and picked up her T-shirt. I think you might need another shower.
Are you going to come with me?
Well get to that, Rachel said with a sly smile. We cant do everything in one day.
DERMOT HAD NEVER expected his first full day of work to include a full-scale seduction. But the attraction between him and Rachel was impossible to deny. From the moment he set eyes on her, desire seemed to be at the top of his mind.
Was that so difficult to believe? Every time she looked at him, he was acutely aware that hed never met a woman quite like her. She was stubborn and determined, yet so vulnerable at the same time.
Hed never met anyone who worked so hard against such high odds. It was clear that the dairy was gradually wearing her down. The work seemed to be endless, without a break. And even the extra rest hed given her that morning came with emotional consequences.
It was pretty clear that she was torn between family loyalty and whatever dreams she had for her own life. And it was strangely ironic that he was dealing with the same decisions. Dermot wanted to help her, but he was at a loss himself. He just figured that when the time came to make a decision, hed know exactly what he wanted, no tears, no guilt. Just a simple decision.
He adjusted the extension ladder against the house, then crawled up to the top. Rotted leaves clogged the gutters and he grabbed them by handfuls and let them fall to the ground. After he cleaned the gutters, he had to repair the rail on the front porch, replace a broken pane of glass in an upstairs window and fix the barn door. All before afternoon milking.
Are you almost done up there?
He looked down to find Rachel standing at the foot of the ladder. Almost, he called.
Good, because you make me nervous up that high.
He climbed down and jumped the last three steps, landing beside her. Do you have another job for me to do?
Yes, she said.
Im not done with this job yet.
Its time for lunch, she said. I thought we might have a picnic. Theres a place I want to show you. Its my favorite place on this whole farm.
I need to wash my hands and Ill be ready to go.
They returned to the kitchen and Rachel grabbed a picnic basket and a blanket. He wiped his clean hands on a towel, then took the basket from her. Lead on, he said.
Thank you for cleaning the gutters, she said as they walked down the steps. I tried a couple of times to climb that ladder, but I couldnt get past the sixth step. Youre very brave.