Leighton grimaced. “Oh no, I’m sorry!”
“Don’t be. It’s not your fault.” I lifted a crying Sammy in my arms. “See you around, Leighton. And don’t go trespassing anymore, okay? I wouldn’t want to have to call the authorities on you.”
She laughed and waved, her smile big. “Bye!”
As I walked back to the house, Sammy didn’t let up. Caden, my best friend and business partner, walked out of the farmhouse with a concerned look. “What’s wrong, Sammy boy?”
“He’s overdue for a nap. Sorry about the wailing.”
“Dude, you don’t have to apologize. I’ve told you a thousand times. But who was that chick I saw you with?”
Fuck.
I’d hoped he hadn’t seen her.
“An out-of-towner who got lost on a walk. I was showing her around.”
Caden narrowed his eyes at me. “Interesting.”
“Not really. See ya, Caden,” I said, ending the conversation before he could ask another question.
As I laid Sammy down for a nap, images of Leighton kept popping into my head.
Her ass, her curves, her everything…
And that smile…fuck.
I was in deep shit.
CHAPTER THREE
Leighton
As soon asI arrived back at my cabin, an unfamiliar energy buzzed inside me that I contributed to the sexy man I ran into. That hunky beast of a man really owned such a beautiful orchardandhad an adorable son?
There had to be a woman in the picture.
What did it matter anyway? I was here to write my book series, and that’s exactly what I intended to do. I locked the door and headed to the large bathroom, where a perfect clawfoot tub awaited. A long, hot bath helped before a brainstorming session, and I planned to use all my ideas.
By the time the sun began its descent, I had pages and pages of notes. After a quick dinner of a peanut butter and fluff sandwich and potato chips, I got back to it. The entire series was planned and plotted by midnight, and my notebook was filled to the brim.
With hardly any energy to even brush my teeth, I collapsed into bed a happy woman. I was on the right track.
And it was all because of a sexy man and his cute kid.
The following morning,I lay in bed for a while, scrolling on my phone and enjoying the peace and quiet. So much quiet I hadn’t been used to, with the sounds of the city lulling me to sleep every night. There weren’t any sirens or honking cars and no angry neighbors yelling or apartment doors slamming.
It was so silent that I drifted off to sleep once more and awoke around eleven in the morning. As I stretched and wiggled my toes, my brain came to life, and the first thing I thought of was Cash.
His sexy, inked arms, his golden-brown hair…
I needed to call Chevelle stat.
After a quick shower, I dressed and threw my hair into a messy bun before starting a pot of coffee.
Over a steaming mug and fresh fruit, I filled Chevelle in on all the juicy details.
“Wow, girl. I didn’t realize the men around here were so…so…manly and rugged.” I laughed into the camera on my phone. Chevelle and I were on a FaceTime call. I sat on the back deck at the outdoor dining table, the stunning view in the distance mesmerizing. I propped my phone against the table umbrella pole to get a better look at my best friend.
