For a moment, he simply gaped at her, then scrubbed his free hand through his curly hair, mussing it adorably. “You came.”
“You sound surprised.”
He set down the hose and chuckled. “I didn’t picture you as the type to get up with the roosters.”
Gemma cocked a hip. “You don’t think much of us woo-woo types, do you?” Honestly, getting up this early was no fun, but if you want to catch a farmer, you’ve got to move on his schedule. Not that she was trying to catch him, just seduce him. Into a business deal.
Focus, Gemma.
She needed to keep her eyes on the prize, not on Jesse’s hunky bod and teasing grin.
“This is a special place. I can sense all the love you put into these plants. Excellent vibes. Lots of potential for healing.”
“You make it sound like some kind of temple.” He lifted a narrow trowel. “It’s just a greenhouse.”
“Oh, it’s so much more than that.” She sauntered toward him, taking a zig-zag path between the planters as she caressed the tender leaves and inhaling their fragrance.
“You’re right, I guess.” Bending over a table, he prodded the soil. “The farm is all I have left of my grandparents. They loved this place. Working here makes me feel close to them.”
Funny that he didn’t mention his parents. Sore subject?
Hunched over, he talked to the plants as much as to her. “Gran and Gramps started this place during the seventies when Trappers Cove was a hippie mecca. If it weren’t for farmers’ markets and farm-to-table restaurants, I’d have had to shut down. Nowadays, most people buy their plants from big-box stores. They don’t care about quality, just price.”
The gentle way he handled the delicate lives in his care sent a whisper of longing through her. Would he touch a lover with the same tenderness?
Jesse’s defensive gruffness melted away when talking about his little green babies. She’d come armed against his snark, but his unexpected reverence caught her defenseless.
It would be damned easy to make a fool of herself over this sweet man.
“You really love this place.” She stepped to his side. “Not only the farm, but the town. It shines through in your voice, your eyes…”
He straightened and faced her. “Trappers Cove is home, and this farm is my little piece of it. When it thrives, I thrive.” His gaze softened. “How about you?”
“I always love coming back to TC, but I love a lot of places.” His probing gaze unnerved her, so she turned away and traced the delicate serrated leaves of a vervain plant. “Trappers Cove will always be one of my home bases.”
He quirked an eyebrow. “How many home bases do you have?”
Her stomach tightened—which was dumb. Why should she feel so defensive? Lots of people prefer to roam about rather than settle in one place.
Raising her chin, she ticked off on her fingers. “There’s Olympia, where I grew up. And Seattle, where I went to college.” No need to mention the part where she dropped out. “There’s Tacoma, where I worked at a domestic violence shelter, and Leavenworth, where my friend runs a spa.” She almost mentioned Eugene, Oregon, but would she ever feel comfortable returning there? “I guess you could say I have an orbit, like a comet.”
Jesse snorted.
Indignant, she glared up at him. “What’s that’s about?”
“Pretty hard to grow if you’re afraid to sink roots.”
Her spine stiffened. “Who says I’m afraid? Maybe people who stay put all the time are terrified to stretch their wings and fly.”
Jesse didn’t flinch. “I don’t have wings, princess. I’m just a man, walking on the ground.” He patted a planter box. “This is my home. I like it here.”
Argh!His placid expression made her want to poke him harder. “Don’t you crave a change of scenery sometimes?”
“Sure, travel’s nice, but this place takes my constant attention.” Moving to the translucent wall, he fiddled with a timer attached to a spigot.
She heard Zora’s voice urging her to let Jesse be, but she couldn’t help herself. “You could hire helpers.”
He snorted again. “Gotta start earning a profit first. Besides, I can’t stand to be away for long. I’d worry too much.” He lifted one shoulder. “Gramps always said it takes all kinds to make the world go ‘round. Your type will never understand my type, I guess.”
