“You can see now how impossible that is, can’t you?” Lacey asked. “You’re not ready to be a family man. You’d always resent me for the past. I can’t live like that.”
“Nobody said it would be easy. There is one thing you have to be honest with me about, though. I have to know about the kids…”
Suddenly a terrible racket stole their attention. Two dogs barked excitedly as they raced back and forth between the porch steps and the east side of the barn. So far, the pigs had barely been noticeable, but now they were squealing loudly. Lacey jumped from the porch and ran toward the pigpen. Alex followed close behind.
Two boards had been broken on the side of the pen. A huge hog’s head was pressed through the opening as he tried to escape. A smaller pig streaked across the lawn toward the garden.
Lacey placed her back against the broken boards to try to hold the larger hog inside. “Get some wood from the pile by the porch. We have to keep the others from getting loose!”
Alex changed direction. In less than a minute he came back with the hammer, box of nails, and two of the stronger boards he’d removed from the porch the week before. He patched the hole in record time, and then stood back to admire his handiwork.
“My garden!” Lacey cried.
The escaped pig was helping himself to a section of turnip greens at the edge of the garden. Alex and Lacey approached him from different directions. The pig ran toward the center of the lawn with the dogs flanking him on either side, biting at his legs. With a surge of speed, Alex caught up to the pig and threw himself down on top of it.
“One of us has to get inside while the other lifts him over,” she said.
Alex thought about his expensive sneakers, but Lacey was wearing strappy little sandals that left her feet exposed. He gritted his teeth as he stepped over the side of the pen.
The pig had exhausted himself and was calmer as Lacey picked him up and hefted him into Alex’s arms. However, as soon as he realized he was being returned to his prison, the pig proceeded to buck, twist, and scream. Alex was in a fight for his life with a fifty-pound, stinking to high heaven, whirling dervish.
Alex found himself flat on his back in black muck. One large hog snout was pressed to his neck and another to his crotch.
Alex sat up flapping the slime from his arms and yelling for the hogs to get away. Lacey was laughing hysterically.
“I’d give anything for a camera.” Lacey could hardly catch her breath. “I’d love for your employees and clients to see you now.” The madder Alex looked, the more she laughed. “You’re not coming into my house like that, you know.”
She walked to the side of the barn, picked up the nozzle of a garden hose and turned it on.
Alex fought through the spray until he could wrap his grimy arms around her in a bear hug.
Minutes later they both lay in the grass, wet and giggling like a couple of kids. Seeing the thin cotton shirt molded against Lacey’s curves, his mind went back to when they were kids. She’d looked just like this when she’d come out of the lake: wet, wild, and breathless. His body had the same reaction it did then; raging need, blinding want. The way she gazed at him with half closed eyes, the way she ran the tip of her tongue over her bottom lip, he knew she was feeling it too.
Alex took her breast in his hand, fuller and softer than he remembered. As he lowered his hand to the hem of her white shirt, a streak of grime left a trail. Dammit!
****
Lacey waited for the shower to stop running before she started the washing machine. Alex had told her that he only had a pair of clean boxers and an undershirt left in his bag. He’d need more than that to wear before the kids returned. There’d be no stopping Jerrod from grabbing that twenty-two if he found her alone with Alex in his skivvies. Of course, Jenna would be ready to plan a wedding.
Alex had generously let her shower first. Then she’d chosen a sundress to wear. She was feeling particularly feminine now, probably because she hadn’t had male attention in a long time.
It had shocked her when he’d admitted that he hoped they could put the pieces of their former relationship back together. She supposed he’d said it because of her admission that she’d fantasized too. Fantasy was probably a bad choice of words, but that’s what had slipped from her lips. At least she hadn’t blurted the nature of the other fantasies she’d had during the night. After all,
attention
from a man wasn’t the only thing that had been missing from her life.
Would she feel so shy of his advances if she hadn’t aged thirteen years and given birth to twins? Probably not, but the last time they’d seen each other she’d been a sweet and innocent seventeen-year-old. Now, gravity was beginning to be her enemy and there were little stretch marks on her body here and there. She still weighed the same, but it had redistributed a little. To put it simply, her size three jeans were only a memory.
It had been so long since she’d felt his touch. His hand on her today had nearly sent her into ecstasy. And then he’d stopped so suddenly. She must not have felt like the girl he’d known before. She had certainly felt the same. No, better, stronger, more sensual, if only for a moment.
She warmed a cup of coffee and a plate of pancakes from breakfast. They were waiting on the table when Alex came in wearing a white T-shirt and a pair of pale blue boxers. Wow! Forget blue jeans vs. business suit, this was his best look yet. Even his feet were sexy, strong and masculine, and yet smooth with nicely trimmed nails.
“Is it okay that I’m barefoot?”
Lacey realized she was still staring at his feet. Since when had she developed a fetish for men’s feet?
“Oh, yes, yes they’re perfect, I mean it’s perfect…ly fine, perfectly fine.” Lacey groaned. Could she sound any more like a moron? The wide smile that spread across Alex’s face told her, no. When his eyes landed on the plate of food, they widened as well.
“Is this for me, I hope?” Not waiting for an answer, he slid the cup and plate to the other side of the table and sat.
“Is there a reason you need to put your back to the wall?” Lacey asked. “Are we expecting gangsters with machineguns? Are you wanted by the cops? Should I grab my shotgun and keep you covered?”
“It’s just a habit.” Alex tucked his left hand under the table and picked up his fork with the right.
Lacey watched him eat for a few minutes. She was at a loss for words. His insecurity regarding his scarred arm wasn’t necessary. Maybe it was time to point out the elephant in the room. She gathered her courage. “It must be exhausting to always hide your arm that way. Why do you bother? If people can’t accept you the way you are, to hell with them.”
Alex froze with the last bite of his food halfway to his mouth. He sat his fork down and looked at her with narrowed eyes. Maybe she’d made a mistake.
“Have you ever had a date leave in the middle of dinner because your sleeve drew up? Have you ever had kids whisper behind your back and the only words you could make out were gross, and monster, and Freddy Kruger?”
A hot flush crept up her neck, not from embarrassment, but from anger. Was he accusing her of being like that? He was the one who’d cut their interlude short.
“Women like me don’t get asked out on dates. We get plenty of other offers, but not for anything that can be done in public. And yes, people whisper behind my back, but they’re not kids. The words I can usually make out are whore, and slut. Oh, I’m sorry, was I supposed to feel sorry for you?”
Alex was shocked. “Is that why you don’t go to church with the kids?”
“What do you think?” she answered. “I want my kids to be able to hang out with their friends and be a part of the community without having to hear what the gossips have to say about their mother. For some reason, it’s only a problem when I’m there.”
Alex wondered if that was true, or if that’s what the kids led her to believe. One thing he was certain of, no one would talk about her like that in his presence. He took her hand. “Those are just a few small minded old biddies. No one that matters would say something like that about you.”
“Oh really? Does that include your mother?” Lacey jerked her hand away. “Why do you think I didn’t get your address from her all those years ago? She wouldn’t give it to me. She said you were better off not hearing from me. She wanted you to find a nice, decent girl, someone she could be proud to have in her family.”
“That’s not true,” Alex insisted.
“Don’t take my word for it.” Lacey stood and went to the sink to run dishwater. “Ask her yourself.”
****
Alex watched Lacey as she kept her back to him. He felt like he’d been slapped. How had things gone so wrong so fast? They’d practically made love on the back lawn a few minutes ago, and now, she’d thrown this bit of news at him. It had to have been a misunderstanding. His mother and hers had been friends since high school. They’d attended backyard barbeques and birthday parties for each other. They played bridge together for heaven’s sake.
His relationship with his mom had always been close. She’d never said anything off color about Lacey. At least, not that he’d ever heard. She could be a little tough on people sometimes, but not mean.
Could that misunderstanding have been the catalyst that had thrown her into another man’s arms? God, he hoped not.
He’d never understand women if he lived to be a hundred.
Alex brought his empty dishes to the sink. Then he transferred his wet clothes into the dryer. If it wasn’t for the promise he’d made to help Jerrod, he’d leave when he had clothes to wear. But his clothes wouldn’t be ready for almost hour and Jerrod would be home shortly thereafter.
After the last dish was washed, Lacey stepped out to the front porch. Alex followed to try and smooth things over. These were the times that made a grown man feel like a helpless little girl.
When he left the kitchen and walked into the living room, he saw her through the front screen door. The sun shone on her light auburn hair as she sat on the porch steps. Damn, she looked delicate in that little yellow sundress. He never used the word delicate, it wasn’t masculine. But he couldn’t think of any other word to describe her as she sat with her knees pulled up to her chest and nothing on her shoulders but two little bows.
Both the dogs who had helped them with the runaway pig were cuddled against her. He almost felt jealous of the affection they were receiving, but they’d earned it. That stupid pig would still be running them ragged if the dogs hadn’t chased him down.
“Those are a couple of beautiful dogs. Have you had them long?”
Lacey turned to look up at him through the screen. Her eyes were rimmed red and her lashes were damp. Her nose was hot pink and her lips were swollen. She’d been crying. He never could stand to see her cry.
She swiped the inside of her wrist over her eyes and sniffed. “Five years. Ever since they were weaned. They’re names are Buck and Bella. They’re part of the family. Come out and say hello. They’ve been curious about you.”
Alex joined her on the top step. The female Border collie stayed against Lacey’s side. The male moved off the steps and sat on the ground, as still as a statue in front of him. He eyed Alex suspiciously. Were all the males on this farm going to give him a hard time?
“I forgot you had dogs until they showed up this morning. I hadn’t heard a single bark before that. Where’ve they been?”
“Working of course,” Lacey replied. “They usually stay with the cattle. You being here made them a little off their game, and then the pigpen escape made them more nervous. They’ll be fine after a little loving.”
Alex wanted to tell her that he could do with a little loving, but he held his tongue. Her nerves were still too raw. “You were serious about everyone working for their supper.”
“Buck and Bella are the best herders in the county,” Lacey bragged. “They’ve won several ribbons for their skill with cattle.”
“No kidding?” Alex held out his flat hand. Bella came around to sniff it, but Buck just blew out a huff.
Lacey stood up and brushed the dust and dog hair from her skirt. “I guess I’d better get started on my chores.”
Bella walked down the steps and toward the side of the house. Buck remained in place staring at Alex.
“I’ll help,” Alex offered as he stood to follow Lacey inside. If that dog could handle a small herd of cattle without supervision, he didn’t want to be alone with him. Not until he had a change of attitude.
Yeah, you’d better,” Lacey laughed, “before someone sees you outside in your underwear.”
In the kitchen, Lacey pulled a bowl of diced potatoes from the refrigerator and drained off the water. Next, she began peeling boiled eggs. Now here was something Alex knew about, potato salad. He drained a portion of relish to add, along with a huge dollop of mayonnaise, and a spoonful of mustard.
“Lacey, maybe we should talk about the wedding plans before the kids get home. They definitely put a new spin on the situation, especially Jerrod. I see now that it may take more than a month to work this out.”
“I absolutely agree,” Lacey said.
Alex wondered if she really did. The smile she wore looked less than genuine.
“As a matter of fact, I’ve been thinking about the cutest Victorian house on the corner of Main Street and Osceola Lane. It’s near the school. The kids would be able to walk every day. It’s only a little smaller than this one and has a fenced back yard for Buck and Bella. I’d be able to find a job in town. The only work I’ve ever done has been this farm, but I’ve always kept good books. I should be able to do the same for another type business. Once they finish putting on the new roof on that house, it’ll be ready to rent. I figure I could move into it before the end of the month. I can’t imagine what it would be like to have free time.”
Alex was surprised by how much thought she’d put into this. “Is that really what you want? Are you ready to give up so easily? You’d be willing to walk away from this farm after all the work you’ve put into it? You’d be ready to give up on me after just finding each other again? I understand that you don’t want to marry me. You made that clear thirteen years ago, but what about the friendship we had growing up? Doesn’t that mean anything?”