Here With Me

“I don’t have any trips to the beach planned, but I want to go sailing one day.”

“Do you know how to sail?”

“A little. Marines are a branch of the Navy, you know.”

Is there anything this man can’t do? “You need a boat.”

He grins, and the light shining in his eyes is so pretty. “Minor hurdle.”

Warmth squeezes my chest, and our smiles collide as his warm lips cover mine, pushing them apart. Our tongues curl together, and my insides melt. The arches of my feet melt. My hands slide along his firm arms, and I let his kiss take away all my sadness. It feels so good. I want so much more. I want everything.

“Oh shit.” He breaks our kiss, hopping up and grabbing the trash. “I’ve been gone too long.”

He pulls me to my feet, but I’m floating on air as we hurry to the waiting ATV.

Sawyer LaGrange has been my hero since I was a little girl, and being in his arms last night was a big piece of heaven. Hell, being in his arms today after crashing into my old demons reminds me why I’ve waited for him so long.

I close my eyes and hold his waist as we bounce across the fields to the house. My cheek is pressed against his shoulder, and I’m sure I have him now. We’ve come this far. I won’t let him retreat from me again.

10

Sawyer

Harvest doesn’t give a shit what’s going on in your life. Jay’s crew arrives Monday before dawn, and those peaches are coming off the trees. I take one crew out to the back forty. Taron goes with another to the middle, and Leon heads up the final team nearer the house.

We work eight-hour shifts every day, sweeping the trees, pulling every ripe fruit off, even the ones that aren’t so ripe, and hauling them to the shed where the teens are waiting to sort them for distribution, immediate sale, or cooking.

It’s back-breaking work in temperatures so hot and humidity so high, I’m surprised we all don’t end up with heat stroke.

Of course, we don’t.

We’ve grown up in this climate.

Still, it leaves me tired as fuck by mid-afternoon every day.

Now that Leon is heading up a crew, Noel spends the mornings in the shed overseeing the teens at the sorting tables. Dove stands on a chair beside the high-schoolers, sorting peaches like a pro. When I’m there, I can’t help feeling a mixture of amusement and a real sense of pride watching them.

Long story short, I haven’t had a break to think about anything since we started. Every June is the same way, but this year is different for me. Things have happened I don’t want to neglect. Still, when I look up, it’s Wednesday. I haven’t seen or talked to Mindy since Saturday. Dammit.

Correction, I sent her a text before I crashed last night. My eyes were closing on their own, but I pulled up that picture I took of us on the pier. She’s so pretty sitting on my lap. Her smile is pure and full of emotion, and I want to know what she’s thinking.

She was upset because of Beth and Liz. Those girls have been catty little bitches all their lives. To be honest, I’ve never paid any attention to them, but I realize now Mindy does. She cares what they think, which surprises me. I thought she was over all that kind of stuff.

I guess you’re never really over wanting to be a part of something.

“We’re making good progress.” Leon’s at my side talking fast, clearly excited. “Jay says we’re ahead of where we were this time last year.”

“That’s good.” I pull my cap lower over my eyes.

It’s six o’clock, and the workers are gearing up to head out. We’re moving a little slower than Monday, but like horses headed to the barn, we’ll pick up the pace by Friday.

I was just about to send Mindy a text. I want to check in with her before another day gets away from me.

“If we’re done this weekend, maybe we should think about planting more trees for next year.” My little brother is so young. He never gets tired.

“We can look at where we stand when we’re done and talk about it.”

“Okay!” He pulls his hat down over his eyes, similar to mine.