Summer Love in the Country (Summer Instalove)

impossible to think. But he’ll be doing at least two farm shifts, so tell Gus to be ready to put him to work.”

Although I was busily shredding lettuce, I caught Dean’s slight frown as he muttered, “Will

do.” I couldn’t help wondering why he seemed unhappy to have the extra help.

Dinner was incredible. All three of the other farmhands were there, and Dusty, Chuck, and

Gus absolutely adored Miriam’s pasta. They began telling vivid stories of her most

fascinating dinners in the years they’d been here. I noticed that Dean was quieter, and

wasn’t sure why it worried me.

Everyone went their separate ways after dinner, and I thought I should take advantage of

the gigantic farmhouse porch to watch the sunset. Finding a comfortable padded bench that

faced west, I sat down to stare at the streaks of orange and pink, blurred by a few distant

clouds.

“Would you like some company?” a deep voice asked from around the corner.

I turned to smile at Dean. “Sure.”

He sat on the bench beside me, turning to face me as much as he could. “How did your

writing go this afternoon?”

I told him all about my organizing, and transforming my room into the book itself. He

chuckled, nodding. I loved the way his slightly wavy hair ruffled in the soft breeze. “Perhaps

sleeping under a wall of your poetry will inspire you to write even more,” he said with a grin.

“I’d sort of like to see that.”

“You can pop by anytime,” I said.

He shook his head. “It’s a kind of unspoken rule around here that the staff should keep their

distance from the guests in some ways. Perhaps not hanging out in their bedrooms.”

“Oh.” I couldn’t hide my disappointment.

Dean shrugged. “I guess there are probably some summer affairs that people keep secret.”

His eyes burned into mine as he slowly said, “But I’m not a guy who is into a fling.”

I realized that I was nodding automatically. “Some of my girlfriends are hoping to do that

sort of thing this summer. I don’t know. I’m forcing myself to try new things, but… I guess I

don’t know where I stand on that.”

Dean’s hand slowly reached out to lay across mine. “Now, if there were the potential for a

relationship, that would be different. Don’t you think?”