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Home to You

Page 18

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“No, probably not much anymore. They stay close to home a lot, especially during the heavy harvest seasons,” she says, referring to the farm her parents own just outside town. They have everything from sweet corn, strawberries, and blueberries, and about every kind of garden vegetable known to man. Plus, they have animals, which takes up a lot of their time.

“You know, I’d love to bring Chloe out sometime to see the animals. She has this thing for chickens,” I tell her, a little hopeful she’ll invite me out.

Fortunately, I don’t have to beg because she replies, “Any time. Mom and Dad would love to show her around and let her pet the animals.”

Smiling, I nod, wondering how quickly I can work that out. Chloe will be here later, and she’s mine until she goes to school Monday. Maybe we can go for a visit someday soon. Or…

“You have plans later?”

She exhales. “Well, not really. I promised Mom I’d help her clean out the storage room. It’s packed with totes of craft stuff, and I’m definitely not looking forward to that,” she says with a sigh.

I remember her mom knitting things all winter long back when we were in school, including blankets for local nursing homes and hospitals. Haven used to always say there was enough yarn and other supplies in the craft room to outfit a small country during the worst of winters. I peeked in there one time and it was packed full of stuff. I can’t imagine having to go through that room now.

“Well, if you’d like an excuse to get out of sorting yarn, I’d love to have you for dinner tonight. Chloe will be here by then, and as long as you don’t mind mac and cheese as a side, we’d love to have you.”

Haven’s moan is almost orgasmic. At least, that’s what my cock thinks because it starts to thicken in my shorts. “Mac and cheese? Are you kidding me? I haven’t had that in forever. I’m going to gain a hundred pounds if I keep hanging out with you,” she teases, referring to all the foods she, apparently, hasn’t eaten since she was here.

My eyes go ahead and take a leisurely perusal of her body. She’s defined, but not in a too-muscular way. She takes care of her body as a dancer, and that includes watching what she eats. I linger a little too long on her chest, and when my eyes finally make their way back up to her face, I give her a slow, wolfish grin. “Sweetheart, you could gain a hundred pounds and still look fucking amazing.”

Her cheeks blush from the compliment, and her eyes avert for just a few seconds. “Well, you’re quite the charmer, aren’t you?”

“I call it like I see it,” I answer.

She seems to think for a few seconds, and I really hope it’s about the dinner invitation. I wasn’t planning on dinner for three tonight, but I can make adjustments. I’ve always got meat in the freezer from the local meat locker, and it would be nothing to take a couple of steaks or even some chicken out to thaw.

“How about five? That gives me a few hours to go home, help Mom, and shower.”

“Five is perfect.”

“Do you want me to bring anything?” she asks.

“Just yourself and an appetite.”

Haven smiles. “Okay. I’ll see you at five?”

“I’ll be here,” I reply, my own smile matching hers.

“Well, I better get back,” she says, pointing down the road with her thumb.

“Be careful, Have,” I state as she starts to jog away.

I wish I could say I pull the starter and fire up the mower, but that’d be a lie. I stand here and watch her go, observing the way her legs carry her away. She has an athletic physique that seems to push all of my buttons, in a good way.

Eventually, after she’s rounded the corner and is out of sight, I pull the cord to finish trimming the grass. I even pretend like I don’t realize I do it with a smile on my face.

“Can I play with chalk?” Chloe asks from the back door as I fire up the grill. It’s almost five and I’m starting to get a little anxious to see Haven. She should be here any moment, and I haven’t told my daughter her ballet teacher is coming yet. I thought it would be a fun surprise for her.

After I finished the yard, I picked up the living room and kitchen, as well as ran the vacuum and dusted the end tables. The place wasn’t super messy, mostly because my little tornado of a daughter hasn’t been here for a few days, but I want to make a good impression on Haven.

When Trina brought Chloe home, after seeing a matinee Disney movie in the theater, she instantly started getting all of her “things” out. Without her noticing, I’ve been successfully walking behind her and picking it back up. Now, she wants to play outside for a bit, which means she isn’t messing up the inside. I’ll take it.


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