Leave Him Loved_Harloe Rae Read online

  She huffs. “Well, what should I wear?”

  “Clothes,” I joke.

  “So clever.”

  “I know you appreciate my humor.”

  “Under normal circumstances, where I’m not naked and no longer want to be.”

  I’d almost forgotten about her recent shower and resulting lack of attire. She’s probably dripping wet, droplets trickling down the smooth expanse of her legs. I squint at the endless fields surrounding me, imagining a much more provocative scene. Her crooking a finger and beckoning me forward into a haze of steam. She’s bare and wanting, mine for the having. The things I want make my hands tighten on the steering wheel. Would she let me have my way with her?

  She clears her throat, piercing my bubble of lust. “Reeve?”

  Her soft voice wraps around my cock like the finest silk. “Yeah?”

  “Did you hear me?”

  I scrub the erotic visions from my mind. “Which part?”

  “I’m being serious.” The edge to her tone has me straightening in my seat.

  “So am I,” I mutter, not sure why she has to ruin my imaginary fun.

  “Tell me what to wear,” Audria clips.

  Is it too forward of me to suggest nothing? Probably a bit early for that. I settle for something cleaner. “Whatever you don’t mind getting dirty.”

  She’s quiet for a moment, which leaves me to ponder if her mind is heading for the gutter. “Should I be concerned?”

  “Not unless you’re allergic to farm animals.”

  Audria makes a squeak of outrage. “How would I know that? I’ve never been exposed to them.”

  “It’s usually not the animals so much as the hay and dust. Do you have other allergies?”

  “No.” She stretches that single word until it’s floppy on the ends.

  “I’m sure you’re fine. If nothing else, this will be a good test for you.” I chuckle when she lets loose another sharp note.

  “Okay, great. I’ll see you soon.”

  “Don’t forget your party pants,” I remind.

  “Those are precious and cannot get stained.” At least she still has her sense of humor.

  “Good call. I’ll be there in a bit.”

  After a sarcastically sweet farewell, Audria hangs up. Based on that conversation, she’s in for quite a spectacle. My smile lifts higher as I picture her reaction. This will be a great day indeed.

  I waste the next half hour running a few small errands. Although, contrary to product description, the bouquet on my passenger seat is rather large. What kind of message will I send with this monstrosity of romance?

  Bernese took my request for a basic bunch of flowers and super-sized it. That’s probably due to this being the one and only order I’ve ever sent in. Lesson learned. I’m not a grand-gesture guy. Hell, I barely make mediocre ones. But after freaking Audria out with all that allergies nonsense, I felt an olive branch of sorts was required. I would hate for her to pull the plug before we even get started.

  Even after months of knowing her, I have yet to see where she lives. I’ll rectify that today. After a few blocks on Oak Lane, I pull into her driveway. The house is a modest size that’s similar to the rest in this charming neighborhood. I’m sure it has more than enough square footage for one person, especially a girl accustomed to being crammed in a big city.

  Without additional scrutiny, I hop out of my truck with my peace offering in hand. Balancing the jumbo mason jar with more than a dozen blooms is no easy feat. At least she won’t have to fuss with putting them in water.

  I maneuver up the porch steps with relative ease, not spilling a drop or petal. The door opens before I can knock. Audria stands in her entryway with a wide smile just for me. Perhaps she’s already forgiven me. It’s then I notice she’s wearing overalls and a pink bandana threaded into her blond hair. I guess my farm-animal tip provided a decent clue as to where we’re heading. She’s the model of country-girl perfection, and the sight is all mine.

  Her eyes dart to the flowers before returning to my gaze. “Hey, farmer.”

  “I could say the same to you. Seems you fit the role more than me.”

  She glances down at her outfit. “Is this stupid? Or too cliché? I was trying to pass for cute at the very least.”

  “You look great.” I pass the bouquet to her. “A tiny gift for you.”

  “Wow.” She buries her nose in a section of roses. “These are beautiful.”

  “I figured it’s the least I could do.”

  Audria sets the vase on a nearby hutch. “What’re you apologizing for now?”

  If she doesn’t know, I won’t be the one to bring it up. “I’m sure we’ll think of something.”

  “That’s reassuring,” she deadpans.

  I paste on my most suave grin and wave a hand at the front of her home. “How do you like this place?”

  Audria’s smile is warm enough to bake a pie. “I love it. Do you want to come in for a tour?”

  A glance at my watch shows the minutes ticking by. “How about after?”

  “Already planning a nightcap?”

  “If I play my cards right and all goes well.” I offer a signature wink. Why not lay it on thick, right?

  “You’re off to an impressive start.” She hesitates on her stoop, giving me a weak wiggle of her brows.

  What’s with this demure attitude? I lean in and slip a finger under her chin. “Don’t be shy with me. We’ve settled the score. This is all on the table now.”

  To clear up any confusion, I seal my lips over hers. She melts into my embrace, slinging an arm over my shoulder. I swipe my tongue along her bottom lip for a chaste taste. When she opens for me, I break apart from the temptation begging for my surrender.

  “Best not to get carried away, though. We have a big day planned.”

  “Oh, really?” A single eyebrow arches with her query.

  I hook a thumb in my belt loop. “Get used to it, babe.”

  Audria giggles and shakes her head. “I’m babe now?”

  “Damn straight. Might as well test out some options while we’re doing this.”

  “I see,” she muses. “And what should I call you?”

  “Anything you’d like. I’m fairly partial to farmer, though.”

  She taps her chin with a shiny nail. “I’ll give it some thought while taking your opinion into consideration.”

  “That’s very kind of you.”

  “Speaking of, are we still keeping the location of these dates a secret?”

  I nod. “We might as well maintain our streak of surprise. A little added mystery goes a long way, or so I’ve heard.”

  Audria flashes me a saucy grin. “Wise words. I suppose that’s doable.”

  “It’s adorable that you think you have a choice.”

  Her amusement spreads, and she gives me a light shove. “Don’t get bossy.”

  I dip down until my mouth hovers near her ear. “You might want to amend that statement. I think you’ll appreciate me being in charge during certain intimate situations.”

  Her inhale hitches. “Okay, I rescind my demand.”

  A sound resembling a growl rumbles in my throat. Heat rushes south at a rapid pace, creating a concentrated twitch in my dick. “I wasn’t sure how you’d respond to that.”

  “Me either,” she admits.

  “You’re a fan of those alpha-male personas?” My sister reads some colorful literature, and I made the mistake of asking her about one once. Never again.

  “I won’t ask how you know that term.” Her melodic laugh tickles my hardening length. “And I had no clue it would spark something until you suggested it. That strategy seemed to work in the haunted house well enough.”

  “Noted.” I nip her pierced lobe before pulling away. “We gotta go. Quit distracting me.”

  Audria’s eyes shimmer with a cloudy glaze. As if my words finally register, she blinks, and the fog clears. “Don’t blame this on me.”

  I reach for her hand, ta
king another newfound liberty. She doesn’t protest as I tow her to the truck. “Stop being so sexy, and I won’t.”

  She gestures down her form. “I’m afraid that’s just not possible.”

  I give her a long, lazy once-over. How does she make overalls look so damn arousing? On anyone else, those denim bibs would be lackluster at best. The fantasy she’s building strokes a desire I didn’t realize was waiting to be pushed.

  With a sweep of my arm, I usher her to the passenger side. I open the door, and she takes the opportunity to move extra close to me. As she brushes by to get in, her fingers dance across the sculpt of my abs. The contact sends a zap straight to my cock. How can I resist her teasing? Perhaps a better question is why didn’t we discuss sex when we struck this deal?

  I step around the hood and settle in behind the wheel. The engine roars to life with a quick crank. “Ready?”

  She claps a palm to her thigh. “As I’ll ever be.”

  I back onto the road, beginning our journey to the south end of Bam’s limits. “You’re cool with skydiving, right?”

  Her head whips in my direction so fast I’m surprised her neck stays attached. “What was that?”

  Masking a smirk requires biting my tongue. “It’s the ultimate adrenaline rush. Get all strapped in, jump out of the plane, open your parachute, and land on the ground.”

  Audria seems to curl in on herself while reaching for the door handle. “You better be messing with me.”

  “And if I’m not, are you going to tuck and roll?”

  She straightens, pinning me with a glare. “Absolutely.”

  A sinking sensation drops my gut. That might’ve been a shitty prank. I reach over and thread her fingers with mine. “A bad joke, babe. Don’t fret. I see no heights or haunted houses in your future. Not with me at least.”

  Her lips twist to one side. “Or anyone who cares about staying in my good graces.”

  “Yikes,” I hiss. “Don’t mess with the city girl.”

  Audria bobs her head. “Spread the word.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m not taking you anywhere scary.” I squeeze her hand. “Do you trust me?”

  Audria squints at me, no doubt studying my earnest tone. “Yes.”

  “Good.”

  “Just don’t take that for granted,” she adds.

  “I wouldn’t dare.” Does she have such little faith in me? Can I blame her?

  “Then we’ll continue getting along swimmingly.”

  “You’re so chill, babe. I really like that about you.”

  “After I nearly dove from a moving vehicle?” Her tone is chock-full of disbelief.

  I smooth a finger along her jawline. “I take full responsibility for that. It doesn’t reflect my feelings for you.”

  She bats her lashes at me. “Aww, thanks. I guess you’re not so bad either.”

  “There’s room for improvement,” I admit. Especially when it comes to properly pampering the opposite sex. I almost lost my shit over a bouquet of flowers earlier. This trial run will be riddled with mistakes. Here’s to hoping Audria doesn’t mind having her patience tested.

  “Well, I like your pickup.” She pets the dashboard with a gentle caress.

  How fucked up is it to be jealous of my own truck? I slouch lower to hide the growing reaction she always seems to stoke. “She’s my baby.”

  “Why do guys always make their cars female?”

  “I’m not sure about anyone else, but I don’t wanna ride a dude all across town.”

  Audria nods. “Fair point.”

  The pavement ends with a bump, changing into gravel without warning. I merge onto the much-narrower lane without fanfare, more than accustomed to the back roads.

  Her eyes stray to the view beyond her window. “If this isn’t what people refer to as being in the sticks, I have no clue where that might be.”

  “We’re definitely in the boonies. Without a doubt,” I confirm.

  She has her nose practically pressed to the glass, missing the sight in front of us. “Where are you taking me, farmer?”

  “See for yourself.” I jut my chin forward as we approach the property.

  Audria twists to face me. “Thayer Dairy?”

  I glance at the large sign hanging above their driveway. “That’s right, city girl. You’re gonna milk a cow.”

  The air in my lungs turns stale as I gaze at the spacious pastures. Countless spotted cows roam across the grass, munching away without a worry in the world. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but this definitely wasn’t it. My mind instantly wanders to being perched on a little wooden stool with a metal bucket.

  Reeve drives at a snail’s pace so I get an ample view of the sprawling acres. The lazy crawl also provides me with a chance to prepare myself for what lies ahead. Numerous buildings spread across the landscape, separated by wire fencing and metal gates. Why are there so many? That reminds me of our purpose for traveling down this winding path.

  I shake off my initial shock. “Um, care to repeat that?”

  He pulls alongside a metal pole barn. “You heard me, babe.”

  “Are you smoking oats?”

  “Never tried that,” he drawls.

  I huff and roll my eyes. “Are you ever serious?”

  “Of course,” he retorts. “I take this task very seriously.”

  A wiggle of doubt worms beneath my skin. “You can imagine my skepticism. Is this an elaborate ploy to push my boundaries?”

  “Or cross off items from your never list.”

  I didn’t realize how long that scroll truly was. “And this is stuff I’ve never considered. Does that count as double?”

  He grins at me. “I don’t see why not. You’re the one responsible for keeping track.”

  “And you’re the one playing along.”

  That smile grows into something breathtaking. “I’m really glad we’re doing this.”

  “So am I, farmer.” My mouth curls to match his expression. After getting lost in his blue eyes for an entire minute, I force myself to focus on a patch of rust eroding the structure’s siding. “Whose place is this?”

  He follows my line of sight, tugging at the John Deere hat parked on his head. “A family friend’s.”

  “And they’re okay with you letting a complete novice, with no clue what she’s doing, milk their cow?”

  “Yep.”

  I wait for him to elaborate. After a brief pause, he still says nothing. “Um, okay.”

  “Now for the moment of truth.” He drums a beat on his thighs. “Are you ready?”

  With another glance out the window, I steel my resolve. My mama didn’t raise a wimp—aside from scary shit and heights, of course. “I’ve totally got this in the bag.”

  “Or pail,” he corrects, unbuckling his seatbelt.

  “How about a jug?”

  Reeve leans over into my space, kissing me with a noisy plop. “Your stalling tactics are remarkable.”

  I press my mouth harder against his. “Maybe I just want you closer.”

  He nips my bottom lip. “You’re not getting out of this, but I commend your efforts.”

  “All right,” I pull away. “I’m prepared.”

  With that, I pop open the door and step out onto the muddy ground. The foul stench of what I assume is piles of manure assaults my nostrils. I trap a gag behind sealed lips, choking down a thick swallow. It reminds me of the most potent fertilizer on steroids.

  I wave at the invisible plume of green that’s no doubt wafting in front of my face. “Oh, that’s not pleasant.”

  Reeve strolls beside me as if we’re in a garden full of fragrant lilacs. Does he have a weak sense of smell? “You’ll get used to it.”

  My nose wrinkles of its own accord. “I highly doubt that.”

  He chuckles, smooth and rich. “You might not agree, but I’m really enjoying this.”

  “My torment?”

  He caresses my cheek with his knuckle. “Widening your horizons. Initiating you into th
e country life. Showing you the roads less traveled. Thank you for giving me the honor.”

  Well, shit. When he puts it that way, the odor doesn’t seem so horrific. Neither does letting him drag me all over Iowa to try new things. I lean into his touch with a sigh.

  Reeve laces his fingers through mine and leads me inside the domed building. The interior is dim with intermittent bare bulbs hanging from thick beams. A soft glow shines down on us, illuminating the large space. It’s cleaner than I would’ve assumed, the floor still wet from a fresh washing. A solo cow stands tied to a pole, seemingly content to just wait without a stitch of company. I assumed they were herd animals. Goes to show how much I know.

  “Who’s this lovely lady?” I approach with caution, weighing my every step.

  He has no such reservations as he strokes a palm along the length of her spine. “Her name is Sprout. She’s one of their best producers.”

  “What breed is she?”

  “Dairy. All of the heifers at Thayer are.”

  I nod as if that information has any impact on my understanding. To me, Sprout is black and white. Upon further inspection, I see that her snout is pink. Fluffy tufts protrude from her ears, and she’s big enough to squash me like a bug.

  Reeve fetches an armful of supplies from a nearby storage room. He sets a metal bucket underneath Sprout, aligning a small stool off to the side. Maybe I wasn’t so far off from my earlier assumption.

  “Do you do this often?”

  He straightens, tucking a hand in his back pocket. “I used to work here over the summers in high school. Milking beats mucking the paddocks.”

  I choke down bile just recalling that disgusting scent. Thankfully, the nauseating putridness appears to be trapped outside. “Don’t they have fancy machines for this?”

  “Yes, and they’re very efficient. But nothing can replace the old-fashioned way.”

  Taking a tiny risk, I shuffle forward and steal a peek at Sprout’s equipment. “Oh, the poor girl. Her udder is really swollen.”

  Reeve grunts and crosses his arms. “She’s about to burst. You kept her waiting.”

  “Me?” I slap a palm to my chest.

  “With all that incessant flirting at your house.” He shoots me a wink.

  I purse my lips. “And what do you call this?”