Page 6 of Keeping it Local

I nodded as she continued. “You know…” She paused. “I’m so glad you went down there this summer. I think it’ll be good for you.” She paused again. “After everything. And I don’t want you to worry about your dad. I’ll work on him while you’re away.”

Mom knew about the changes I wanted to make with the farm—adding hayrides, party rentals, our own little festivals—and my excitement in taking the business to the next level. About four years ago, my parents had offered me thirty percent of the business, saying it would go to me at some point anyway, and now that I was finally comfortable with it, I wanted to make it feel like mine. My dad was more hesitant, but I couldn’t think about that. For once in my life, I wanted to focus on what I wanted and what I could do for myself.

Right before I was supposed to go away to college—over ten years ago now—my dad had a sudden stroke that left him partially paralyzed for months. Eventually, he’d regained all of his movement, but at the time, my mom had asked me to delay going to school. I got into an Associate’s program, and the longer I stayed in Randall, the harder it was to leave. Besides, the more I helped my parents expand the farm, the more I grew to love running a business. It wasn’t exactly what I wanted, but it was pretty darn close, and I’d take what I could get. It was one of the reasons I was so excited about taking the classes and figuring out how to make Weber Farms my own.

“Thanks, Mom. I appreciate that.”

I paced as we talked, feeling lighter as I filled her in on the last couple days. I was trying to shield myself, looking down at my shoes as I walked around, wanting to stay on with her and just have a chat, but also wanting to get inside. I was freezing in just shorts and a t-shirt with the rain beating down on me. I had just said goodbye when I hit a wall in front of me.

“Oof!” I said, putting my hands up on the wall, and quickly realizing that it wasn’t a wall at all, but Johnny, also soaked through his T-shirt, standing in front of me. My fingertips rubbed against the muscles of his abs, and I felt myself go hot despite the cold rain.

“Well, hello there,” he said, cocking his mouth up at me in a half-smile, his hands resting on my hips after I tried to bulldoze him over in my pacing.

As quickly as I’d run into him, I put my hands down and took a step back, gazing up at him.

“Hi,” I said. “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t looking to see where I was going. I was just—” I started before cutting myself off and pointing to my phone.

He spoke at the same time, looking at me with a puzzled face for a split second before turning into a wide smile. “Beth? What are you doing here? I thought you were only in town for a few days.”

“Yeah, about that…” I looked down sheepishly. “I’m actually here for the summer. Taking some classes and working. I live with Megan—if you know her?” I asked him, catching myself rambling.

“Damn, you’re with the big guns then.” He chuckled, rubbing his jawline, not saying anything else but still holding a smile on his face.

“Guess I am. Told her I’d be here for moral support.” I tried to be as aloof and nonchalant as he was, but I wasn’t sure if I was playing it off like that or not. I couldn’t remember the last time I was attracted to a man like this. As serious as Michael and I had been at one point in our lives, I couldn’t ever remember feeling this on fire around him.

“I know exactly how that is.” He stood there for a moment longer, looking to the door, then back at me. “You coming inside? Or are you staying out here in the elements?” He smiled, appearing not at all concerned about the rain drenching him on the walk here.

“I’ll be right in. Go ahead,” I said, as I tried to hide the blush creeping up my cheeks.

He quirked an eyebrow at me before taking off his coat and wrapping it around my shoulders. “Well, in that case, you don’t want to get too wet.” He looked over his shoulder as he walked into the center, leaving me with my mouth hanging open.

My heart pounded out of my chest seeing Johnny again. I wasn’t in Port St. Clair to meet anyone, but I couldn’t help my imagination from running rampant thinking about the fun I could have with that man. I couldn’t think about that now though, so I pulled myself together and walked into the meeting.

In the few minutes I’d been outside, the place had packed up. People lined the back walls, and all the seats were gone. Crap. I didn’t want to stand the entire time, but I guess I would be.

I locked eyes with Johnny and he gave a quick nod, calling me over to the other side of the room. He wore that same backward cap he’d worn when we danced and looked so cool and collected sitting there, waiting for me. I looked around, wondering if he was trying to get someone else’s attention, but it was me he was flagging down. I traipsed through a couple rows to get over to the other side of the room, and when I finally reached him, I realized there was one seat left, and it was tucked in between him and an older woman who gave me a warm smile.

“Figured you might need a seat seeing as you were still outside when it was filling up.” Johnny nodded at me to take the spot next to him.

“Oh. Uh. Thanks,” I said.

I squeezed in between him and the woman, and with how the folding chairs sat, his entire outer thigh pressed up against mine. His leg was hot, prickling my skin in the best way, and I held my legs together, not wanting to touch him more than I needed to even though we were tightly packed.

“Okay, okay, everyone,” Megan said, knocking a gavel on the podium. “Everyone, take a seat. Let’s get started.”

Chapter 4

Johnny

When I danced with Beth at Windbreaker, I’d assumed she was in town for a weekend—just passing through, that’s what I was used to with people I didn’t recognize. I remember the feeling of her hips against my fingertips and the way she giggled into my ear that night. If it wasn’t for Lane pulling me aside, I would have tried something with her. Even though I was always down for a random hookup, something felt different with her that night. Something I couldn’t put my finger on.

Now, as I sat next to Beth, I was hyperaware of her presence, those curves that went on for days. I felt every inch of her, from our hips down to our knees. That’s how these seats were—everyone jammed in here like sardines. She took me by surprise when we were outside.

Tonight, she was dressed down in cut-off jean shorts and a t-shirt, completely the opposite of how she looked at Windbreaker, even more beautiful now. I chuckled to myself, feeling her squirm next to me. I could tell from her body language that she was surprised to have run into me and was definitely nervous. She had no idea what she did to me that night, that was for sure.

The meeting went by as it usually did. Megan was up front, getting everyone together and keeping everyone on track. We always had a few of those locals who would chime in and tell her how it used to be two decades ago, and she handled herself well despite all of it. She put up with a lot, and I knew she was trying her hardest to make this what she wanted for the town.

“And now, the only volunteers we need left are to head up sponsorship donations for Starlight Night,” Megan called out.