Page 2 of Lollipop
Shit, she is Mrs. Perkins.
Her eyes roam over me and I can’t help but wonder what she sees when she looks at me. Is she tempted to leave her husband? Would she run away with me?
I never really cared what I looked like before now but suddenly I am proud I kept my physic from my rodeo days instead of letting my body turn to mush while sitting behind a desk. My brain finally turns on and I register the knife in her hand again and the questions she asked me.
“Whoa, why don’t we just take a deep breath and try to calm down some.”
I talk to her the same way I would a frightened animal, low and slow. Her whole stance changes with one of her brows arching up and her hip tilting out in a sassy jut.
“Haven’t you ever heard never to tell a woman to calm down? It ain’t smart. Now, who the hell are you and what are you doing in my house?”
I have to fight the smile that wants to curl my lips. This little spitfire probably wouldn’t take it the right way, and, in the end, it would only cause more trouble. So would calling her cute. Too bad I'm a man who can't say no to trouble. I let my smile stretch across my mouth before answering her. v “I’m Ander Baxter.” Recognition of my name doesn’t seem to hit her causing me to wonder if this is Mrs. Perkins. “You were expecting me.”
“Are you the farmhand mom and dad hired to help me?”
Mom and Dad? Whoa! How old is this girl and should I take myself out back and end it all for lusting after someone I shouldn’t be even looking at?
“How old are you? And where the hell are your parents?”
She gives me another exasperated look and another cock of those hips that taunt me to put my hands on them. “My ‘parents’ aren’t here, buddy. All you got is me. And I’m old enough to kick your ass if you try anything.”
“You’re here by yourself? And a stranger is supposed to be here with you?” What kind of fucking people are the Perkins?! You don't leave a woman as beautiful as this one alone with an unlocked door and a stranger near her.
“You’re the stranger. So…?” I'm one of them anyway. Not the farmhand one though.
“How old are you?” Her chin comes up. “Tell me now.”
I say it the same way I would talk to someone who pissed me off in the boardroom.
“I’m twenty. Happy?”
Thank God I won't have to go out back and kick my own ass. Still, I’m over ten years older than her…give or take about five more. I should tell her I’m not the hired hand. I should tell her who I am. But I want to help her. I want to be the man she turns to when she’s… as frustrated as she seems to be now.
I find myself nodding. “Yeah. I’m here to help you.”
Whoever the hell the farmhand is, he just lost his job since I’m not about to let some stranger get close to this girl. The only man she’s gonna go to for help will be me!
Chapter Three
Lolly
I still have the knife held firmly in my hand. I’m not quite sure if I should put it down yet. It doesn’t help that he’s acting weird as shit.
“I wasn’t expecting you tonight. Dad said you would be coming tomorrow.”
“I’m a little early. I wasn't sure how long it would take me to get here.”
That makes sense. “It’s alright. I’m sorry I, um,” I put the knife down but not far from me, “threatened you with a… knife.”
“It’s a perfect response to having a stranger in your house. I would honestly worry if you didn’t try to protect yourself.”
I give him a half smile. Bet my sister wouldn’t threaten a hot guy like him with a knife if she found him in the same vicinity as her. I’m not going to look into why his words make something in my belly turn all hot and molten, like his praise affects me in ways it shouldn’t.
“I’m not sure what condition the bunk house is in but it’s, um, out…”
“Actually your mom and dad said it would be alright to stay here. In the house.”
“With me?” It’s like they don’t care at all. Hurt and anger hit me hard as I fight to not let the emotions take over. If they did I would just sink to the floor and start crying and I might never stop if I start.