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“It was easier to grab your glass than get another one dirty.” As if to prove his point, he grabbed the pitcher and topped up the tumbler.

Kelly had always wondered what it would be like to have a sibling. Someone she could share confidences with. Have fun with. But seeing the tension between the two Prentice brothers, she was kind of glad she was an only child.

“So, Tate, shall we take a look around the grounds? See if we can settle on the locations of where the stands are going to be set up?” She injected a brightness in her voice, hoping it would alleviate the mood that had fallen over them.

“Yes, let’s.” Tate made his way around the counter and stopped at her side. “Shall we?”

“It was good to see you again, Tyler. Next time, grab your own glass—that was really gross and unnecessary.”

Tate snorted beside her. “You just got told, bro.”

Tyler had the good grace to look embarrassed. “You’re right. Sorry. I promise I’ll do better. Have fun, kids.”

“Oh, you were so close to almost making me believe you were sincere,” she joked.

Tyler winked and grabbed an apple out of the bowl on the opposite counter. “I aim to please.”

Throughout this interaction, Tate’s shoulder muscles got tighter and tighter until she thought his shirt would split. His annoyance radiated out of him. She almost believed he was jealous of his brother. Well, he had nothing to worry about. Yes, Tyler was good-looking, but he didn’t set her heart racing like Tate did. Her dreams at night weren’t of her and Tyler tangling the sheets. No, the man who visited her in her dreams stood right beside her.

And, oh, shit.

As much as she wanted to deny it, as much as she didn’t want to believe it possible, everything in her was telling her different.

She was attracted to Tate Prentice.

Chapter Four

“Iwas thinkingwe could put the majority of the vendor stands at the front of the property—that way there isn’t much interference with the harvesting.” Tate kept his voice modulated and calm even though he was still seething over the way Tyler flirted with Kelly. And the way she flirted back with his older brother.

This rush of emotion was irrational but not unexpected. As much as he’d tried to push it aside, he found Kelly Turner attractive and wanted to get to know her better. Prior to Tyler’s appearance in the kitchen, they’d been talking freely. He’d loved the way she reacted to the taste of the peach tea he’d given her. It had taken everything in him not to lean forward and capture her lips. To find out if the tea added another level of sweetness to her taste.

“If we have all the action at the front of the house, where will everyone park? They can’t park on the street because, while you don’t have a long driveaway, it’s still a fair distance from the road to the front of your house,” Kelly said as she looked up to him.

Hell, she was the perfect height to tuck her into his side and keep her safe. No other woman he’d dated had given him this reaction swelling through him. He had no idea where the thought to protect her even came from. Kelly was the type of woman who would balk at that sort of attention. She was fiercely independent and strong. Ran her own business. No way would she let him go all alpha macho on her.

“Tate? Did you hear what I said?”

Crap, he’d been caught staring at her like a deer caught in the middle of the road with a car bearing down him. “Yeah, you said something about parking. We can put some cars around the back of the house. It will be okay.”

“I don’t know when you last went to the festival, but it’s grown over the years. There’s going to be a lot of cars here. Like a lot.”

“God dammit,” he muttered and pulled his hat off, running his fingers through his hair. “Why the hell did Tyler think this was a good idea, right in the middle of harvest season, and not to mention, Dad being in the rehab center?”

When he got back to the house, he was going to let Tyler know what an asinine idea it was to hold the festival at the farm. Kelly was right, the front area would be the best place for parking.

“It’s going to be fine, Tate. We’ll work something out.” A warm hand landed on his forearm. Electric shocks filtered through him, and he wanted to lay his hand over Kelly’s so he could continue to experience the sensation. Unfortunately, she’d probably stomp on his instep if he tried it.

“I don’t know what. The last thing I want are people traipsing around the orchard. We’re full swing into our harvest. We’re almost done with the east orchard, and I want to have a good start on the west area before the festival. Of course, it’ll depend on the peaches. They work on their own schedule, not mine or Tyler’s or the damn Founders’ Day festival.”

The more he talked, the angrier he got. Tyler hadn’t thought through the ramifications of holding the event at the farm.

“Look, I know you’re stressed. It’s totally understandable, and I agree it’s not the best time. But it is what it is. The town is expecting to come here and experience a new outdoor location.”

“It’s easy for you to say; it’s not your world being turned upside down.” Beside him Kelly sighed heavily, and part of him knew he was being unreasonable. But that other part still burned with annoyance. The thing was, she was right. The town was expecting to visit Prentice Peach Farm and he had to suck it up and make it work. “Sorry. You shouldn’t bear the brunt of my annoyance at my brother. Let’s take a walk around and see what else we can come up with.”

“Maybe I can talk to Macy about reducing the number of vendors we put out here. As I said, we’ll work something out.”

“I hope so.”