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“Both?” she responded. Tate tried to ignore the stab of hurt that she hadn’t made the trek out to the farm just to see him.

“Okay, well, what can I help you with then? The setup is proceeding well and not really causing too much of an upheaval with everything else going on around here.”

“I’ve got some of the urns for the flower arrangements being delivered this afternoon, and so I wanted be sure that someone will be around to make sure nothing happens to them. The committee purchased them for use at future festivals, so it’s important that they’re handled with care.”

“And you can’t stay to make sure that happens?” he asked. Everyone was dumping their jobs on him. First Tyler and now Kelly. Well, that wasn’t entirely fair to Kelly—she didn’t know about Tyler, but he kind of felt that the urns and their safe delivery was her responsibility, seeing as they were for her bouquets.

“I asked the company for a staggered delivery so I could be at the town square for the first delivery and then oversee the drop-off here. Only the company informed me that they would both be delivered at the same time at the two different locations.”

Okay, so it wasn’t all her fault. “Right. Well, you’re here now—why don’t you stay and get someone else to oversee the delivery at the town center? Seems pointless to turn around and drive back to town.” Another thought hit him. “Why did you drive out here? Why didn’t you call me?”

A rosy glow bloomed in her cheeks and his heart swelled. “You really came to see me, didn’t you?” he asked, pulling her close to him again.

“Yes,” she whispered and brushed her fingers against his cheek. He loved the soft caress. “I could’ve called you, but I wanted to see you. I’ve missed you.”

God, he wished they were anywhere but in the middle of the orchard. He tightened his hold on her. “I missed you, too; it’s been crazy busy. But seeing you here is making my day so much better.”

Fuck it.He didn’t care if anyone was watching. Framing her face, he placed his lips softly on hers. She moaned and the sound arrowed through his body and his dick hardened against his jeans.

Aware that the timing and location wasn’t ideal, he resisted the need to deepen the kiss. He broke their connection. “As much as I want to keep doing this, you came here because you have an issue and you need help.”

Her sigh radiated through her, and he felt every second of it as well. He was that in tune with her. “Yeah, I don’t want to cause you any more stress. You have a lot to do. But I know that if you oversee the delivery, the urns will be unloaded safely and I won’t have to make any last-minute orders.”

Now it was Tate’s turn to sigh. He hadn’t spent much time with Dad today, and he was worried Dad had managed to slip past the young farmhand he’d assigned to watch him.

“Are you sure you can’t stay here and get someone else to supervise the delivery in the town center?”

“I really wish I could. I’ve got other things related to the festival that I need to do in town, so it’s really not feasible for me to stay here.” She closed the distance between them and grabbed both his hands in hers. “But I’d rather be with you here than in town.”

Irrational anger swelled up inside of him; it was a combination of everything going on around him and not because of Kelly’s request. He shook his hands free and stuffed them in his pocket while taking a few steps back. The flash of hurt in her eyes cut him deeply, but he refused to show how it affected him. “Fine.” He ground out the word. “I’ll make sure everything goes smoothly. Like I do with everything else everyone asks of me. Oh, and thanks for letting me see the final plans before submitting them? I guess I’m just your helper, not your partner, aren’t I? Now I need to get back to work.”

He turned and walked away from her knowing in his mind he was acting out of character, but he was just so tired of everyone expecting him to fall in with their plans. No one ever asked him what he wanted to do. If he needed help or wanted help. An offer was as meaningful as someone actually following through and taking some of the burden from him.

Problem was, he could acknowledge he’d brought this on himself by doing what everyone asked of him, without putting up too much of a fight.

“Tate, wait.”

He heard Kelly calling his name, but he continued walking. It was better he put distance between them than say something he’d regret later.

Chapter Seventeen

The urns wereplaced exactly where Kelly wanted them to be. Once the arrangements were completed, they would look amazing and accentuate all the good things about Sweet Ridge. Not one urn had been broken here or at the farm.

“Urns are fine.”

The text message from Tate had been short and to the point, and it aggravated her to no end. His anger at her request annoyed her. He was the one who didn’t want too many people around the farm upsetting his father. If she’d arranged for someone to make sure the delivery went off without a hitch, that would’ve been an extra person and he would’ve probably got upset about that as well.

Kelly had a feeling that no matter what she did or said, Tate would be unhappy. She hadn’t meant to add to his stress. His reaction surprised her, though. She was sure they’d reached the point in their relationship, especially after the weekend they’d spent together, that if he was mad or upset with her they could talk about it. Over the course of the planning of the festival, they’d had disagreements but had always managed to find a way to reach a compromise. She’d taken that as a sign of maturity in Tate. Maybe she’d been wrong. Maybe he wasn’t as mature as she thought he was.

Kelly ran a cloth over one of the urns, wiping away dust that wasn’t there. This was why she’d been reluctant about pursuing a relationship with someone younger. She liked to think that someone older would’ve shared their troubles with her. She’d asked Tate about it. Could see he was stressed, but he’d brushed it off.

“Kelly. Thank goodness you’re still here.”

Kelly whirled around to see Macy rushing toward her. “Macy? What’s wrong? Is everyone okay? Has something happened to Mom?”

“No, your mom’s fine, but Tate’s dad isn’t. I heard that an ambulance has been called to the Prentice Farm because Trenton collapsed.”

Kelly’s heart sank to her toes. Tate would be devastated if his father didn’t make it this time. After having spent time with the two of them, she’d been able to see their relationship was more than father and son; they were best friends as well. “Oh, my God. Do you know what happened? Was it another stroke? Is he still alive?”