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Story: The Inquisitor

I shut off the annoying voice, switching my attention back to the moment. “Can you give me a clue to where we’re going?”

“Why don’t you just sit back and enjoy the ride?”

“You’re being cryptic, so my curious mind wants to know. Is that okay?” Irritation from my inner thoughts flowed into my voice.

He gave me a doubtful look. “Why the sudden mood change?”

I didn’t want him to know. “No mood change, just extreme curiosity.”

“I don’t want to ruin the surprise by telling you. You might develop an image in your head from now until we get there and destroy the power of a first impression.”

His smile was liberating, brighter than a sunny day. I’d never seen him smile like that before. The irritation melted away knowing the happiness on his face was because of me.

“All of that information ran through your head?” I asked.

“Your mind churns through the same complexity. Most women’s minds do. Drives the men crazy.”

“I thought men like women who drive them crazy.”

“I can’t speak for other men, butyoudrive me insane, Kitty K.” He walked his fingers up my thigh, and a different heat zinged through me.

We were acting like a couple, and I was having fun with him. I tried not to think about wanting more. I didn’t need more confusion muddling my brain.

“Here’s a hint,” he said.

My eyes widened. “What is it?”

“Mushrooms.” His lips slanted into a smirk.

CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR

KIERA

I quirked an eyebrow, still unsure of what he’d planned.

“Mushrooms. Just trying to be your ‘fun guy.’”

“Are you serious?” My shoulders shook from laughing.

“Of course,” he said with a straight face. “I don’t joke around when it comes to your perversion about my body.”

I couldn’t believe he remembered our conversation when we’d taken a moment to cuddle before the third round of sex. We’d talked about how nature mimicked human anatomy, and I called him a “fun guy,” showing him an image of a mushroom that looked like a penis. Then I showed him an image of a Peter pepper, which looked more like a penis than the mushroom did.

I’d never had these kinds of conversations in my other relationships. It was intimate, weird, and nerdy at the same time. But with him, it felt right.

“I’m afraid of what’s waiting for me,” I said with a smile.

“You’re the first woman to compare me to a mushroom, so I take that to heart. What I’m about to show you is something special to me, and something you already love.”

When I met his gaze, I expected sarcasm, but only sincerity greeted me. What could he possibly plan to show me?

He drove down the street, with no homes or buildings in sight. Woods lined both sides of the street. The car turned down another road where garden beds were being cared for by several people wearing sunhats and aprons. Beyond the garden, fields of crops spread into the distance. Several windmills stood like guardians in the fields. A massive building—or a fancy warehouse—with reflective glass gleamed in the sun.

Forrest pulled into a paved parking lot beside several cars. He got out and opened the door for me.

“You’re taking me to visit afarm?” I got out, glancing around.

“Because you have ‘farm girl’ written all over you.” He winked, knowing full well I wouldn’t last a day working on a farm. I didn’t have a yard at my apartment. A few potted plants on my balcony didn’t make me a gardener, never mind a farmer.