Page 10 of One Hot Texas Summer (The Prentice Brothers of Sweet Ridge #1)

“Okay, Ms. Turner, dazzle me.”

Over the next twenty minutes, Kelly walked him through the vision she had for the farm.

He noted that, as she said she would, she’d taken his suggestion and drawn a design of some of the peach trees with ribbons wrapped around the trunk.

At the center of each tree was a rosette design like the one she’d put on the front sign.

Both of them barely acknowledged Norma returning with their desserts. They ate as they talked.

“You know what I think would look great?” Kelly gushed as she drew on the screen. “How about this?” She turned the screen back to him.

Yet again, her creativity surprised the hell out of him. She’d drawn a picture of a wooden cart filled with baskets of peaches and flowers. He could almost taste the sweetness of the peach juice as he bit into one.

“Okay, I like it, but where are you planning on placing that? We’re already tight on space at the farm as it is.” During the evening, they’d also come up with a rough plan of the layout of the vendors and where they would be.

“Oh, this wouldn’t be at the farm. This would be in the town center.

Not that I think we need it, because everyone loves the Founders’ Day festival, but if we want to draw people passing by to stop and spend the day in Sweet Ridge, we need to tease and entice them.

We can do that with this cart. We could get a couple of them and place them strategically on the road coming into town.

They’ll see the beautiful peaches and flowers and won’t be able to resist finding out what is going on in Sweet Ridge.

” She tapped the stylus pen against her lips.

“I wonder if Grayson and Becca would be interested in showcasing some avocadoes as well. I’ll make a note to speak to them. ”

As much as Tate was caught up in her excitement and he liked the idea, he wasn’t sure about the fact that he was going to have to use some of the peaches from his harvest for this display.

Like anything, there were always peaches that didn’t make the grade, and usually he sent them to Betty Lou because she could use the slightly bruised fruit in her pies and donuts.

No way would he put second rate fruit on display for all to see, though.

Prentice Peach Farm’s reputation of producing the best peaches in Texas was something he was extremely proud of.

“Kel, before you go too far on this, if you’re talking about doing two or more carts, how many peaches do you think you’ll need?”

“Umm, I don’t know. We’ve got to make the displays big enough to see, so I’m thinking we’ll need a couple hundred or more.”

Tate sat back. Hmm, how to phrase his objection so he didn’t deflate Kelly’s excitement or send their relationship back to where it had been when he’d first sat down.

Over the course of the evening, the tension and awkwardness that surrounded them had disappeared, and he liked to think they were moving forward in the manner where he may be able to ask Kelly out for a dinner date where they didn’t have to talk about Founders’ Day.

“That’s a lot of fruit.”

“Well, you have a lot of trees,” she teased.

“We do, but we supply a lot of places with our peaches. I have to allow for fruit that isn’t quite up to standard.

There will be some fruit that will have been eaten by birds and other critters, no matter how many measures we put in to counteract those incidents.

They still happen.” Tate looked over at her, noting the way her excitement had dimmed a little.

He didn’t want to extinguish it completely.

However, Kelly needed to know all the facets of what he had to deal with on a daily basis.

“As careful as we are when harvesting, some fruit gets bruised or slightly damaged.”

“Well, we can use that,” Kelly interjected. “We’ll just turn it so that damaged part isn’t on display.”

Tate shook his head. “No, Kel, we can’t. I’m not prepared to risk the farm’s reputation for the sake of a display.”

He held his breath, waiting to see if she would argue with him, try to get her way. Convince him that they could make it work somehow. Instead, she nodded, and he relaxed his shoulders.

“Okay, I can understand that. I’ll see if I can come up with a different concept. I still think the carts on the side of the road are a good idea.”

“Thank you for being understanding. And I agree, I like the idea too. Maybe Macy can help you come up with something we can put in the carts. Of course, we have to get the carts to start off with.”

Kelly waved away his concern. “Oh, that’s easy. I know someone who has a couple of them lying around in his barn. He’ll let me use them, no worries.”

A stab of jealousy pierced his gut, churning the food he’d eaten and he grabbed his drink and took a swallow, hoping to still the motion.

Who was this person? A former lover? A current lover?

Surely, if Kelly were seeing someone he would’ve heard it from the gossip truck that meandered through town on a daily basis.

“Great. That’s great.” Even to his ears his words sounded strained.

“Wow, I didn’t know it was so late. I’m surprised we haven’t been kicked out.” Kelly packed up her tablet and popped it back into her purse, signaling that the evening was over.

Tate glanced around. She was right, there were only two other couples in the diner, and they were getting ready to leave. “I guess they could see we were busy working and didn’t want to disturb us.”

Disappointment cloaked him in a depressing cloud.

He didn’t want to go back to his big house and have to deal with the quiet.

Tyler had taken over the caretaker’s cottage and only came to the house when he wanted food or to annoy Tate.

He very rarely came over to spend time with Dad and him to watch a game or just hang out.

Ever since Dad had had his stroke, Tyler’s visits had been even more scarce.

Kelly went to grab the folder containing the bill for their food, but he stilled her movements. The light touch, once again, sent fissures of sparks through him. He heard her intake of breath and knew she’d experienced it as well. “Let me get this.”

She tightened her grip on the faux leather holder. “It’s fine. I can pay for my own meal.”

Tate sighed. After the way they’d spent the evening, the last thing he wanted to do was create tension between them again. “I know you can, Kel, but I’d like to do this. Next time you can pay. But be warned, I’m gonna order the most expensive thing on the menu.” He winked.

Kelly removed her hand, and he wanted to grab it back but controlled the urge. “You’re on.”

Tate’s heart stuttered before kicking back into its normal rhythm.

Did she just agree to go on a date with him?

He studied her but couldn’t discern if she regretted her comment or not.

No way would he look like a lovesick teenager and seek confirmation of his wayward thoughts, so he slid out of the booth, the check in his hand.

As he dealt with the bill, he was conscious of Kelly standing at his side.

“You both have a nice evening, ya hear?” Betty Lou smiled at them.

It was the first time he’d seen the diner’s owner all evening.

Her hair was still in the updo with curls draping her cheeks.

Her signature red glasses with their silver chain framed her face.

The pink apron covering her white uniform was pristine, and he had no doubt she had a supply of them in her office so she always looked like she never worked, when the whole town knew she was one of the hardest workers ever.

“Will do, and the food was superb as always. Ms. Betty Lou, you’re looking as lovely as ever.” He tipped his hat at her.

“Oh, go on with you.” Betty Lou cast her glance over to Kelly. “He’s a smooth talker, this one.”

Kelly chuckled. “I’m well aware of that fact.”

Tate couldn’t help but feel a little insulted but then brushed the irrational feeling away.

Both women had smiles on their faces and were teasing him.

After so many years of Tyler’s veiled digs, he’d become a little sensitive.

The time had come to be the adult he was and wanted everyone to realize he’d become.

He slung an arm over Kelly’s shoulder and brought her close to him.

Her body tightened momentarily before relaxing into his side.

Betty Lou’s eyebrows rose above her frames.

Just more fodder for the gossip truck. He had no doubt that most of the town would know that he’d had dinner with Kelly and had his arm around her shoulder when they paid.

Outside, the sounds of summer surrounded them.

Crickets trilled, calling for company. A light veil of humidity hung in the air, not quite stifling yet.

Come July and August, humidity would be heavy and unpleasant.

Hopefully, Mother Nature would play nice for Founders’ Day and make the days and evenings pleasant.

“Where did you park your car?” he asked.

“Behind the shop.”

“Okay.” Tate headed in that direction, aware that he still had his arm around Kelly’s shoulders. Interesting. Why hadn’t she shaken him off? Not that he was complaining. She fit snugly, and he could get used to it.

A second later, she took a step to the right and his arm slipped to his side. The universe liked to give and then take away from him pretty quickly.

“You don’t have to walk me to my car, Tate. I’m a big girl and can get there by myself. The town is safe.”

He shoved his hands in his pocket to stop from reaching for her again. “I’m aware of that, but Dad would box my ears if he knew I’d let you walk alone after spending the evening with you.”

“Ahh, the gentlemanly gestures. It’s kind of sad they’re dying out.”

“You sound like you don’t want that to happen. You do know you just told me I didn’t have to do one of those gentlemanly gestures with dinner.”

She shrugged. “I have mixed feelings. I’ve been on my own for a long time.

I’m an independent business owner. I’m in charge of my own life.

And I love that, but when I listen to Mom talk about the early days of her and Dad’s courtship, it kind of makes me sad that some of those traditions are being lost. Some days, I’d like to experience it, and other days I don’t. ”

Tate itched to rest his arm on her lower back as they walked down the darkened alley by her shop.

Would this be one of those gestures she wanted?

He compromised and raised his hand to her lower back, not touching but close enough that he could if she needed it.

“I’m sure in time a balance will be struck that will please everyone. ”

“I hope so,” she murmured as they stopped by her car, unlocking it. The flashing lights brightened the night for a heartbeat.

Deciding to risk it, he leaned around her and opened the door for her. “I had a really nice evening tonight, Kel. Thanks for asking me to join you.”

She looked up at him, the action bringing her face closer to his.

In the muted glow from the only light in the parking lot, he caught the way her tongue darted out to moisten her lips.

Tate bit back a groan. Memories from earlier in the day when he’d been tempted to kiss her in his kitchen slammed into him.

His blood heated and his lower body tightened in his jeans.

He didn’t miss the increase in her breathing. “Kel?” he asked, sure of what he wanted but not wanting to assume she wanted the same thing.

“Tate,” she whispered and swayed a fraction toward him.

He rested his hand on her hip and lowered his head, keeping his eyes open. If she pulled back, he would give her space. Only she raised her face and their lips met. His eyelids drifted down and relief swept through him.

Her lips were soft and sweet beneath his.

He could taste the lingering orange flavor from the zinger donut she’d eaten.

Her hands clasped the front of his shirt, and he tightened his hold on her, angling his head to deepen the kiss.

The second her mouth opened beneath his, he bit back a groan.

Never in a million years would he have imagined he’d be kissing Kelly Turner, yet here he was and she was kissing him back.

As much as he wanted to keep going, he pulled his lips away and peppered her with a couple of soft touches before finally dropping his hands to the side. As first kisses went, this was the best he’d ever had.

They stood looking at each other for endless moments, as if reluctant to say anything and burst the fragile bubble of contentment surrounding them. Eventually, Kelly made the first move, as he seemed unable to.

“Good night, Tate.” She slipped into her car, closing the door with a click that echoed around the empty area.

“Night, Kel.”