Her Heart's Desire (Sunflower Series Book 1) (26 page)

He climbed into his truck. Before driving
away, he spied Amelia and his sister watching him through the
kitchen window. He blew a kiss.

“Going to see a man and beg about a farm,” he
said, knowing the words would fade before ever reaching their
ears.

He headed down the road and hoped his
bartering skills weren’t as rusty as his relationship-fixing
skills.

He had to find a way to keep Amelia near. On
the farm. A farm. Any farm nearby.

****

Lia cringed and beat her fist on the kitchen
counter as Lucas drove away. He hadn’t fought for her, for them.
Would he bother to contact her before leaving tomorrow? Had she
just ended everything? Weariness set in. A nap might not solve
anything, but afterward, she’d figure out what to do next. The
morning’s emotional tornado wore her nerves thin.

“Lia,” Megan called from the art studio.

“Yes?” Lia wanted to send the college student
on her way back to school.

“Come sit with me for a few minutes.”

Lia entered the studio with Jack on her
heels. He passed her and climbed onto his bed, circled around, and
lay down. Contentment comes easy when you’re a dog, Lia mused. The
studio wrapped her in a blanket of safety. When immersed in a
painting, she often preferred sleeping on the daybed against the
wall, taking catnaps between bursts of creative flow.

Megan sat on the rolling stool. “Do you think
of Lucas as a big brother?”

“Ah, what?”

“You heard me.”

Lia stalled, wondering what field Megan had
plucked her question from.

Megan pressed on. “He cares deeply for you,
but until—uh, whenever it was when the two of you first did the
deed—he wouldn’t allow himself to believe you might love him back.
So, I’m guessing you
don’t
think of him as a big brother. It
would be really cool to have you for a sister-in-law. I mean, like
last Sunday when you helped me understand Lucas’s concerns for me.
So, I don’t mean to interfere, but you just had a birthday
and…”

“Spill it.”

“Well,” Megan paused. “You’re not getting any
younger.”

“Younger? You think because I’m nearly
thirty, I’m old?” Lia snorted and laughed. Nothing about her life
gifted her with a sense of youthfulness. Life was hard work. Fun
had taken a holiday without her. Did she seem ancient to a college
sophomore? Maybe she did need a girls’ weekend away with Zoë.

“What’s so funny? Most people your age get
touchy about the subject. It’s not usually a laughing matter.”

“Do you realize my brother and yours have
been treating me like a child for years? And you come along,
bright-eyed and full of life, and you see me practically as
middle-aged. Yep, it’s funny.”

“Does this mean we can talk, woman to
woman?”

Lia chuckled. “Absolutely. Talk away.” She
picked up a paintbrush and twirled it between her fingers. Later
she would paint.

“Lucas said he wants me to have the house. We
own it together. My parents did a quit claim deed when they left
for Arizona. However, I’m hoping you can understand. I.
Never.”—Megan pointed, punctuating the air on each word—“Want. To.
Live. In. The. Country. Again. Particularly in that house. It’s
great to come home to it while I’m in college. However, I’ve made
up my mind. I can legally sign contracts now. I want to give my
share of the house to you and Lucas as a wedding present.”

“Whoa. What?”

“Wedding. Present. Does hitting middle age
make you suddenly hard of hearing?”

“There’s not going to be a wedding. Besides,
I can’t let you do that.”

“You think because I’m in college I can’t
make this kind of a decision? You’re not taking me seriously.”
Megan scowled.

All too familiar with the sentiment, Lia
dropped the paintbrush into a jar with the others. “Megan, it’s
complicated. It looks like I’m going to lose the farm. I have one
small shot at bringing in the harvest, but I don’t think it’s going
to make the mortgage payment and buy Craig out of his share. Craig
has a buyer for the farm.”

“All the more reason for you and Lucas to get
married and move into our house,” Megan insisted, rolling the stool
closer to Lia.

“All the plans I had...the way I had things
worked out. I’ve failed, Megan. I can’t marry Lucas to stay in the
country.”

Megan jumped up and kicked the stool away. It
shot across the room, hitting the kitchen door. “You’re not going
to marry Lucas to get a place to live. You’re going marry my
brother because you. Love. Him. Geez, middle age does crap to the
brain.” Megan shook her head and frowned as though life ahead of
her was a minefield, and she might not get out alive.

“Megan...”

“If you say
life’s complicated
one
more time, I’ll stop speaking to you.”

“I’ll think about your suggestion,” Lia
promised.

“I’ll go clean the kitchen. Then I need to
check on Lucas before heading back to Manhattan.”

“You go,” Lia urged. “I’ll take care of the
clean-up.”

“And
think
about what I’ve said.”

“I’ll give it serious consideration.”

Megan hugged her tight. Her bottom lip
quivered and her eyes watered, but she didn’t continue to plead her
case. Lia walked her to the door. Jack waited patiently while Megan
hugged him, too.

As Megan drove away, Lia wondered how she’d
let history repeat itself. Megan spoke with conviction. She might
be younger, but she had a sense of direction for her life, one that
didn’t include farming. She had every right to walk the path that
suited her best, and in truth, only she could know it.

Eyeing her birthday present from Craig, Lia
placed it on the dining room table and tugged on the ribbon,
releasing the bow. Tearing at the paper, she uncovered a taped,
plain brown box.

Sighing, she shook the box. It barely made a
sound. The box opened when she pulled off the tape. Inside, several
new brushes for oil painting were nestled in a bed of tissue paper
along with a gift receipt for a new easel. “Oh, Craig, a perfect
gift. Why did you have to spoil my birthday?” He could be so
thoughtful to her one moment and irrational about her the next. If
he were a woman, she’d think he suffered from PMS.

Plopping on the couch, she cuddled Jack when
he joined her. Silence enveloped her. Sleep pulled her under. She
nestled into a comfortable position with Jack at her feet and
allowed herself the luxury of a nap. The paintings could wait a few
hours. When she woke, she intended to find Lucas and hash things
out. She’d been way too hasty.

Thoughts of Lucas wound tighter and tighter
in her mind, thoughts twirling like a Ferris wheel spinning at warp
speed. Restlessness irritated her like a rash. Any chance of her
dozing ended when a truck pulled up in the yard.

Lia jumped from the couch. Jack slipped to
the floor and scowled, clearly annoyed at the interruption.
Throwing open the front door, she shoved the screen door open.
“Lucas!” Her heart raced. Misting tears blurred her vision. The
world around her changed as though it were a wet-on-wet
watercolor.

“Amelia!” Lucas climbed out of the truck, the
door left hanging open. He held open his arms. She did a quick hop
and jumped at him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck,
nearly a stranglehold. Lucas lost his balance, and they tumbled to
the ground. Lucas twisted to break her fall. His back hit the lush
grass, and she thudded against his chest.

“
Ahuh
,” he said, air leaving his
lungs.

“Are you hurt?” She cupped his face and tried
to give him mouth to mouth.

Lucas forced her back as he sat, and she
ended up in his lap. He coughed, then began to laugh.

“It’s not funny.” She swatted his arm. “I was
trying to be romantic. Two lovers, separated, and then
reunited.”

“Sweetheart, that’s fine,” Lucas chuckled.
“But we’ve only been apart for a couple of hours.”

Lia drew back and frowned. She started to
rise, but Lucas grabbed her around the waist. He rolled and took
her with him. A second later, he captured her mouth. His tongue
found hers in a dance. The kiss deepened. Urgent. Needy. Wanting.
Every nerve in her body hummed. Love was the sweetest emotion.
Fluffy and sugary like cotton candy.

She pulled at his shirt. The intense desire
to feel the warmth of his skin pushed all other thoughts from her
mind.

“Whoa,” Lucas whispered. “It wouldn’t do for
someone to drive by and see the proper Amelia Britton naked on the
front lawn.”

“Don’t make fun of me. You want me just as
bad. I can feel that bulge.” She nipped at his lips.

Lucas kissed her tenderly. “We need to put
this on pause.” He rose and helped her up. “I’m heading out
tonight.” He pulled her into his arms. “There’s an equipment issue
in Salina.”

“No. You can’t go now. Not now.” She couldn’t
believe her own ears. She was whining, and on the verge of begging
him to make love to her.

“A lot has happened in a short time. I think
some space will help us sort things out.”

“I changed my mind,” she said hurriedly and
hugged him tighter. She reached lower and grabbed his butt, a
daring move on her part.

Lucas reached into his jeans pocket. “There’s
more than a bulge down there.” He dangled the diamond pendant
before her. “I want you to consider all of the issues. All of the
problems. Your wants, needs, and must-haves in life. And I want you
to do it while wearing this.” He turned her around and hooked the
necklace around her neck. “I meant what I said before. We’ll find a
way to make it work.”

“Let me go with you,” Lia pleaded.

“I’d take you, sweetheart, but you have to
finish getting ready for your show.”

She hung her head. “You’re going to miss it,
aren’t you?”

“Let’s take one day at a time.
Maybe
is all I can say. I might not make it for opening night, but I’m
sure I’ll get to see it before it closes.”

She squared her shoulders. “Fine. We’ll take
it as it comes.”

“Will you call me if you need me?” Lucas
lifted her chin.

“Thank you for the offer”—Lia tugged him
closer—“however, I’m a big girl now. Clearly on my way to dotage,
in your sister’s eyes. I can handle things.”

“Mind if I call you?”

“That would make this woman very happy.” Lia
rose on her toes and kissed Lucas’s cheek.

“I’ve got a plan.” Lucas took a step back.
She hated breaking the heat of their contact.

“That’s one of the things I love about you.
You’re the man with a plan.”

“I’ll know more tomorrow. And I’ll call you
tonight so you can tuck me in.” He winked, his innuendo sending a
zinger of heat to her core.

“Ever done phone sex?” she asked. “Wait,
don’t answer that. I don’t want to know. But be prepared for a sexy
conversation tonight.” She gave him an exaggerated wink.

Lucas started the truck’s engine. “Woman,
come here,” he ordered through the open driver’s window.

She smiled coyly and sauntered in his
direction. She climbed onto the running board. His arm encircled
her. He pulled her against the dusty door. His lips crushed hers.
When his lips released her, he hung on to her fearing she would
melt to the ground. “Remember, you’re my woman. We’ll work it all
out. Tomorrow, I hope to have some good news. Maybe tonight, we’ll
try Skype.”

He held her hand as she stepped down. Taking
a step back, she waved. “Call me when you can.” She blew him a
kiss. As he backed down the drive, she clutched the diamond in her
palm.

He was taking her heart and leaving his in
her care. Breathlessly, she wrapped her arms over her chest. Joy
floated her sky-high. She was light enough to walk on water.

For once, she couldn’t wait for the day to be
over and nighttime to roll in. She would show Lucas just how
un-prim
and
un-proper
she could be. Even long
distance.

Chapter 22

When the kitchen sparkled, Lia headed for the
back deck. Gentleman Jack curled on his bed beside the gas fire
pit. Lia dropped into a deck chair, flung her leg over one arm, and
watched birds gather at the feeders. Many would be heading south
for winter soon. Others had already gone. She wondered about a life
of travel. It wasn’t like she could paint in the back of a semi
towing farm equipment. But life wouldn’t be that way all the time,
she mentally argued. There was nothing more frustrating than not
being able to paint when inspiration consumed her.

She closed her eyes and pictured Lucas.
Imagined his lips against hers. Dreamed of being wrapped in his
embrace and their bodies tangled up together. All frustration
evaporated. Happiness settled into her soul. With Lucas, together
they could make anything work. Love
would
conquer all.

Opening her eyes, she listened to the
silence. Relaxation deepened in her body. Completely calm, she
could tackle anything, including battling her brother. For once,
she wished for an adult discussion with him to debate options. He
always called when he reached St. Louis. But four hours hadn’t yet
passed. She’d wait an hour or so before calling him. Things ended
so weirdly before he left. More like a bad dream. However, he was
her brother, and they had to find a way to smooth things over
between them...and between him and Lucas.

Her thoughts were interrupted by her ringing
cell phone. “Hey. What’s up?” she asked.

“Nothing.” Zoë said, but the singsong tone of
her voice indicated the opposite.

Lia burst out laughing.

“What?” Zoë demanded.

“You lie. Lie detector test—failed. What are
you really doing?” Lia managed to say between giggles.

“Okay. You got me. I’m at the grocery store
shopping. I’m gonna cook Karl dinner.”

“Oh, my. Cooking? That’s not safe.”