Raspberries and Vinegar (A Farm Fresh Romance Book 1) (16 page)

Jo stared at the device as she slowly reached for the button to power it down. Her mother. Just what she needed.

“See, told you I’d tried!” Sierra stuck out her tongue.

Jo leaned her head back and closed her eyes. “Yeah. Sorry.” She should tell Sierra about her mom’s call, but that would mean airing her dirty laundry in front of Zach. Not ready to go there yet.

“You okay?” Concern trickled through Sierra’s voice. “You look kind of pale.”

Why would she be fine? Not likely. Jo lifted a shoulder to shrug and winced from the pain.

“You just get a little nap in, then. It’s only an hour home. Maybe less with Zach driving.”

Jo opened her eyes just in time to see a little grin pass between Sierra and Zach.

“Who, me?” asked Zach.

Sierra laughed and patted his arm.

 
Jo shut her eyes tight against burning tears that wanted out. Over-reacting. She had to be. No way would Sierra be flirting with Zach. Didn’t her friend know how hard Jo had fallen for him? Oh, what did it matter? Sierra oozed the kind of charm guys went for. Always had.

Zach laughed at something Sierra said, and Jo tried to harden her heart against him. Had she imagined everything that had happened the past few days? He’d been so attentive, so... adorable. She’d convinced herself she’d finally snagged the man of her dreams. Okay, he wasn’t quite Mr. Perfect, but probably no one was. If he loved her enough — dare she think of love this soon? — he’d be willing to make some changes. He only lacked some knowledge about environmental things. Once he was informed, he’d come around in a heartbeat. Like with the field chemicals. Because he loved her.

So she’d thought.

Or maybe he just put up with her for Sierra’s sake. But that didn’t make sense. As though there was logic to be had with how much her arm hurt.

Sierra’s giggle blended with Zach’s chuckle.

Nice they found something funny in the front seat.

***

His grandmother’s door stood ajar. “Hey, Grandma.” Zach poked his head around the corner. “Brought you a treat!”

She lay on her side facing the window, barely stirring at his announcement.

Zach strode in and set the bag of take-out burgers and fries on the side table. “Sorry, did I wake you?”
 

“Always dozing off.” She struggled to sit up, and Zach steadied her as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed. “There’s nothing much else to do.”

“This will break up your day a little, then.” In fact, he could barely wait to rip into his own part of the meal. The salt-laden aroma had tantalized his nose the whole way to Galena Hills. Grandma liked hers with bacon, mushrooms, and cheese, same as he did, so they’d been bonding over these delights for years. “It had been a while since I brought you lunch, Grandma. Want some?”

“Zachary?” Her cloudy eyes examined his face.

“It’s me, Grandma. Let me help you to the table.” He got her upright and wobbling toward her wheelchair.

“Sometimes you remind me of my John. Did you know him?”

Here they went again. “I met him a long time ago.” Zach settled her in the seat, unwrapped a burger, and placed it in front of her. Then he squeezed the contents of a ketchup packet onto the edge of the wrapper and tipped a few French fries out beside it. Smelled like heaven.

“You should thank the Lord for this.” Grandma bowed her head.

He hesitated before covering her pale hand with his own then said a quick grace. “Enjoy your treat, Grandma. Sorry it’s cold.” But not as chilly as her hand.

She sucked ketchup off a fry and redipped it. “Mmm.”

Zach took a big bite of his burger, wishing he could break through and communicate with her the way they’d used to. It was painful watching her grow so distant. Maybe another reason it was easier to remain in Coeur d’Alene, where he didn’t have to watch.

His grandmother turned over the top half of the bun, picked up a cheese-embalmed piece of bacon, dipped it in the ketchup, and licked it off.

Zach hid his grin behind another bite of his own. It was like watching a child eat. Like the child she was becoming once again.

A light tap sounded on the door, and Zach glanced up to see Jo’s smiling face fade to agitation. She took a step into the room, cradling a clipboard against her cast. “I see you’re here to undermine all the progress I’ve been making. Don’t you think that much fat and sodium are excessive?” Her pen rat-a-tatted against the board. She didn’t look all that happy to see him, considering their closeness in the hospital. She’d seemed rather quiet on the drive home, but he’d chalked that up to being tired and the pain meds. He’d decided not to be a nuisance and bother her over the weekend. Besides, he didn’t want Sierra getting ideas. Not now when he was falling for Jo, anyway.

Best not to think about that. “It’s not like she eats one of these every day.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Do
you
?”

He shrugged and dipped a few fries into the ketchup. “Only when I go past the drive through on the highway.” Zach winked and popped the fries into his mouth.

The expression on her face turned even more hostile, though he wouldn’t have thought it possible. What was her problem? The girl needed to learn to live a little.

Jo marched around the foot of the bed and leaned over Grandma’s shoulder. “Here, Mrs. Humbert. Let me take that away. If you’re hungry, I’ll bring you some yogurt and berries. Doesn’t that sound yummy?” Jo started folding the wrapper up over the burger one-handed, but Grandma’s hand was in the way.

“I want some more of this, please.” Grandma turned her face up at Jo, confusion clouding her features.

Jo smiled at Grandma, but persisted in trying to move her hand.

Zach snaked out his own and caught Jo’s wrist. “Leave her.”

She glared at him. “I’m just doing my job.”

“
No, you’re not. You’re harassing an old lady. I brought her something I know she likes, and I’d thank you for leaving her to enjoy it in peace.”

“It’s bad for her. Don’t you value her health?”

Grandma snuck another piece of bacon to her mouth, and Jo didn’t seem to notice. Zach tried to squelch the humor from his eyes before looking back at Jo. “I value all of her. More than you do. She’s very important to me.”

Jo yanked her arm out of Zach’s grasp as though she just noticed he held it. “Didn’t she teach you to be upright and ethical?”

Zach leaned back in his chair, matching her stare. “What’s that supposed to mean?” He reached for more fries, just to infuriate her.

“Do you know how those cows are treated?” She pointed at the burger.

He swallowed the bite. “What cows?”

“The ones they make the burgers out of. The chickens they make nuggets out of.”

“Jo, they’re animals. They’re grown to become food.” He reached for more.

“They have feelings, too. You’re a vet. You know when an animal is in pain.”

Great. A bleeding heart. “I had beef at your house.” Though he’d suspected all he’d get was tofu.

“That’s different.”

Nice try. “How so?”

“We only buy meat that’s been ethically raised. We’re not going to support the feed lots and slaughter houses that feed animals their own waste and animal byproducts and newspapers and... other things herbivores were never meant to eat.” Jo’s hands clenched tight on her clipboard and her chin stuck a bit in the air. Tears welled on the tips of her eyelashes — her very long eyelashes. She tightened her lips, looking like a pouty little kid.

Why put himself through this? Zach took another bite of his burger before he said something he’d regret. Only... what was to regret? Any fantasies he’d been harboring about this, this
woman
, this high-and-mighty environmentalist, had been nothing but idiocy on his part. He should have known. Should’ve seen the warning signs. What had she done to really welcome him? Nothing. She’d only tried to change him every chance she got. “So, let me get this straight. You’re taking already prepared food from an old lady? Because of some dream ethic?”

“It’s not a dream. It’s my life. The way I’ve chosen to live it.”

Zach took a long pull on his cola and hardened his emotions. “The way you’re trying to force it on others, you mean. What if it’s not how I envision my future?”

For an instant a vulnerable child shone from Jo’s eyes. Then the flame returned. “Then—”

He surged to his feet. “You know what’s wrong with you? You think you’re the only one that’s right. You think that if people don’t do or believe the way you do, then they’re evil. Maybe God is even reserving a special place in hell for people who are environmental rebels. Well, you know what?” Oh, man, where was his mouth going? His brain wasn’t even keeping up. “Life is more than black and white. So you don’t like my food choices. Does that mean any recycling I do has no value? Nothing I do to help people or animals? What about your garden? I helped with that, didn’t I? Wasn’t that a good deed?”

Jo’s eyes widened, and her lips parted.

He should kiss her.

Zach pulled back.
No way. Not going there again. Ever.

He shoved the last of the burger in his mouth, stuffed the remainder of the fries into the brown bag, and rolled down the top.

“Zach, I—”

“Never mind. I know where I stand. I’m not good enough for you. Never have been, never will be.”

Jo shot a wild glance at the feast still spread out in front of Grandma then back at him. He locked gazes with her, daring her to make another attempt to deny Grandma her treat.

“I’ll be back later.” She pivoted and headed for the door.

“Who is that young lady, John? Is she married? She’d make someone a nice wife.”

Time held still and Jo’s shoes seemed glued to the floor for an instant before she launched out of the room.

***

Jo slammed her office door and sank down on her swivel chair. She pressed her forehead against the cold metal desk. The pounding in her head and heart might outdo her arm. She should’ve taken the care home’s offer of a few more days off to recuperate. Then she wouldn’t have witnessed that disgusting junk food. Wouldn’t have had to fight with Zach over it.

Was that really how he saw her? As some sort of self-righteous agenda-driven prig? Her own words replayed in her mind. Sure, she’d only said what she believed, but somehow it didn’t sound so appealing the second, third, or fourth time she rewound it.

Still, what kind of steward of God’s nature would she be if she a
bandoned it all for the love of a man? As though she could get
that
back. No, he’d go running off to find solace in Sierra, who at least managed to keep her tongue in her head instead of spouting off in public.

Congratulations, Josephine.

Her heart ached. That one kiss had held so much promise, even if she’d been angry with him at the time. Back then he’d wanted to please her. He’d been gentle and pleasant company every time he’d visited the hospital. Had she judged him wrongly?

The stench of greasy, salty fries and a congealing burger still roiled her stomach. No, there was no potential with Zachary Nemesek. Any guy worth planning a future with needed to see the true Josephine Shaw and like her anyway. Love her. Value her. That probably meant she’d be single forever. So be it. At least she’d be true to her calling. She’d been perfectly content before Zach showed up, and she would be again.

The sooner she moved on, the better. She’d get on with life, doing what she knew God had placed her on this Earth to accomplish.

But empty.

Chapter 15

“Hey, Nemesek!”

Zach looked up to see Gabe filling the door of Landing Vet Clinic a few days later. “Hey man.”

Gabe glanced around the waiting room as he moved toward the desk. “You busy? I haven’t seen you in a while.”

Because Zach hadn’t felt like talking to anyone. He’d never have guessed that his innards would still be twisted over that fight with Jo.

The waiting room was empty. After all, the sign said they’d closed ten minutes ago, so it wasn’t like he could pretend he had much more to do. “Tidying up here so everything is ready for morning.”

“I’ll wait for you. Want to go out to The Sizzling Skillet for dinner? Best grub in town.”

No, he did
not
want to, but Gabe was nothing if not persistent. If he didn’t connect with Zach tonight, his friend wouldn’t let up until he had. Zach sighed. “I might be a while.”

“No problem.” Gabe plopped down in one of the chairs and grabbed a magazine from the end table. “I’ve got nowhere else to be.”

“Bethany must be at work.”

Gabe grinned. “Yep. She doesn’t get off until seven, and won’t be home until eight.”

“Yeah, I saw her the other day.”

“So she said.” Gabe held Zach’s gaze for a few seconds, then brandished the magazine. “Take as long as you need. Doc Taubin has the best reading material in town, so I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

A grin forced its way around Zach’s reluctance. “Oh, yeah. Everything on that table has been published in the last decade, I think.”

Gabe peered into the magazine and flipped a few pages. “Shh. I’m just getting into it here.”

Zach shook his head and a laugh bubbled out. “Never mind. Let’s go. I’ll come back later and finish up.” Not that there was really anything that needed doing.

“You sure?”

“Yeah. Come on.”

The Sizzling Skillet’s dining room was less than half full. The waitress led Zach and Gabe to a table near the window and handed over menus.

“Is Claire cooking tonight?” Gabe asked.

The waitress shook her head. “No, she works the weekends. But some of the menu items are ones she’s introduced. Can I get you anything to drink while you decide?”

B
oth men ordered coffee and she hurried away to greet someone else.

“Too bad.” Gabe opened the menu. “Claire’s really shaken up the restaurant fare in this town. She’s one of the gals that lives next door to you, isn’t she?”

Like Gabe didn’t know the answer to that. “Yes.”