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  “Spill it,” I said, my voice making it clear I was not to be trifled with.

  Casey sighed, blowing her hair out of her face

  “Okay, well, Aiden maybe said you were…” she trailed off, looking at me nervously.

  “Said I was, what?” I said, impatient.

  She twisted her mouth up anxiously and said, all in a rush “A bit of a food snob, I’m sorry, please don’t hate me!” I laughed, she was very likable when she wanted to be but I still wasn’t totally convinced on Team Casey.

  “I don’t hate you Casey, it’s not your fault my brother’s a jerk,” I said, playfully.

  Her eyes went wide, taking me seriously. She said “What! Aiden is the sweetest man I’ve ever met.”

  Oh boy, she had it bad for my brother. I wish I had it bad for someone.

  “I know he is, I’m just joking” I said. “Aiden’s not totally wrong, I do love good food but I don’t think I’m a snob about it. I just really love fresh, organic, hand grown vegetables. I guess I’m a little obsessive about it” I admitted.

  “That’s awesome, we all have our passions,” Casey said, looking relieved that I was still happy with her. “I’m passionate about photography, I love capturing people’s essence and sharing it with others,” she said.

  “Oh! That reminds me,” she went on “I’m still looking for more guys for my gallery show, so please try to keep your eyes open, let me know if you see anyone truly exceptional looking.”

  I nodded, surprised by this request. I was even more surprised when a few seconds later the crowds parted and I saw someone truly exceptional looking.

  He was tall, with exceedingly broad shoulders and built arms, long scraggly hair and a broad, kind-hearted face with lips just begging to be kissed. I felt the heat rising inside me again, but this time it wasn’t from jealousy but lust.

  “Someone like, that?” I said, nodding my head in his direction, not wanting him to see me pointing.

  “Hmm, maybe” Casey said, looking at him objectively “He’s a little…earthy. But I might be able to make something work.”

  I had no idea what she was talking about. He was perfect. I don’t know what was wrong with her eyes, this was the most exceptional man I’d ever laid eyes on. I felt drawn to him immediately, and it wasn’t just because he had the heirloom tomatoes I’d been looking for all afternoon.

  Chapter 4

  I loved doing the farmer’s market. Not just because it was a chance to get off the farm and meet people, but also because nothing gave me more joy than seeing people enjoying the food I had grown. It made me feel like I had a purpose, like my work meant something really special.

  Today was another Saturday market like any other, nothing seemed special about it, I had no idea I’d be meeting my soulmate in a few hours. As the day started I was just chatting to my employee, Cara, about my girl troubles. I’d been telling her all about my terrible date with Jessica.

  “Wait, she actually said that?” Cara said, her mouth wide.

  I nodded, laughing “Yes, she said it was gross that I told her I grew the vegetables myself!”

  Cara shook her head “That’s ridiculous. I can’t even imagine someone who would say something like that.”

  “Me either, except that I’ve met her, and her name is Jessica,” I said, still stunned by my disastrous date.

  “Wow, I’m so sorry Jack,” Cara said “you’re such a good person, you deserve love.”

  I smiled, Cara was such a sweetheart. “Thanks Cara, I really hope so. I’d love to be as happy as you and Stella someday.”

  Cara smiled blissfully, thinking of her wife “Yeah, she’s pretty special.”

  “Indeed she is” I said, “looks like the heirloom tomatoes need restocking, I’ll grab some.”

  I opened the truck and lifted a large box of tomatoes out of the van and started placing them on the display.

  “Speaking of which, I was wondering if I could get next week off?” Cara said, “We wanted to go see her parents in Vancouver.”

  “Definitely, I’ll call around to get someone to fill in for you” I said.

  I finished putting the tomatoes on the display and turned around a little too quickly. I bumped into the person behind me and she fell to the ground, knocking the bunch of spinach out of her hands.

  “Oh my god, I’m so sorry!” I exclaimed, rushing to help her up. A blonde woman to her side was rushing to help her as well, but I barely noticed her at all as I held out my hands to the beautiful woman I had knocked to the ground.

  I felt something instantly, looking into her eyes, we had this connection. She grabbed my hands and I felt a little electric tingle between us. The mysterious woman had long, wavy brown hair, hanging loose around her slim shoulders. She was small but solidly built, she looked like she could definitely carry at 40lb bag of soil. Her eyes were bright and green, full of wonder and maybe just a bit of sass. I could tell without even talking to her that she had a kind soul.

  I pulled her up, apologizing again. I wanted to help dust her off but I didn’t want to overstep.

  “It’s no problem,” she said “although I think it’s over for this spinach.”

  I looked at the bunch of spinach that had now been trampled on by the market foot traffic.

  I laughed, glad I hadn’t blown it forever with her by knocking her over. I realized I was moving way too fast, already dreaming about a relationship with her when I’d only just met her. I suddenly realized there was no way a perfect girl like this was single anyway. But that wouldn’t stop me from enjoying a moment with her.

  I turned around and grabbed one of our bunches of vibrant spinach and handed it to her

  “Take one of ours instead, with my apologies. Whatever you ladies want” I said, extending my gesture to include her blonde friend “is on the house.”

  “Don’t be silly, it was an accident!” she said.

  “I insist,” I said, putting my hand on my chest “I feel terrible.”

  “Well, if you insist” she gave me a spunky smile “those heirloom tomatoes look incredible.”

  I smiled, they were my pride and joy. I yearned to tell her how I had imported the seeds from Russia, they were a genuine heirloom strain handed down from generations. But, I knew from experience that most people weren’t interested in tomatoes the way I was. So, I deftly grabbed one, whipped a folding knife out of my back pocket and sliced into it, handing her a piece of the juicy tomato.

  She took it delicately between her fingers and put it in her mouth, I watched her do so with barely contained excitement. It was beautiful and seductive all at once, watching her bite into the tomato I had picked this very morning.

  Her eyes lit up and widened, the look on her face was pure joy.

  “Oh my, that’s the best tomato I’ve ever tasted.”

  I beamed. I really loved the farmer’s market.

  Chapter 5 - Lucy

  It was a few hours after the farmer’s market and Aiden, Casey and myself were all gathered around the big butcher block in Aiden’s kitchen. Casey was putting the spinach, kale and microgreens into a large salad bowl while Aiden prepared to grill some corn, heirloom tomatoes and portobellos on the barbecue to go with the fresh tamales he had secured at the market earlier.

  I sat on one of the barstools, watching them work and sipping on my wine - they had both insisted that I not cook and just relax after my long flight. I was enjoying their company, but my mind was elsewhere. I kept replaying my interaction with the gorgeous farmer, who’s name I now knew to be Jack.

  After he knocked me over, he gave me tastes of his delicious foods. He was so modest, even when I told him the truth which was that he was easily the best farmer there. They really were the best tomatoes I’d ever had, I was so excited to eat them again soon. But I really wished Jack was here to share them with us.

  I realized I’d been thinking about him like I knew him, which is crazy because we just met and barely talked more than ten minutes. But I don’t k
now, there was something different when we talked. It was so easy and free, it felt like we’d known each other forever.

  Casey had asked him to shoot with her, he had readily agreed, which surprised me. I could have sworn he was looking at me when he said he’d be happy to get his shirt off for her, but maybe that was just wishful thinking.

  “Earth to Lucy!” Aiden said, playfully hitting my arm. I looked up from the table, not knowing if they’d been talking to me.

  “Sorry, what?” I said.

  “Casey was just telling me about your farmer’s market find,” Aiden said.

  I raised my eyebrows, surprised she had mentioned him “I mean, I wouldn’t call him mine, but I guess I did find him,” I said, wishing deeply that Jack was mine.

  Aiden laughed “Who’s this, eh? I was talking about these incredible tomatoes!”

  I blushed, suddenly self conscious. I looked to Casey for help

  “Lucy pointed out a farmer who I might do a shoot with” Casey supplied.

  “Ohh really?” Aiden said, turning to me.

  “I was just helping your girlfriend do her job,” I said, defensively. I knew that wasn’t all there was to it but I was in no mood to talk about my crush with my brother.

  “Okay, okay, don’t get defensive” Aiden said, stacking up the corn, tomatoes and tamales onto a plate and heading out to the back porch grill.

  I sipped my wine while Casey tossed the salad, crumbling fresh goat cheese over it. She picked up a spinach leaf and chewed it thoughtfully

  “You know,” she said “if you’d like to come along on my shoot with Jack, you can be my assistant for the day.”

  I stilled. Every part of me was screaming yes, anything to be near Jack again. On the other hand, I was unsure why Casey was offering, and I didn’t know if this would be a good way to interact with him.

  “Why do you think that would be a good idea?” I asked, sounding a lot more suspicious than I meant.

  Casey looked at me nervously, I could tell she was still anxious to impress me.

  “Well,” she said “I know that you’re still a little uneasy about my profession and I wanted to show you that I’m totally professional. Also, I know you’re into farming and stuff so maybe we could tour his farm or something.”

  Casey seemed casual but it felt like there was something more to it.

  “That’s all?” I asked.

  “Yeah, totally.” she said, her tone unconvincing.

  I snatched a piece of kale from the bowl and chewed it.

  “Mmmm, that dressing is delicious Casey, you’ll have to give me the recipe.”

  “I just got it online, but I’ll send you the link” she said, smiling. “What do you think about the shoot?”

  “Sounds like a fun adventure,” I said, still not sure if that was true.

  WE WERE ALL sitting outside on Aiden’s deck, admiring the stunning view, sipping wine and poking at the remains of the scrumptious dinner.

  The firepit crackled calmingly and Max lay at my feet, gnawing on a bone.

  “Thanks again for dinner you guys, it was absolutely spectacular, “ I said.

  “I’m stuffed!” Aiden said, patting his stomach “Everything was so good.”

  Casey nodded her agreement. She opened her mouth to say something and just then the doorbell rang.

  “Damn, I forgot” Aiden said, jumping up “I have a short business meeting. I’ll be back soon, I’m sorry guys.”

  “What!” Casey said, pouting “But it’s Lucy’s first night in town!”

  “It won’t be long darling, I promise” Aiden said, looking adoringly into her eyes. “Why don’t you guys bond over your mutual love of One Direction?” he said, then jetted into the house before we could say anything more.

  I looked at Casey, surprised “I would’ve thought you’d be an indie girl not a Directioner!”

  She shrugged “I like indie, but I love One Direction.” she said, simply. “I would’ve thought you liked folk music or country!”

  “I do!” I smiled, “That’s one of my favorite things about One Direction, they bring so many different types of people together.”

  Casey nodded enthusiastically “They do, my roommate Marc and I became bffs in college over our mutual love for them. You should come to the Harry Styles show with me next month! If you’re still in town that is. Wait, are you a Harry girl?”

  I shook my head “Zayn all the way.”

  Casey looked mock scandalized “No way, Harry is the best!”

  “No, Zayn!” I said.

  Then we both laughed. Just then we heard a loud noise from inside the house. We both looked up, startled.

  “Should we…?” Casey asked me, I nodded.

  We got up and opened the sliding glass door. We went in through the oversized living room to Aiden’s office. He was crouched on the floor picking up a large stack of binders that had spilled all over the floor. With him was a woman in business attire, her hair up in a bun. She was very good looking, and Casey turned to me and whispered

  “Should I be worried?”

  “About Aiden?” I whispered back, “No way, he’d never cheat in a million years. Plus, he’s head over heels for you. I’ve never seen him like this, he’s like a lovesick puppy.”

  Casey smiled broadly, clearly very happy.

  “Oh, hey guys” Aiden said, getting up from the floor with a stack of binders. “This is Piper, my lawyer for Outlaw Coffee.”

  The woman turned to look at them and held out her hand. She shook hands with Casey and said

  “You must be Casey, Aiden talks about you all the time!”

  Aiden looked embarrassed but didn’t say anything.

  “And you are?” she asked me.

  “That’s my sister, Lucy,” Aiden supplied.

  I shook her hand and said “He talks about Casey all the time but he’s never mentioned he has a sister, some brother I have!”

  I meant it as a joke but Piper looked genuinely stressed “Oh no, he’s mentioned you but he said you lived far away so I wasn’t expecting to see you today.”

  “I’m visiting, thinking about moving here,” I said.

  “Congratulations,” Piper said “Portland is such a great place to live.”

  “How would you know?” Aiden teased, “All she ever does is work. You’ve gotta do something fun sometime Piper” he said.

  “I know, I know, I’m married to the job,” she said, looking quite sad about this fact “But at least I’m getting your contracts through earlier so there will be no drama with the Seattle opening.”

  “True, I can’t complain,” Aiden said, then turned to us “we’ve got another ten minutes in here before we’re done. Why don’t you guys get back to One Direction fangirling and I’ll be back soon?”

  “We were not fangirling!” I snapped.

  “We totally were.” Casey said, laughing.

  I turned to her “You’re obviously gonna side with him, he’s your boyfriend!”

  “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a little fangirling,” Piper chimed in, “especially if it’s about One Direction.”

  Casey nodded her agreement. I threw my hands up, defeated.

  “In that case, why don’t you come join us Piper? Have a glass of wine and explain to Casey why Zayn is the best.”

  “Sorry, I’m a Niall girl,” she said.

  “You guys are all nuts!” I said, smiling. So far, Portland was the best.

  Chapter 6 - Jack

  I was laying in bed, naked, unable to sleep. It was pretty early by most people’s standards, but as a farmer you’ve got to get up with the sun, sometimes before. I looked out the window at the moon climbing into the sky, the stars dusting the sky. The bedsheets lay tangled around me, the soft fabric caressing my bare skin. All I could think about was her. Lucy, the girl of my dreams.

  I didn’t know anything about her really, except her name and her friend Casey. I also knew that she really liked my heirloom tomatoes, but that
wasn’t very much information. I couldn’t stop thinking about her though, running through possible ways I could find her or get in touch with her again.

  When her friend had asked me to model for her I had said yes without a second thought. I would have said yes to anything that would have brought me closer to Lucy again, but I had stupidly only given her friend my number, and not asked for her information. Or better yet, asked for Lucy’s number. I don’t know what came over me. I was completely tongue tied and stupid around her.

  I replayed our brief interaction over and over in my mind, knocking her over, helping her up, giving her spinach, the way her fingers looked when they grabbed the slice of tomato. Soon, my memories started to give way to fantasies instead.

  The farmers market drifted away and instead Lucy was on a beach, the sun reflecting in her long, sensuous hair. She wasn’t wearing her comfortable v neck anymore, now she wore a barely-there bikini. She laid down on the white sand, her skin already looking bronzed and flawless.

  I leaned into her, running kisses up her neck to her full, juicy lips. I slid my tongue inside her mouth, hearing a tiny moan escape her lips. She tasted like sweet summer strawberries, my favorite.

  I twined her hair in my fingers, hearing the soft sounds of the ocean in the distance. I pulled down her tiny string bikini, poising my throbbing member above her ready to slide into her soft folds…*BEEP*

  I ignored the sound and focused on the look in her eyes, the come hither stare begging me to fill her with my manhood…*BEEP*

  I sat up in bed, shaken and alarmed. I looked at my phone and realized the beeping sound was a text message.

  Hi, this is Casey, the photographer girl from the Farmer’s Market earlier today! I’d love to set up a shoot with you later this week, my friend Lucy (the one you knocked over) will be joining us as my assistant. Let me know what day works for you, thanks!

  I re-read the text over and over again, my mouth hanging open, my dick standing at attention. I just kept wondering, why did she mention that Lucy would be there? Had Lucy asked her to? Did she want to see me again?