Farm To Table Read online

  My heart beat fast in my chest as I furiously texted Casey back and set up a time a few days from now to shoot with her.

  After the date was confirmed I slid back down under the covers, ready to get back to my island fantasy.

  Chapter 7 - Lucy

  Casey and I were in the car, headed out of the city towards Five Acorns, the farm Jack owned. I was feeling more nervous with every mile, wondering why I was here at all, and what I would feel when I saw him again.

  Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore and I said to Casey

  “Why did you ask me to come with you? I know nothing about cameras”

  “I told you before, I thought you’d wanna see Jack’s farm,” Casey said, unconvincingly.

  “As someone who loves my brother very much I’m glad to know his girlfriend is a terrible liar,” I said.

  Casey looked at me, alarmed. After a second of our eyes meeting she burst out laughing and looked back at the road.

  “Okay, fine” she said, “If you insist.”

  “I do,” I said, firmly.

  “Truthfully, Aiden and I talked about you before you arrived and he told me that you hadn’t had a boyfriend in a long time. He said he was a bit worried about you, that you seemed sort of sad and lonely sometimes. So, when I saw the spark you had with Jack I thought I’d play matchmaker and see if I could make sparks fly! I’m sorry if you don’t want to be here Lucy, please don’t hate me!”

  “I don’t hate you Casey, stop worrying about that,” I said. I really didn’t, so far Casey had been truly sweet and kind hearted and I was starting to believe my brother was lucky to have her.

  I didn’t say anything else for a while, I just stared out the window at the passing scenery and tried to fight back tears. I couldn’t believe it, I’d never said a word to my brother, I’d never told him about how sad I was, how I ached to have just a tiny bit of the passion he had with Casey. But somehow he knew, maybe I was just radiating it, I wondered if everyone knew how lonely I was.

  I wiped a few tears that had managed to escape with my sleeve before Casey could see and then said

  “Thank you, I really appreciate the gesture Casey.”

  “Don’t get too sappy yet,” she said “I had another motive too.”

  “What’s that?” I said, surprised.

  “I know you don’t like me shooting naked men and I wanted you to see what a professional photoshoot is really like. I need you to know how much I love Aiden and that I would never do anything to jeopardize our relationship.”

  I smiled, it made me so happy to see her devotion to my brother.

  WE ARRIVED at Five Acorns and I fell instantly in love. With the farm, although Jack wasn’t far behind as he walked up towards the car, the sunlight falling on his blonde hair, an adorable tabby cat trailing in his wake. He looked even more handsome today, if that’s possible. After Casey parked we got out and he greeted us with hand shakes and niceties. Our eyes met as we shook hands I felt an electric connection light up. I knew then that Casey would definitely get to see those sparks fly.

  “Thanks for coming all the way out here,” he said “I’m short staffed this week and I just can’t leave the farm.”

  “That’s no problem, I prefer to shoot people in their work environment anyway.” Casey said, smiling and opening the trunk to we could start grabbing equipment. “Plus, Lucy was dying to see your farm, she’s very interested in sustainable farming. She’d love to have a tour if you’ve got time.”

  Casey turned to me and gave me a big wink.

  I was mortified and wanted to run away. But thankfully, Jack was charming as ever and said

  “Absolutely, in fact I was thinking I could cook a nice farm-to-table meal for you ladies after we shoot, since you’re all the way out here.”

  “Wow,” I said, genuinely excited “that would be wonderful, I would love to pick a few things ourselves if that’s possible?”

  He looked at me, enthusiastic “Definitely, there’s a lot of great vegetables ready for harvest right now. I can think of a few things I bet you’ve never even tried before.”

  My interest was piqued “Oh really? Like what?”

  His eyes shone “I’m an importer of rare heirloom seeds from Europe, I like to plant strains unique that haven’t seen the light of day in decades. I guess I’m a bit into experimentation.”

  “Like the Iron Man of farming!” Casey said, heaving a bag over her shoulder and heading into the house. I pointed towards a few of the boxes in the car and watched admiringly as his broad shoulders rippled when he picked up the boxes. His arm muscles bulged as he hefted the boxes up and carried them away, and I felt a moistening between my legs at the sight. I thought about ripping off his flannel shirt and dirty jeans, laying down with him in a field of bright green grass and feeling him sliding up between my open and waiting thighs…

  “Lucy?” Casey said, standing next to me “You okay?”

  I coughed, looking around quickly to make sure that Jack hadn’t seen me fantasizing about him. What was wrong with me, I was wondered. I’d never been this over-the-moon about a guy, I was usually the pragmatic one.

  “I’m great,” I said “but you don’t have to flirt for me!”

  “Sorry,” Casey said, “I was just trying to help, but I’ll stop if you want me to. Looks like you won’t need it anyway, he is so into you.”

  I looked up, a little bit excited but also nervous “You think so, really?”

  She nodded vigorously “Oh yeah, he’s barely even noticed I exist.”

  “Sorry,” I said.

  “Don’t be, I’m thrilled!” Casey said, locking up the car and heading into the farmhouse.

  WE HAD BEEN on set for over an hour now and I had to admit, Casey was right, this was very professional. Even more surprisingly, it was unbelievably boring. You’d think I would never get tired of seeing Jack’s rippling naked chest, his pert nipples and cut abs begging me to run my tongue all over them. But unfortunately, every time I started to get carried away in fantasy Casey would yell for me to bring her another camera battery, or spritz some more oil on his chest, or find a bigger haystack we could put behind his head to frame it better.

  I was still having a great time though, it was certainly one of the more interesting afternoons I’d ever experienced. Jack was offset at the moment, he had agreed to Casey’s request to go full nude and he was taking off his pants. I had to admit, I was pretty excited for this. I turned to Casey and said

  “How does this usually, um, go?” I asked.

  She grinned devilishly “Are you asking if you’re gonna get to see it?”

  I blushed, but nodded.

  “Well, maybe, it really is up to him,” Casey said, matter-of-factly.

  Just then, Jack emerged from the other room wearing a towel wrapped around his waist and headed out towards the hay bale. I ran up and threw my sweatshirt over the spot he was supposed to sit in, then I turned to him, my heart pounding in my chest at the sight of his nearly naked body.

  “So you don’t get hay poking you,” I said, gesturing towards the sweatshirt.

  “Thanks so much, Lucy,” he said, his voice husky and deep. I felt my panties moistening again.

  “Lucy!’ Casey barked, and I ran over to her “Grab me one of those batches of kale from the table!”

  We had assembled a large variety of Jack’s fresh vegetables to use in the shoot as props and had them set out on the table before us.

  I jogged over to the table and grabbed a bundle of kale, as I heard Casey say “Do you want me to take the towel?”

  I froze, holding the kale, not sure I was prepared to turn around and see this. I heard rustling and Jack said

  “Yeah, thanks.”

  I took a deep breath and turned around.

  Casey was looking down at her camera, adjusting settings, the towel slung over her shoulder. Jack was reclining on the hay bales, totally nude, and staring at me. I gulped, trying to look anywhere but at his cock, which was begging for my attention. I so badly wanted to look him over, to admire his physique and the truly majestic member he had just revealed. But I knew I had to keep it professional so I nodded at him then turned towards Casey and said

  “What do you want me to do with this kale?”

  Casey didn’t look up, she just said “Hand it to Jack and have him hold it over his crotch.”

  I nodded and walked up towards him nervously and handed him the bunch of kale, barely even looking at him and then I ran over to one of the lights and pretending to be fixing the screws on it.

  After a minute of this I looked out of the corner of my eye and finally he wasn’t looking at me any longer. Casey had picked up her camera and was directing him to look into it. His dreamy eyes were fixed on the lens, looking at the camera with this sexy, provocative look that I wanted so badly for him to look at me with. I looked down his seductive body, my eyes indulging for a moment in the pure sexual fantasy of his perfection, making my way to the green leaves he was holding in front of his…hey, wait a minute, is that what I think it is? Poking out of the...

  “We’re gonna need a bigger bunch of kale” Casey said.

  Chapter 8 - Jack

  It was a few hours after the shoot and the ladies were gathered in my cozy living room, drinking local microbrews from beer steins and nibbling on some of my fresh strawberries while I finished assembling the dinner in my kitchen.

  I was exhausted from the photoshoot, who knew modeling was so physically strenuous? I mean, it was no day on the farm, but it was still surprisingly difficult. It was exciting as well, stripping naked like that, but that may have just been because Lucy was there. I thought back to her face at the photoshoot when I took off my towel and felt my cock getting hard again. She was special, there
was no doubt about it, and it was driving me wild.

  I tossed the salad and flipped the steaks, bringing the salad out to my large oak burl dining table. I lit the candles on the table and called out

  “It’s almost done!”

  “It smells amazing,” Lucy said, making my heart skip a beat “I hope we’ll be eating some of your incredible vegetables?”

  This girl really knew the way to my heart.

  “You bet,” I said, heading back into the kitchen. I watched the steaks sizzling in the pan and let my mind drift away, wondering what it would feel like to run my hands over Lucy’s sensual body, to feel her hair sliding through my fingers. I was so lost in thought I didn’t notice her come into the kitchen until she said

  “Thanks again for making us dinner.”

  I jumped in surprise, I was so lost in my reverie, that I dropped the spatula. I bent down to pick it up and so did she, our heads bumping as we both reached for the spatula.

  “Oh shoot, I’m so sorry,” I said.

  “No, I’m sorry,” she said, laughing. She succeeded in picking up the spatula and went over to my sink to wash it off. I looked at her standing there, her eyes drawn to the view out the sink window of my farm, the animals moving across the field. She looked so at comfortable, at home, there. I really liked her at my sink, I wanted her to stay here forever.

  I took a deep breath, I had to get a hold of myself. I had a crush of epic proportions and if I wasn’t careful I was gonna blow any chance with Lucy. I’d never forgive myself for that.

  She wiped the spatula and held it out to me.

  “Is there anything else I can do to help?” she asked.

  “Thanks so much,” I said, “if you want to grab some of that fresh cheese from the fridge and bring it out to the table for the salad that would be great.”

  I went back to the frying pan while Lucy rustled around in the fridge and grabbed the block of cheese.

  “Did you make this?” she asked.

  “No, unfortunately I don’t know how to make cheese yet,” I said, disappointed.

  “I can teach you!” Lucy said, excited “I mean, if you want.”

  My heart beat faster, the idea of seeing her again suddenly on the horizon.

  “I’d love that, how’d you learn to make cheese?” I asked.

  “I took a class,” she said “I’m just so interested in where food comes from and how it’s made. It’s my goal to be as natural and sustainable as possible, to make everything I need for myself.”

  I was speechless, where did she come from? Someone so utterly perfect for me in every way? I’d never met someone as passionate about natural foods as me and I had to admit, it was really sexy.

  SOON WE WERE seated around the big table, Casey and Lucy were serving the salad and potatoes while I poured us more craft beers. We sat down and Casey held up her mug

  “To successful photoshoots, and new friends!” she said, happily.

  Lucy and I held our mugs up and we all clinked.

  “Thank goodness, I’m starving,” Lucy said, happily tucking into her food, her face erupting in ecstasy as she tasted it “oh my god Casey, you’ve got to try these potatoes, they’re so good.”

  Casey at some as well and looked similarly thrilled “these are ridiculously good, what’s your secret Jack?”, she asked.

  Suddenly, I felt something rubbing on my leg. I looked up to see if it was Toby but he was asleep on the windowsill. I felt the rubbing continue and I looked into Lucy’s eyes, and there was a mischievous playfulness there. My heart started to pound.

  “Sorry, what?” I said, forgetting what Casey had said as I felt Lucy’s foot sliding up my leg.

  “She asked what your secret is,” Lucy said, her voice suddenly dripping with sensuality.

  I gulped

  “Um, it’s pretty much just roasted with olive oil, rosemary, sea salt. The key is to have really fresh ingredients. You’ve got to start with good vegetables.” I said, shivering with excitement as I felt her leg creeping up me even further. I couldn’t believe this was happening to me, I wasn’t sure if she even liked me. I looked over at her drink and saw she was almost done with her third beer, I guess that was making her a bit friskier.

  She finished her mug and looked at me with raised eyebrows. I downed the rest of my beer in one long gulp, two could play at that game.

  “Well, I guess I’m the designated driver!” Casey said, awkwardly. The sexual tension between Lucy and myself was rising rapidly.

  “That’s probably a good idea,” I said to Casey, my eyes never leaving Lucy.

  “It’s a shame the photoshoot went on so long,” Casey said “I know Lucy was really hoping to tour the farm.”

  I nodded, not really listening to her, all my thoughts focused on the feel of Lucy’s foot on my thigh.

  “Yeah, unfortunately I’m busy the rest of the week as well since I’m short staffed.” I said, not even realizing what I had said.

  Lucy looked sad, and her foot stopped its journey. I quickly tried to back track

  “I mean, if you wanted to come all the way out here again, I’m sure I could make something work.”

  She smiled and started moving again, sending shivers up my spine.

  “Oh no, we wouldn’t want to put you out,” she said, her voice suggesting she wanted to do a lot of other things to me.

  “I’m sure something could be arranged,” I said, wiggling my eyebrows at Lucy. You could cut the tension between us with a knife. It was a good thing that Casey was there or I probably would have lunged at Lucy right there.

  Casey could definitely sense that as well and was eating her steak and looking awkwardly at her phone.

  “I mean, Lucy could just come work for you” she said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “She has a ton of experience gardening and a degree in sustainable farming, I’m sure she’d be a great asset”

  “What?” Lucy said, surprised “I wouldn’t want to impose like that.”

  “Are you kidding?” I said, my pulse rising and my dick hardening at the thought “I would love that, I mean, if you’re interested.”

  Lucy looked at me boldly, her eyes conveying a wealth of emotions “I am very, very interested,” she said.

  Chapter 9 - Lucy

  It was the day after the shoot and I was meeting Casey and Piper, Aiden’s lawyer, for lunch. Casey said she wanted to get to know Piper better and see if maybe they could be friends. I wondered if it was maybe just her being nervous about such a beautiful woman working with Aiden all the time, but it still seemed like a fun idea so I had agreed to come along.

  Before I left I checked my laptop to see if there was any news on the Boston job. Nothing had come in to my email. I closed it sadly, wondering if I had done something wrong in the interview. I didn’t know, but I was also having a great time here so maybe it would all work out.

  I looked in the car mirror as I pulled out of Aiden’s house. Whoa, I didn’t look so hot. I had a lot of beer and then barely slept last night, my thoughts were consumed by Jack and his big bunch of kale. The trip out out to his farm had served to only further emphasize my infatuation with him, he was exactly what I’d been dreaming of all these years. A sexy, laid back guy who loves natural foods and sustainable farming as much as I do.

  Plus, there was this extra thing we had going, this electricity that I couldn’t pin down but I ached to feel it again. I had tossed and turned all night, wishing he was there beside me, his big strong body holding me close, wrapping his muscular arms around me. I wanted to be pressed up against his chest, his long hair falling all over me.

  So much that I had been playing footsie with him under the table last night. I thought about that and was equal parts embarrassed and turned on. It was so unlike me to do something like that, but I just yearned to be near him so badly, it made me reckless.

  I wondered what he was up to this morning, and realized with a tremor that I would find out tomorrow. Thanks to Casey’s ridiculous meddling, Jack had agreed to hire me on as a farm hand for a few days this week while I was visiting. I couldn’t believe my luck, I had been dying to work out on a real farm for ages, and on top of that I got to do it next to the man of my dreams. I bit my lip as I started fantasizing about what might happen when it was just the two of us out there under the stars.