secret ingredient mayo. She felt so bad for her remark and by the legitimately hurt look in Tucker’s eyes, she hoped her meager apple crisp would make up for her harsh attitude and sharp tongue.
Just as she was placing the dish in the oven to bake, she heard a melodic chiming coming from the porch. She set the timer and went out to see where the tinkering was coming from. When she stepped onto her porch, Tucker was arranging a wind chime he had hung near the porch baluster. It was colorful and appeared to be made of hand-blown glass and brass.
Lilliana stood watching while Tucker struggled to hang the decorative chime, stunned at how very attractive he was. Upon closer inspection, she could see the farm boy in him with his strong hands, well-defined biceps and muscular thighs and calves. But it was his smile and eyes that gave away his true upbringing. She had always wanted a home-grown, farm boy to call her own; someone with Midwest values and charisma. She had given up long ago trying to find that.
After several attempts to get the wind chime just right, Tucker stood back, tilted his head and nodded his approval. He hadn’t seen Lilliana watching him and when he turned, he blushed, something that Lilliana found charming. Tucker didn’t seem like the kind of man that would feel embarrassed about anything.
“I thought it would make a nice house-warming gift.”
“You were right; it’s beautiful. Thank you,” Lilliana gushed, walking over and tip-toeing to touch the glass.
“So are you,” Tucker replied lustfully.
Lilliana looked at him with reservation, unsure how to respond. She was still on her guard with Tucker, unsure of his intentions.
“You don’t expect me to believe you’ve never been told you’re beautiful before,” Tucker snorted.
“Yes, I have , but not like that.”
“Like what ? Sincere?”
“Are you being s incere?” Lilliana countered, raising her eyebrows at him.
Tucker turned away from her and walked towards the front door, seemingly upset by her question.
“Please don’t question my intentions and motivations, Ms. Norris.”
Lilliana moved past him and into the house. “I’ve learned to question everything and everyone, Mr. McGrath, and if you have a hidden agenda, it would serve you well to find someone else’s emotions to play with.”
***
The steadfastness in Lilliana’s voice reminded him of his mother and so did the stern look she was giving him. Tucker managed a small, tentative smile in return, remembering her kind spirit but unwavering staunchness. He missed his family and had the sudden urge to visit home. He hadn’t been back to his old stomping grounds in almost five years. He glanced over at the chime guiltily. The gift didn’t come from his heart and a wave of shame washed over him for his deceitful plans. It wasn’t how he was raised and his parents would be appalled at his actions all in the name of the almighty dollar, especially considering that the land he was standing on had been family owned for almost a century.
When he stepped i nside the house, a sweet fruity scent filled his nose and it, too, reminded him of home. He closed his eyes and was taken back to when he was a child. He loved living on the farm and the solitude and peace it provided him with. He inhaled deeply once more before pushing all sentimental feelings aside. He didn’t get to where he was by being wishy washy and schmaltzy, and he’d be damned if a stubborn woman from the Midwest was going to bring him to his knees. If anyone was going to be on their knees, it was going to be the tenacious little tease named Lilliana. He wanted that fucking land and he vowed it would be his.
“I’ll take that des sert to go,” Tucker said brusquely.
Lilliana’s eyes darted towards him as she removed the pan from the oven, and sparkled with confusion and irritation. “To go?”
“Yes, it’s already late enough and as you mentioned, we both need to be up early for
Just as she was placing the dish in the oven to bake, she heard a melodic chiming coming from the porch. She set the timer and went out to see where the tinkering was coming from. When she stepped onto her porch, Tucker was arranging a wind chime he had hung near the porch baluster. It was colorful and appeared to be made of hand-blown glass and brass.
Lilliana stood watching while Tucker struggled to hang the decorative chime, stunned at how very attractive he was. Upon closer inspection, she could see the farm boy in him with his strong hands, well-defined biceps and muscular thighs and calves. But it was his smile and eyes that gave away his true upbringing. She had always wanted a home-grown, farm boy to call her own; someone with Midwest values and charisma. She had given up long ago trying to find that.
After several attempts to get the wind chime just right, Tucker stood back, tilted his head and nodded his approval. He hadn’t seen Lilliana watching him and when he turned, he blushed, something that Lilliana found charming. Tucker didn’t seem like the kind of man that would feel embarrassed about anything.
“I thought it would make a nice house-warming gift.”
“You were right; it’s beautiful. Thank you,” Lilliana gushed, walking over and tip-toeing to touch the glass.
“So are you,” Tucker replied lustfully.
Lilliana looked at him with reservation, unsure how to respond. She was still on her guard with Tucker, unsure of his intentions.
“You don’t expect me to believe you’ve never been told you’re beautiful before,” Tucker snorted.
“Yes, I have , but not like that.”
“Like what ? Sincere?”
“Are you being s incere?” Lilliana countered, raising her eyebrows at him.
Tucker turned away from her and walked towards the front door, seemingly upset by her question.
“Please don’t question my intentions and motivations, Ms. Norris.”
Lilliana moved past him and into the house. “I’ve learned to question everything and everyone, Mr. McGrath, and if you have a hidden agenda, it would serve you well to find someone else’s emotions to play with.”
***
The steadfastness in Lilliana’s voice reminded him of his mother and so did the stern look she was giving him. Tucker managed a small, tentative smile in return, remembering her kind spirit but unwavering staunchness. He missed his family and had the sudden urge to visit home. He hadn’t been back to his old stomping grounds in almost five years. He glanced over at the chime guiltily. The gift didn’t come from his heart and a wave of shame washed over him for his deceitful plans. It wasn’t how he was raised and his parents would be appalled at his actions all in the name of the almighty dollar, especially considering that the land he was standing on had been family owned for almost a century.
When he stepped i nside the house, a sweet fruity scent filled his nose and it, too, reminded him of home. He closed his eyes and was taken back to when he was a child. He loved living on the farm and the solitude and peace it provided him with. He inhaled deeply once more before pushing all sentimental feelings aside. He didn’t get to where he was by being wishy washy and schmaltzy, and he’d be damned if a stubborn woman from the Midwest was going to bring him to his knees. If anyone was going to be on their knees, it was going to be the tenacious little tease named Lilliana. He wanted that fucking land and he vowed it would be his.
“I’ll take that des sert to go,” Tucker said brusquely.
Lilliana’s eyes darted towards him as she removed the pan from the oven, and sparkled with confusion and irritation. “To go?”
“Yes, it’s already late enough and as you mentioned, we both need to be up early for
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