Season of Dreams. Jenna Mindel

Adam sat between two women, his arms draped loosely around each one.

      “Hey, Adam.” Ryan waved.

      Under the table, Eva pinched her brother’s thigh. “Don’t call him over here.”

      “Why not?” Ryan feigned innocence.

      Beth turned and waved, too.

      It was hard enough working with him—Eva didn’t want to socialize, too. But like a fly drawn to rotting fruit, Eva glanced at Adam. His blue eyes stared straight through her as he disengaged from the pouty-lipped women and made his way toward them.

      “Great,” Eva growled.

      “How come your cheeks are red, Eva?” Ryan winked.

      She wanted to hide, which made her cheeks feel that much hotter.

      Beth played traitor and pulled out a chair.

      Adam slipped into the seat. “Had some great skiing today. What are you guys up to?”

      “We went to the movies,” Beth answered.

      Eva peeked at the table Adam had left behind. Some of the women took pictures with their cell phones. Maybe that was why he’d been cuddled between two beauties—he was getting his picture taken. Not that it was any of her business what he did.

      “Are you guys interested in coming to my place to ski tomorrow? I’ll spring for your lift tickets.”

      “Cool.”

      “No, thanks,” Eva answered with more volume than her brother. “We’ve got church in the morning.”

      Ryan looked at her as if she’d spit ice cubes across the table and then turned to Adam. “Why don’t you come with us to church? We can ski afterward.”

      Eva jumped in before Adam could answer. “He’s not going to want to drive all the way from Benzie County for church.”

      “Let the man answer for himself,” Ryan said.

      Eva glanced at Adam. He fiddled with the salt and pepper shakers, but his gaze rested firmly on her. The taunt she’d flung at him about changing his lifestyle rang through her brain. Surely he wouldn’t attend church to spite her.

      “Hmm. I’m staying at a friend’s place not too far from you guys, so I could make church.”

      Eva cringed. Ryan had a big mouth.

      “I’d love to ski, but I have dinner plans with my mom right after service. Why don’t you pick us up at nine thirty?” Beth’s smile was a little too wide.

      Adam tapped the table with his fingertips. Not a trace of damage from his scrape with frostbite. “Is that okay with you, Eva?”

      What could she say? Refusing now would only make her look like being around Adam got to her. Backed into a corner, she decided nonchalance was the best shield of defense. “Sure, that’s fine.”

      He studied her longer than she thought necessary before answering. “Then I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

      Eva watched him return to his table of friends. The volume of laughter rose, and one of the women he’d had his arm around threw her a curious glance and then settled on Beth. Creases of doubt wrinkled the woman’s forehead.

      Ryan rubbed his chin. “I’m definitely taking him up on his offer to ski tomorrow. You going, Eva?”

      “No!” Maybe she’d been abrupt in her answer, but the company Adam Peece kept supported what she thought. He was a shallow guy trying out a new hobby. Those women at his table no doubt thought a gentleman cherry grower was a charming side job. Eva might work for the man, but she wasn’t about to hang out with him, too. No way, no how.

      Chapter Three

      The next morning, Adam knocked on Eva’s door wondering if he’d made a wise choice. It was the perfect day to ski, blue skies filled with sunshine and temperatures topping out at a balmy thirty degrees. He had the strangest sense that he’d feel closer to God on the slopes rather than sitting in a pew next to Miss Prickly Prim Marsh.

      Beth opened the door. “Good morning, Adam. Come in. Eva will be down in a minute. Want some coffee?”

      Adam stepped into the warm kitchen and shed his coat. “I’d love some.”

      Beth handed him a mug of steaming brew. “Have you had breakfast? It’d only take a minute to warm up Eva’s oatmeal.”

      Adam nestled on a stool, propping his elbows on the ceramic tile-covered island while he cradled his cup. “I’m not much of a hot cereal fan.”

      “I promise you’ll like this. If not, no big deal.” Beth shrugged, but Adam got the distinct feeling that if he didn’t like it there was something wrong with him.

      Maybe there was more than just the cereal at stake here, Adam mused. He suspected that if he messed with Eva, he’d have to answer to her roommate. A tall, solid-looking woman, Beth was a formidable force. “I’ll give it a try.”

      Beth smiled. “You won’t be sorry.”

      They were talking about the cereal, right?

      He shook off his musings. Something about the brown sugar and spice smell of Eva’s kitchen felt like home. A real home. Not the rambling, fully staffed estate of his father’s where Adam and his siblings each had private apartments.

      Adam stirred milk into his bowl of oatmeal that was loaded with nuts and berries. “She puts cherries in everything, doesn’t she?”

      “Just about. She loves them. She loves this orchard, too, if you haven’t already noticed.”

      Adam didn’t miss the serious note in Beth’s voice. He remembered the way Eva fussed over the young tree he’d gashed with the ATV and felt like a heel all over again. “That’s why I hired her.”

      Beth quickly turned to put away the remains of breakfast. Though he couldn’t guess why, Beth seemed disappointed with his answer.

      Adam took a bite of cereal, savoring the heat and texture. “Wow. This is good.”

      “Thanks.” Eva entered the room dressed in a butter-colored sweater and matching pants that hugged her slender form. Her hair gleamed against her shoulders and her lips had been slicked with berry-tinted gloss.

      Adam dropped his spoon. He glanced at Beth, who smiled at him again, only this time with beaming approval. She’d witnessed his jaw-drop reaction to seeing Eva dressed like a girl instead of a farmhand. And he could practically hear the matchmaking gears turning inside Beth’s head.

      Adam focused on his breakfast. He had no business finding Eva Marsh so attractive. Any entanglement with her would throw a wrench in what he was trying to figure out. Trying to do.

      He’d done more than his fair share of dating. He needed to stay away from that slippery slope. Besides, he’d never get tangled up with an employee. Unlike his father, who had a habit of getting involved with his secretaries, Adam kept work and his personal life separated.

      He peeked at Eva leaning against the counter. She watched him over the rim of her coffee cup. Attending church with her inched pretty close to that personal line.

      Eva didn’t like the hitch in her breathing when she read the appreciation in Adam’s eyes. She didn’t like admitting that she’d taken extra care getting dressed this morning either. But that was exactly what she’d done, all because she was trying to compete with the beauties at Adam’s table last night. Ridiculous, considering she’d never come close by comparison. She shouldn’t care. Eva knew who she was and where she came from.

      Still, she hadn’t been prepared for his approval or searching curiosity when he’d stared at her. She took too big a gulp of coffee. Swallowing the heat brought tears to her eyes and she coughed.

      “You okay?” Beth asked.