All You'll Ever Need (7 page)

“Be careful.” He guided her around a couple of puddles. “We’ll start over there since it’s not as muddy.”

Why’d he have to be so darn nice? If he were a jerk, it would be real easy to leave him, his baskets and cucumbers out there in the hot sun. Instead, his kindness weakened her resolve and made her want to help.

Zack released her and set down the bushel baskets. He pulled two pair of gloves from his back pocket and handed a set to her and then he slipped on the others. Squatting in front of a bush, he glanced back at her.

“Here, come a little closer.” He moved over some when she stood next to him. “To pick the cucumbers, hold the stem with one hand like this.” He demonstrated. “Then pull the vegetable with the other.” He picked a few and then placed them in one of the baskets. “They mature pretty fast. So someone is usually picking them every other day. With that said though, if they are at least this size,” he held up one that was about six or seven inches long, “make sure you don’t pass by it. Otherwise, if they get too big, the plants will stop producing.”

Zack schooled Jada on the do’s and don’ts of picking vegetables, impressing her with his knowledge of gardening. He shared more than she cared to know, but she had to admit the information was a little interesting. Thirty minutes into their task, Zack insisted she stand upright, claiming that picking cucumbers were murder on the back.

“Every few minutes take a couple of seconds to stretch. Otherwise, you’ll regret you didn’t later.”

They worked and talked. Before long Jada realized the experience wasn’t as bad as she first thought it would be. No, she would never be able to wear her new tennis shoes again, and no she couldn’t see herself digging in dirt ever again, but she was enjoying her time with Zack. A perfect gentleman, he helped her whenever needed, keeping her entertained, and she found their conversation engaging.

“Ahhh!” Jada screamed and fell back on her butt, throwing down the cucumbers. She leaped up and shook her hands frantically, sending the gloves flying off into the plants. “Ugh! Oh my God!

“What?” Zack jumped up and grabbed her arm. “What is it?”

Jada’s eyes flickered over her body, holding a hand against her chest, she tried to slow her racing heart. Nerves on edge, she took a few deep breaths. She wasn’t afraid of worms or bugs, but she hated them.

“Jada?”

Looking up she met Zack’s worried gaze, his hand still on her arm. Blowing out a loud breath, all she could do was shake her head.
He must think I’m a total goof
.

“A worm fell onto my glove.”

Zack looked at her as if she had lost her mind. He dropped his hand from her arm. Removing his glove, he ran his fingers through his dark, spiked hair. “Why didn’t you tell me you were afraid of worms?”

“I’m not,” she said defensively.

“Then what was the screaming about? What else are you afraid of?”

“Nothing! The worm just caught me off guard, and I freaked. Forgive me. It’s been awhile since I’ve dug around in dirt!” She knew she sounded like a crazy person, but at the moment, she didn’t care. He was the idiot who had talked her into hanging out at the farm.

She dropped down on her knees, slipped her gloves on, and went back to work, ignoring him.
This is what I get for pretending to be a person who loves the outdoors and who enjoys gardening.

Stupid, stupid, stupid
.

They worked in silence for a while until Zack spoke up. “Listen, I’m sorry if I seemed insensitive a few minutes ago.” He yanked on one of the vines and pulled a cucumber off. “
You
caught me off guard and
I
freaked. So I can see how a worm could do the same to you.”

Jada tossed a couple of cucumbers in the basket closest to her and sat back on her haunches. She swiped the back of her gloved hand across her forehead and smiled at him.

“I’m sorry I overreacted.” She laughed and shook her head. “I’m sure I looked pretty crazy tripping out over a worm. It just came out of nowhere.”

“Don’t apologize. It could’ve happened to anyone. I’m just glad you’re not afraid of them or bugs. Otherwise, this bright idea of mine to have our first date here, wouldn’t have been a good idea.” He picked up her empty bottle of water. “Want some more?”

“Nah, I’m good.”

Feeling beads of sweat roll down her back, she couldn’t wait to jump in the shower. Maybe she should have taken Zack up on his offer to wear one of his hats. At least then it wouldn’t feel as if her head was on fire. The sun shone brightly, and the temperature was steadily rising.

“Are you doing all right?” He stood and studied her. “Do you need a break? That one bottle of water is not enough for handling this heat out here.”

“I’m okay.” She was a little thirsty, and she could eat, but she didn’t want to stop. She had already had coffee that morning, and had knocked out that bottle of water a few minutes ago. Anything else to drink and she would be running to the bathroom. They were on a roll, and she knew if she stopped, that would probably be the end for her.

“Well, just let me know when you need to stop.”

They went back to work, their conversation flowing easily.

“You mentioned that your brothers used to hunt and fish with your grandfather when they were younger. What about you? Did you go fishing with them?”

Jada cringed at the thought. There was no way they would have gotten her out there to hang around waiting for fish to bite. Besides, the way her brothers smelled by the time they walked through the door was enough to turn her off from the idea.

Instead of giving Zack her honest opinion, she said, “No, that was their way of doing guy things together. No women allowed.” She tossed a couple of cucumbers in the basket and stood. She had filled four baskets so far and was hoping to do at least ten before calling it a day. “I take it you do the whole fishing, hunting, hiking thing.”

“Yep.” Zack stood and removed his baseball cap, and his dark hair was plastered to his head. He swiped his forearm across his forehead and replaced the cap. “Sunshine, rain, snow, or sleet, it doesn’t matter. I like being out in the fresh air.”

“So what else do you enjoy doing?” Jada asked.

“Ah, let’s see. I like sleeping in on Sunday mornings and reading the newspaper when I don’t have a game. I would travel more if I had time, and I also enjoy shopping.”

“Get out of here.” Jada leaned back, checking him out to see if he was serious. “You’re telling me, you, a man, enjoy shopping? I can’t believe it.”

“Believe it, but don’t get me wrong. I hate malls. I usually do my shopping either through a personal shopper or online. I have a weakness for rugged boots and tennis shoes.”

I think I’m in love
.
A man who loves to shop.
That explains his hiking boots being a perfect match to his dark mustard colored T-shirt.

“And like you,” Zack continued, “I love playing video games. Although unlike you, I prefer the ones where I get to blow up things.”

Jada laughed. “Figures. My male cousins insist that a video game isn’t a game if you can’t blow up something. I still say the racing games are the best.”

As they moved down the cucumber rows, she realized they had more in common than she originally thought. It wasn’t until he started talking about fishing and some of his favorite hiking trails that their differences became apparent.

Jada couldn’t remember the last time she laughed and held a regular conversation with a guy. Such a simple thing was standing out to her as something that should have been the norm. Most of the men she dated talked about their work, or the latest deal they had closed. But Zack was different. So far, they had talked about everything from family to favorite vacation spots.

Jada opened her mouth to complain about the sun beating down on her neck, but she kept her mouth closed. It was okay to complain around her family, they knew her, but she didn’t want to come across as a complainer to Zack. She wasn’t sure why his opinion of her mattered, especially since she had no intention of going out with him again, but it did.

There were only a few people working in their row, but she did notice a man in the next aisle who kept staring at them.

“Do you know that guy over there?” Jada asked nodding toward the man in the tan Indiana Jones hat. “He looks as if he’s trying to get your attention.”

Zack sighed. “I’m trying to ignore him,” he said without looking over to see who she was referring to. “I agreed to autograph his football before I leave today. He’s probably making sure I don’t duck out without following through.”

“Wow, you can’t even hide out in a vegetable field without your fans finding you, huh?”

He turned to look at her, his eyes shielded by slick aviator sunglasses. The corner of his lip tilted up in a grin. “Yeah, no matter where I go they seem to find me. But this is the first time in a long time that a fan has spotted me out here. I guess not too many of them volunteer on farms.” Jada didn’t miss the sarcasm dripping from each word and assumed he didn’t like the attention.

“I take it this guy is not a regular volunteer.” She tossed a couple of cucumbers into the basket and slipped off her gloves and then her sunglasses. She dabbed at the sweat on her nose and under her eyes with the back of her wrist. Normally she didn’t walk out of the house without her makeup being applied perfectly, but she was pretty sure her efforts had been in vain considering how much she’d been wiping her face.

“His wife is a regular. I guess she told him that I volunteered here sometime.”

“So have you ever refused a person an autograph?”

“A couple of times.” He added a few cucumbers to one basket that was overflowing, and dropped the rest into hers. “I think there are appropriate times and places for autographs. I don’t like it when someone interrupts me while I’m on a date or eating, to ask for an autograph. If I’m just hanging out with the guys at a bar or something like that, then it’s not as big of a deal.”

Personally, Jada enjoyed attention but had a feeling the type of attention he drew would get old real quick.

“Here, let me swap out your full basket for this empty one. I’m going to start taking these containers to the drop off spot. I’ll be right back.” He removed his sunglasses and let them hang from his neck.

“Okay.” Jada stood but before she could say anything else, she staggered to the side, her head feeling a little loopy.

“Whoa.” Zack dropped the basket and caught her by the arm before she toppled over. “You okay?”

Blinking rapidly, Jada shook her head hoping to clear up the blurriness. She leaned into Zack.

“What’s wrong?” He lifted her chin with his finger, forcing her to look at him. The concern she saw in those big baby-blues made her heart flip. She didn’t know what was more attractive, his gorgeous eyes or those dimples he flashed every so often, making her knees weak. But right now he wasn’t smiling.

Jada inhaled and then slowly released the breath. “That was weird, but I’m fine. I think I just stood up too fast.”

“Nah, I think it’s more than that.” Zack wrapped his arm around her waist. “We’ve been at this a few hours. I think we should take a break so you can get something to drink
and
something to eat. The little water you had almost an hour ago isn’t enough to keep you hydrated out here.”

“Zack, I told you, I’m fine.” She pulled away, still feeling a little light-headed, but sure, she could stand on her own. “I want to fill up a few more baskets before I stop. You said your goal was to fill at least ten of them before lunch, and I plan to do the same.”

“No. We’re stopping now.” He placed his hand on her elbow prepared to guide her out of the field, but she yanked her arm from his grasp.

Jada had to keep herself from giving him one of her signature neck rolls. Instead, she put her hands on her hips and looked at him pointedly. She wasn’t used to anyone saying no to her and she sure as hell didn’t like anyone telling her what to do.

“I’m a grown woman. I’ll let you know when I need a break.”

“Jada.” He sighed in exasperation. He removed his cap and swiped at the perspiration on his forehead. “I’m not trying to boss you around. It’s hot out here, and I’m just looking out for you, especially since you haven’t eaten anything.”

“Would you just go? The sooner you take those baskets and come back with empty ones, the sooner we can get done.”

He still didn’t seem convinced, but Jada ignored him. It wasn’t until she heard him leave did she look up. Despite still feeling a little lightheaded, she couldn’t help but admire his nice butt.

Whew, that is one fine man
.

She smiled and shook her head, immediately regretting the sudden move when she felt her body waver again.

“Okay Jada, get it together.”

She lowered herself and knelt on her hands and knees. Closing her eyes, she breathed in slowly, then exhaled. There had been plenty of times she had gone longer than a few hours without food and water, never having a problem. The only difference she could think of is that she was outside in the hot sun, but still…

Maybe Zack’s right. Maybe it is time to take a break
.

She’d take a couple of minutes to get herself together before heading to the main building for some water. She just hoped Zack wasn’t one of those guys who said, “I told you so.” Normally she knew her body, but of course, it would betray her now that she was out with a hot guy.

A few minutes passed and she felt a little steadier. She sat back and removed her gloves, then her sunglasses. The only time she hung outside when it was that hot was if she were working. Yet she’d not only let the blue-eyed hottie talk her into working outdoors, but she’d also allowed him to convince her to pick vegetables. She smiled to herself. Her cousins were never going to believe she’d done some gardening.

Feeling a little better, she stood slowly, but a bout of dizziness gripped her.
Oh God
. She staggered. Panic lodged in her throat as her heart rate spiked. Blinking her eyes several times, she couldn’t fight the blurriness. Her body teetered left, then right. There was nothing to grab. Everything around her spun in circles.