Raspberries and Vinegar (A Farm Fresh Romance Book 1) (33 page)

She reached up and traced the short hair along his jaw.

He caught her finger between his lips.

“Yes, Zach. I’ll marry you.”

***

The answer had taken longer than Zach had hoped, but her passionate response against his mouth wiped away any doubts. For a long moment he reveled in the knowledge that she loved him back, that their lives would be twined together forever.

She pulled away, breaking the kiss with a startled gasp.

“What is it?” He brushed the hair from her forehead with one hand and cradled her against his chest with the other.

“My flight. D-Doc Taubin must be waiting.”

“Taubin? What has he got to do with anything?” But the answer rushed in. The fact that his boss knew Jo was leaving. That today was his hip checkup in Spokane.

“He’s giving me a ride.” Jo strained to see her watch.

“Let me call him and tell him you’re not going. Cancel your flight, Jo. Don’t leave me. Not now, when we’re just beginning to plan for our life.”

“But when do you start your new job?”

Zach pulled his eyebrows together in a frown. “My new job?” He’d thought to surprise her with it, but she already knew. “Did Doc Taubin tell you?”

Her forehead furrowed. “Why would he?”

Okay, he was officially confused. “Because he’s my boss?”

Jo shook her head as though trying to clear the cobwebs. “But when do you start the
new
position? You told Mr. Graysen it was your dream.”

It still took him a second. “With Albert Warren at East Spokane?”

She nodded, biting her lip.

Zach grabbed Jo around the waist and twirled her around. “You thought I was asking you to move to the city with me?”

“Yes?” What else was she supposed to think? It was all he’d ever talked about. The only dream he had.

“Oh, Jo!” He kissed her firmly, passionately. “Thank you!”

Her lips trembled, but she smiled, blinking back tears.

Zach set her down and took her face between his hands. “Listen to me. Yes, Albert Warren offered me a job. A good job. But I turned him down—”

She gasped, eyes wide.

“—because Wally Taubin offered me a better one. Right here in Galena Landing. I’m not asking you to leave, Jo. I want us to stay. Right here.”

She closed her eyes, and he couldn’t resist teasing her eyelids with his lips. “My parents are leaving for Romania on September first. What do you say to a late August wedding? Then we can live in their house while they’re gone. It will give us time to find a place of our own. Or maybe build?”

“Really?” Her eyes flew open at that. Those sparkling brown orbs he’d grown to love.

“Really.” He grinned. “So you see, there’s no time for you to go visiting anyone in California. We’ve only got two months to put a wedding together. Are you up for it?”

Jo let out a long breath and offered him a tremulous smile. “I am
so
up for that.”

“Let me call Wally and cancel your ride.” Zach dug his cell phone out of his pocket. “And then, can we do some more kissing?”

Chapter 35

The wedding rehearsal was over, and Jo had changed back into her comfy clothes. This was the last night she’d spend in the dumpy old trailer. In a couple of months her friends would move into the straw bale house, but not her. Tomorrow she’d be at a fancy hotel in Spokane, then off on a two-week honeymoon. With Zach. Every day from then on she’d wake up beside the love of her life. Bliss.

Holding a glass of raspberry vinegar, Jo leaned into the tire swing and dangled her feet against the ground. She’d trade this in for the porch swing on the veranda next door. Not a bad swap, all things considered. Like Zach. She eyed the veggie-patterned quilt that Rosemary had given her for a shower gift, now spread out on the picnic table. Not only was she getting the husband of her dreams, but the coolest in-laws on the planet.

Her mom, dressed in a tan suit, settled on the picnic bench. “I want you to know I’m very proud of you, Josephine.”

Whoa. Words Jo never expected out of her mother. “Really? How come?”

“For sticking to what you believe.” Her mom ran her fingers along the quilt’s hand stitching. “I’m sorry you didn’t come back home after all. But, well, you have a very nice young man. Brad and I wish you both the best.”

Jo reached for her mother. When was the last time she’d wanted to hug her? “Thanks. And thanks for the trip. To visit Hawaii for their green living expo is more than I dreamed of.”

“About that.” Her mother’s brown leather shoe stroked across the lawn. “That’s not really from Brad and me. No more than your college fees were.”

Jo frowned. “I don’t understand.”

“Your grandparents.” Her mom bit her lip. “When I went back for their funeral and to handle their affairs, I listed the farmland with a real estate broker. It was snapped up by a golf course development. Then there was the house insurance money. I’ve been spending the proceeds on you.”

“I-I don’t know what to say.” The thought of her childhood places manicured into greens and sand traps was just absurd. But she had to let it go. Her life was full here. She was rich in what mattered most. “Thank you.”
And thank you, Grandma and Grandpa.

“The wedding, though — that’s Brad. He insisted. I’d always thought we’d do more for my only daughter’s special day. But you refused the prestigious guest list—”

“No need for all Brad’s business contacts to come clear out to Idaho, Mom. I don’t know them.”

“—and the catered reception.”

The church had kicked in, moving the date of the locally grown potluck forward to celebrate the wedding.

“But the cake is awesome,” Jo pointed out. It had come from the finest caterer in Spokane. Slathered in real butter cream frosting, of course, and covered with fondant vegetables. The bride and groom on the topper wore overalls and floppy straw hats, and a Border collie leaned against the bride’s leg.

Her mother sighed. “I’ll just stop by and see if Rosemary needs help with anything before we go back to the hotel. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Zach ambled up the driveway, Domino at his side. The pup broke away and ran to Jo.

Jo’s mom edged away from him. “I can’t believe you’re having a... a flower
dog
. Whoever heard of such a thing?”

Jo slid out of the tire swing and knelt by Domino’s side. “It’s all his fault we got together, isn’t it, you big puppy?” She grinned up at her mom. “He’ll look great with a floral wreath around his neck.”

“What if he runs off with the rings?”

Zach came closer. “He won’t do that, Denise. No need to worry.”

“It’s a mother’s prerogative to think of everything.” Mom sniffed. “Is that friend of yours going to hold up for the day?”

“Gabe?” Zach took a deep breath. “Yeah, he’ll be okay.”

Jo caught Zach’s gaze. Gabe was undoubtedly still hurting, but who could blame him? He’d insisted on standing up for Zach, though. Told them both that’s what friends were for.

Mom took a few steps toward the rental car, pointy heels sinking into the ground with every step. “Now don’t you keep her too long, Zachary. You hear? She needs a good night’s rest for tomorrow. It’s a big day.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Zach winked. “I remember.”

Brad, in the driver’s seat, lifted a hand to acknowledge Jo.

She waved back and watched the Lexus purr out of the driveway.

Zach swept her up in his arms and gave her a whirl. “Domino knows better than to run off with the family heirlooms, anyway. Grandma’s happy you have her set, Jo. Even if she thought I was John.”

“She’s a sweetheart.” Jo twisted the old-fashioned engagement ring on the third finger of her left hand. She kissed the tip of Zach’s nose. He’d had the set sized to fit her. “Wearing her diamond makes me happy.”

He wrinkled his nose and pulled back. “Of course. Rings don’t grow in gardens. We have to recycle where we can.”

The End

Recipe for Raspberry Vinegar

A refreshing summer drink with a tingle like a carbonated punch.

To make your own Raspberry Vinegar Concentrate:

6 cups fresh or frozen raspberries

1 cup white vinegar

Pour vinegar over the berries, cover, and let brine for 2-3 days at room temperature. Strain out juice and discard the pulp. Measure the juice and add an equal amount sugar or honey, heating to dissolve.

This will make about 1 quart concentrate. Pour a small amount in the bottom of a glass and fill with water. You’ll soon see what strength you enjoy! The quart of concentrate will make about 8 gallons of beverage but stores perfectly fine in a covered jar in the fridge for a long time.

If you’re making a mega-batch (I often do 4-5 gallons of frozen berries at a time), you can preserve the concentrate by hot water bath canning quart jars for 15 minutes.

Enjoy a taste of summer year ’round!

Thank You!

Thank you for reading
Raspberries and Vinegar
: A Farm Fresh Romance
. I hope you enjoyed it!

Reviews help other readers find books they’ll love. As an author, I very much appreciate every review my books receive, whatever opinions you’d like to share at any online retailer or reader review site.
Please click here to post a review on Amazon
.

If you’d like to be notified when my next book releases, I invite you to sign up for my
email list
. As a bonus for my subscribers, I’ve written
Peppermint Kisses
, a short romantic story that takes place at 2.5 in my Farm Fresh Romance series. You won’t find this story anywhere else, so check it out here:
Peppermint Kisses
.

If you'd like to read the first chapter of
Wild Mint Tea
, it's next in the ebook.

By the way, if you’re familiar with Idaho, you’ll know Galena Landing and Wynnton don’t exist. In fact, I took the liberty of redrawing the state’s map north of Coeur d’Alene. I hope you adjusted to the new topography.

1.
Kindle Download Link for
Raspberries and Vinegar.
(Jo and Zach’s story)

2.
Kindle Purchase Link for
Wild Mint Tea.
(Claire and Noel’s story)

3.
Kindle Purchase Link for
Sweetened with Honey
.
(Sierra and Gabe’s story)

4.
Kindle Purchase Link for
Dandelions for Dinner
. (Allison and Brent’s story)

5.
Kindle Purchase Link for
Plum Upside Down
. (Chelsea and Keanan’s story)

6.
Berry on Top
(early 2016)

Chapter 1

“Do I have anything stuck in my teeth?” Claire Halford twisted in the VW’s passenger seat and bared her teeth at her friend.

Sierra Riehl grimaced and plugged her nose. “The worst offender is kale, and we haven’t had it all week. Are you telling me you haven’t brushed that long?” She fluttered her fingers in front of her face.

To wave away Claire’s bad breath? “Of course I brushed.” But in all the unaccustomed staring in the mirror that morning, had she truly examined her teeth? She’d taken a dollop of mousse to her short hair and dug makeup nearing its expiration date from the back of her drawer. Once she wouldn’t have left the house without either, but the rototiller didn’t care.

She’d even allowed Sierra to slather her nails with polish, but only to cover up the fact she hadn’t been able to scrub all the garden dirt from underneath them.

Claire stared at the small-town hotel at the end of the parking lot. Poor thing had seen better days, probably before she’d been born. Somewhere in there a decrepit old dude had set up a temporary office to hire a chef. Well, maybe he was only middle-aged. Forestry contractors couldn’t be too ancient and still hike the nearby mountains every day. Could they?

She puffed out her breath and smoothed her gray slacks. Even for an interview she couldn’t do a skirt and heels.

“Look, you’re totally going to rock this. Relax. How bad can it be? You’re applying to cook for a reforestation crew. This is not some swanky restaurant on the pier.”

“But I need this job. There isn’t another 5-star a block down the waterfront to try next.” Though Michel’s invitation to operate his newest Seattle restaurant was a temptation. No, it wasn’t. Working with him had been inspiring and challenging. Living on Puget Sound had been great, but not as a place to put down roots. Not like Green Acres, at least if she could pay her portion of the mortgage.

“Don’t worry. We’ll manage without it.”

Claire stiffened and checked her watch. Five minutes to show time. “Easy for you to say.”

Sierra just spent three weeks in Mexico with her parents and siblings, for crying out loud. Must be nice to have enough money in the bank to lounge around in the sun, even though Claire had no desire to go anywhere on vacation. This was home. And home was enough.

“Seriously. It’s a nice idea, but cooking for thirty people day in and day out for three months will take a lot of time and energy, and we’ve just started getting word out that Green Acres is a destination worth coming to.”