Free Dare by Glenna Sinclair Page B

page here,” Sebastian said, taking me by my shoulder and turning me around to face him.
    “That’s the worst ‘I love you, too’ that I’ve ever heard in my entire life,” I scoffed. “We’re ‘on the same page?’ Really?”
    “We obviously have feelings for each other,” he said. “I’m here with you, aren’t I?”
    I shook my head. “You’re just making it worse, Sebastian. Digging yourself in deeper.”
    “Rachel, I’m being serious. We’re on the same page. We’re both passionate about your farm. About its mission. And we have passion for each other.”
    “And what?” I raised my chin, defiant, even as I shrank inside with nerves. “What does that mean? Want to be my boyfriend, or what?” The idea was ludicrous. We didn’t know each other. We only knew the basic facts about each other. He was the president and CEO of an organic agriculture company, and I was the daughter of a farmer. I cussed too much; he liked to drink; and somehow we both liked each other. Was that a basis for a relationship? I didn’t have anyone to ask, and I didn’t know what to think.
    “That and more,” he said, that easy grin spreading across his face.
    I narrowed my eyes, confused by him, by my own feelings raging inside of me. “You’d better not get down on one knee.”
    “Rachel, you have to help me convince your father to let me buy the farm from him,” Sebastian said, his eyes glowing with excitement.
    My stomach dropped out from underneath me. This had all been a sad ploy—all of it—the making out in his office, his showing up here at the farm, the sex right now, the confession of feelings for each other. None of it was genuine. It was all to steal my family’s farm. And I had walked right into it.

Chapter 7
     
    Sebastian looked at me, breathless with excitement and expectation at his business proposition—and probably still at the fact that we’d just hooked up on the dirt floor of my family farm’s barn. But all feelings I’d had or thought I had for him previously dried right up. He was only using me to get to Dad, to buy Dad’s farm right from underneath him. Didn’t he understand that this farm was the only thing that brought joy to Dad? Hadn’t Dad had enough disappointments in his life with my mother leaving? Couldn’t the old man be left to his own devices on the farm without uppity billionaires trying to buy the damn thing out from underneath him?
    “Explain to me, exactly, how you think this is going to work,” I said, fighting to keep my voice calm.
    If possible, Sebastian lit up even further. “Well, that’s easy. I’ve seen everything I needed to see in my visit today. You and your father take farming very seriously. This isn’t the biggest operation in the area, but I think it’s the most well-thought-out operation. You all know what you’re doing, and you’re right. You produce quality produce, though not necessarily quantity. That works in the organics market. With the idea that your harvests are limited, you create a perception of exclusivity. Most people won’t get a chance to taste your sweet corn because it has limited availability, but those who do get to taste it can attest to its flavor and quality. You can charge whatever you want, don’t you see? I can help make this farm more profitable.”
    The man knew what he was talking about, but that didn’t make me any less angry.
    “Do you think I’m an idiot?” I demanded.
    The question took Sebastian by surprise. “What…what do you mean? Are you angry?”
    “Hell, yes, I’m angry. You think you can just sweep in here and buy the farm? Dad’s farm? This would kill him.”
    “Not if we frame it together,” Sebastian said eagerly.
    “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
    “He’d listen to you. You’re his only daughter. He’d listen to reason.”
    I laughed incredulously. “And what reason is that? That some asshole just wants to come in and sweep the farm out from under him? You are