Free Her Heart's Desire (Sunflower Series Book 1) by Linda Joyce Page B

at you until you’re
bloody. There’ll be nowhere you can hide—until you put your butt
back in that sports car you bought and leave. And you of all people
know how dear my corn crop is to me.”
    “What?” he demanded. Trying to talk with her
when her emotions whirled like a top was worse than a sailor trying
to find dry land in the fog without a lighthouse to illuminate the
way. He took a gulp of whiskey, ruining the pleasure of a fine
sipping bourbon.
    “You! You’re blackmailing Lucas!”
    Craig drew back.
    “Are you crazy? I know today has been
difficult, which is why I wanted to check in with you, but to
accuse me of...of doing that, to Lucas of all people! I going to
call 9-1-1 and tell them a crazy person has carried off my sister.”
He peered closely at her. “Or are you some sort of clone?”
    She leaned forward and swatted at him. He
dropped the crystal glass. One of their mother’s favorites. Amelia
rose from the chaise so fast, she dumped Jack on the deck. He
yelped, but scrambled, scratching the wood with his nails, and
scampered away.
    “Did it break?” she asked, her voice warbling
as she searched the deck in the dark on her hands and knees.
    He shook his head. “No.” He scooped up the
crystal glass. “All in one piece.” Setting the glass on the deck
beside the foot of his chair, he asked, “But are you?”
    “I know you and Lucas have concocted some
plot concerning me,” she snapped, standing against the deck
railing.
    “There’s no plot.” Had she figured out about
Karl and the surprise birthday party? Could Karl be worthless with
a secret?
    “It was clear today with Lucas. The minute
Karl walked up, Lucas said he needed me to find a carving knife. He
knows darn good and well where that knife is kept. And it all makes
sense”—she pointed her finger at his nose—“you’re the reason why a
man only asks me out for one or two dates. Lucas would never stoop
so low to interfere in my love life without prompting from
you.”
    “Is Lucas trying to pin something on me?”
Craig asked.
    “Of course not, he’s too loyal for that. He’d
fall on his sword for you.”
    “Interesting,” Craig muttered. Did Lucas’s
feelings for Amelia run deeper than he let on? His interest in
Amelia couldn’t have turned...romantic? He groaned.
    “Aha!” Amelia snapped her fingers.
    “What?”
    “That groan is as good as a confession. When
I asked Karl out, Lucas happened to be there. His exact words were,
‘Craig isn’t going to like this.’ You’re purposely dissuading men
from dating me. Lucas is doing your dirty work. You’re a...a,” she
sputtered. “I can’t even say what I think you are. Mother would
turn in her grave. Dad would find a way to wash my mouth out. But
know this, Craig Britton. I’m staying on the farm, and I’m going to
date whomever I like.”
    Craig held up his hands in surrender. “Okay.
I get it. At least about the dating part. However, like it or not,
if the crop and your painting don’t put you in the black, you’ll be
off the farm before Christmas. Sorry, Amelia, but it’s a business
decision. Nothing personal. I won’t let you take me down over your
silly sentiment.” Let her stew on that. If it took tough love to
make her see reason, then he’d dish it out.
    “You’re worse than the bank that stole the
Dwyer’s farm.”
    “A bank didn’t steal it...” Craig
stood. The conversation turned in a direction he hadn’t wanted to
go. Given the cost of Amelia’s studio in the city—he paid the rent
monthly—plus contributions to farm expenses, the business decisions
had to be made rationally.
    “Don’t get all technical with me. The end
result is the same.” She sneered. His younger sister, the woman who
had adored and looked up to him, acted as though he were the same
as a bug on a pile of cow dung.
    “Let’s face facts. You’ve made it this year
only because of the sales from the stuff Mother stashed in the
barn. Once that’s gone, that