Free Ten Acres and Twins by Kaitlyn Rice

she should never allow herself to take walks with Jack Kimball.
    Even if he proved to be the perfect roommate. Even if he was polite, gentlemanly and generous. He was leaving. In one year. And he intended to take Wyatt with him.
    Which made him the enemy.
    She did everything she could to ignore him as they started across the farmyard together. She tried to conjure up the plain and waspish country woman that should be a powerful bachelor repellant, but the image eluded her in the moist August heat.
    As they walked along the narrow, wooded path that led into the orchard, the shadows seemed too enchanted, the air too heavy.
    Many of the fruit trees had been harvested over the past few months, but a few late peaches and early apples were ripe, making the air smell divine.
    The perfection of the moment and the charm of the man worked together to cause her guard to fall. She even allowed her heart to open up, just a little. Just enough.
    â€œHow did your family meet Mr. Epelstein?” Jack asked as they made their way through the first grove of trees.
    Abby pulled a leaf sample from a young peach tree and leaned down to inspect its trunk. “Through Mom and Dad’s flower shop, I guess,” she said. “He came around on Saturdays when Paige and I were helping out. Often, he’d bring a basket of fruit to exchange for a bouquet for his wife.”
    â€œThat must be why you and your sister became gardeners—you spent your childhood in a flower shop,” Jack said from over her shoulder.
    Reaching up to pull a peach from a branch, she began to examine it carefully. She started walking again as she putthe fruit to her nose to sniff. “I’m sure that was it,” she said. “When I started college, I flirted with the idea of studying business. It didn’t last long, though. I wound up with a degree in horticulture.”
    Jack put his hand on her shoulder, stopping her momentarily. Confusion showed clearly on his face. “But you were already divorced when we met four years ago. When did you have time to finish college?”
    Abby started to walk again, ignoring the pang of regret when his hand fell away. “I was twenty-two when Paige got married, and I’d been out of college a year. Tim and I met, married and divorced during my senior year.”
    â€œA whirlwind marriage, huh?” Jack said with a chuckle.
    â€œGuess you could call it that,” Abby said, thankful for his flippancy. She really didn’t want to go into the details of her single tottery attempt at a lasting relationship.
    â€œIf you have a degree in horticulture, why did you insist that Paige and Brian buy the farm?” he asked. “Wouldn’t you have been the better choice?”
    The complete change of subject made her sense of relief even stronger. “They needed something,” she answered, remembering how glad she had been to see her sister get this farm. “I saw signs of trouble in their marriage, and I wanted to help.”
    â€œWhy? They married too young, just as you did. You were divorced, and you survived. Why not just let it go?”
    â€œMy marriage is another story,” Abby said. “I don’t think Tim ever loved me. Brian and Paige just didn’t know how to work out the kinks. Their situation was worlds apart from mine.”
    â€œIf he didn’t love you, why did he marry you?” Jack asked, putting his hand on her shoulder to stop her again.
    â€œI refused to move in with him,” she said, and then wished she hadn’t. But Jack was a sophisticated man—he would understand the difference between moving in with a lover andmoving in with an acquaintance for practical purposes. Surely he would.
    One corner of his mouth lifted in a wry, acknowledging smile, but he stayed on the subject. “Still, marriage is a huge commitment.”
    â€œAnd one Tim took very lightly,” she replied, scowling down at the peach. The pain of her