Guilty Pleasure by Michelle Freeman, Gayle Roberts Page B

no.
It’s not that. I… just… thought of something else. No, I’d be happy to have you
shearing here again next year. You’ve done a wonderful job.” She reached out,
touching his arm. “I just….”
    Jason took
one step closer, and she suddenly found herself in his arms, potato salad
forgotten. He brushed a strand of hair away from her cheek, looking down at
her.
    “Just
what?” His voice was low, smooth like honey. Ann looked up into his eyes, her
lips parted, breathing shallow but heart pounding rapidly.
    “I just… would
miss you, I guess… between now and then.” There, the words were out. Why do
I have such trouble saying what I mean?
    Jason’s
lips curved into a slow smile. “Why, I think I’d miss you too, ma’am.”
    “Jason!”
Ben’s voice carried through the open windows. Jason held Ann a moment longer
before letting her go, his eyes never leaving hers. She could feel the thud of
her heart, sure that Jason could feel it as well.
    “I’ll take
this.” He stepped away from her, grabbing the bowl of potato salad and heading
out the kitchen door, leaving Ann standing at the sink. She watched out the
window as he set the bowl on the table before turning to Ben.
    You’re
a foolish, crazy woman, Ann Franklin. You need to get a grip here.
    Ann took a
deep breath, heading out to the lawn beneath the trees, checking over the dishes
of food on the picnic table. Everyone had taken a plate and had started serving
themselves, sitting on lawn chairs or on the ground beneath the large trees.
She wandered through the groups, making sure everyone had what they needed.
    As she walked
behind the big oak tree, she overheard the end of the conversation between Ben
and Jason. Ben sounded insistent, and Jason appeared angry.
    “Sarah said
to call, Jason. She said this time it was important.”
    Jason was
shaking his head. “No, she made her decision, and that’s it. I know how much
you like her… but I can’t go back. Not after the things she’s said and done.
She just knows this is the end of the season, and she thinks she can get me to
come back… since I have nowhere else to go.”
    “She said
she loves you, Jason. Can’t you give her a second chance?”
    “She’s
lonely, not in love. She’s afraid of being alone, that’s all. And she’d never have
given me a second chance….”
    Ann
hesitated, not wanting to interrupt. She’d turned, taking a few steps back to
the house when she heard Jason’s voice behind her.
    “Ma’am,
just wanted to say again how much we appreciate your business, and the
hospitality you’ve extended. Thank you.”
    Ben was
standing next to Jason, nodding. She wasn’t sure if they realized she’d heard
their conversation.
    She met
Jason’s gaze, saw something clouding his green eyes. And she felt a small pang
of regret. For what? For something that was even anything? A touch in the
kitchen? An almost-kiss?
    She
shrugged. “My pleasure. It’s the least I can do, for the work you do for me.
Thanks for….” She caught Jason’s eye again. “Thanks for doing such a good job.”
She turned away, walking back toward the house, sudden surprising tears of loss
in her eyes.
    It was late
afternoon when Ben came to tell her they were finished for the day and that he
was leaving Jason behind to finish up tomorrow.
    “You’re my
last job, Ann. This is it. I’m officially retired.” Ben was smiling broadly,
but Ann caught a hint of sadness in his eyes. Impulsively she reached out,
hugging him. He was blushing when she let him go.
    “Well, if
I’d known I was going to get a hug from a pretty girl, I’d have told you every
year I was retiring.” Ben smiled, leaving her in the yard.
    She wondered
briefly where Jason was, but decided it was better to just let whatever
happened—or didn’t happen—in the kitchen go.  Just your over-active
imagination, Ann .
    She leaned
on the fence, watching Ben drive away in his old dusty pickup truck. The sheep
were in the field now,