Page 14 of Good Directions

“That one wasn’t as good. It was very clearly spam.”

I lift a shoulder, agreeing. The peach was perfect—especially since Willa had tricked him into attending the Peach on the Beach festival in Candy Cane Key a couple of months before that. Then again, attending that event is how he met his now fiancée, Tizzy, so that worked out in the end.

“Here we are, Sawyer Brown. Running a little late, have to pick up my car from mechanic in town. Be there ASAP.”

My stomach grumbles in response, wanting to get in on the conversation. I look away, trying to pretend like my internal organs aren’t talking on their own, but my best friend gives me a look that lets me know I’m busted. Big time.

“Think we got time to hit up Dolly’s then?” I try, owning up to it.

Cary doesn’t have time to answer, because the lab door opens, a soft knock accompanying it. We don’t get a lot of company out in this lab. Every now and again a member of our field crew, my production manager, Alex Hernandez, or his wife, Marisela, who is our temporary employee coordinator, if they really need something. None of them would knock, however.

“Dr. Adler?” a polite female voice calls, making us both turn toward the door.

And my heart stops.

Walking toward me, as if in slow motion, is an angel, with chestnut hair pulled back into a twist, a single wild piece next to her temple trying to escape, darkly rimmed deep brown eyes you want to get lost in, and a perfectly pink set of lips.

The woman from the fruit stand.

Her black dress pants look like they were tailor-made for her, and her blouse is the color of a perfect Georgia summer sky. My mind erases itself, the string of ones and zeros abruptly ending as my system short-circuits. Like someone knocked over a can of soda onto a keyboard, sparks shooting out of it as it ignites. If I thought she was adorable in a Roll Tide T-shirt, then this look is more than enough to push me over an edge.

An edge I very much want to take her over with me.

Once I find out exactly what I did to deserve her walking into my lab.

“That’s me,” Cary greets, squeezing past me. I’m glad he’s fully functioning, because I’m not. Not even close. “How can I help?”

“I’m Sawyer Brown. It’s great to finally meet you.”

“Hello!” He sticks out his hand, shaking hers. “Welcome to Hayes!”

Dr. Sawyer Brown is a woman.

Holy shit…

“This is Anton.”

I jerk back to life at the sound of my name, my heart still pounding like I just finished running a marathon. A woman. Sawyer Brown is a woman. Was I supposed to know that?

“It’s nice to meet you, Dr. Brown.”

“Sawyer, please,” she says, still as straight-faced as when she walked in, taking my hand. She stops mid-shake, her eyes going wide, the same realization hitting her.

“Thank God for good directions, huh?”

I chuckle lightly, waiting for her to laugh back, but she doesn’t. Her deadpan look remains plastered in place, unamused clearly the name of the game.

Right…

“So, you’re the soil expert?” I start again, hoping to find a different footing.

“I am. And with my help we’ll be able to figure out exactly where you’ve gone wrong.”

“I think my first mistake was standing Mother Nature up on prom night. She just hasn’t been able to forgive ever since.”

“What?”

She spits out the single-word question like it tastes bad. As if it’s going to taint every other word she may utter today. The same way my oldest brother, Gus, does right before he’s launching into telling us all how to live our lives.