Sweet Tooth (Little Cakes, #11)(11)

“Oh! You don’t.” Elizabeth agreed, pinching her nose closed as he got within scent distance.

“If you can put up with me, I’ll totally ignore your scent. We’ll take showers when we get to the farm. I have two bathrooms and lots of hot water.”

“Your poor truck,” Elizabeth said, looking at the big delivery truck with its huge windows.

“She’ll be fine. We’ll let the air waft through and whisk away our smelliness.” Tom stalked forward despite her attempts to keep him at arm’s length and wrapped his arms around her. He didn’t mean to test her but gardening was earthy, physical labor. If she couldn’t handle being close to him after he’d worked in the field and out on deliveries, Elizabeth wouldn’t be happy married to him.

“Damn!” she whispered against his lips as Tom captured her mouth.

He loved her response to his kisses. Whether she knew it or it was a subconscious motion, Elizabeth always snuggled a bit closer to his chest when he wrapped his arms around her. Almost as if she wanted to be part of him.

That thought prompted Tom to start a countdown from one hundred. He angled his pelvis slightly away as he felt himself responding to the allure of her body even with the sauerkraut perfume. Lifting his mouth, he stepped back to usher her to the truck.

“Let’s get you and Hortense secure.”

“I could follow you.”

“I’d rather have you with me so we can spend more time together. I promise I’ll bring you back whenever you’re ready.”

She looked tired. There were some fine lines around her eyes and mouth. He’d seen a lot of restaurant owners struggle to make their businesses succeed in a packed market.

“Come on, Bunny. I’ll promise you four things: a shower, a set of oversized clothes to borrow, a delicious dinner, and some fun on the farm.”

“And kisses?” she asked boldly and then blushed, enchanting him.

“Five things it is. Come on, Little girl.”

Three minutes down the road, she fell asleep. He loved the small snore that escaped from her lips as she sprawled over the seat. Still tethered in place, he knew she was safe. When she reached a hand his way, Tom captured it and held her fingers. Instantly she settled a bit deeper into sleep.

Elizabeth didn’t wake up until the truck rattled over the cattle guard that detoured the livestock from moseying off the farm if the gate was left open. “Are we here? I’m so sorry. I think I fell asleep,” she said, hurriedly scrambling to sit more decorously.

“You did. You needed a nap.”

“I don’t nap,” she said, pooh-poohing that idea.

Tom let it go. He learned more about her every day. She’d have trouble letting him make decisions for her.

“Do you have a hot tub?” she asked, leaning forward as much as the seatbelt would allow.

“Any man who moves crates of carrots around for a living needs a hot tub. Want to try it?”

“I don’t have a suit,” she bemoaned. “Maybe next time?”

“It’s a date. Number three,” he chimed in as he pulled the truck into the driveway.

“Is that your regular, drive-around car?” she asked, pointing at the dark purple Challenger sitting in the breezeway.

“It is. I don’t get to drive it as much as I’d like,” he confessed.

“Date four,” she crowed and laughed.

“Just keep adding them on, Bunny. I’ll take all the time with you I can get. Come on. Let’s go inside and destinkify ourselves.”

“Destinkify,” she repeated with a laugh as she followed him toward the house. She stopped after a moment though, and when he turned toward her, he found her scanning the area. “It’s so pretty here.”

He paused with her. “It really is. Sometimes I’m so desensitized I forget to appreciate it.”

She took a deep breath. “Does the rest of your family live here too?”

“Not in this house. I live here alone. But yes. My parents still live in the main house. It’s to the west of us.” He pointed that direction. “My next two siblings also have homes on the land. The youngest two still live with Mom and Dad.”

She tipped her head back and looked at him. “Will I meet them?” she asked timidly.

He reached for her cheek and stroked it. “Eventually. After all, I’m planning to keep you.” He grinned, hoping she didn’t mind how forward and presumptuous he was feeling. “I’m not ready to share you with my parents and my rambunctious siblings yet.”

“Okay.” If he wasn’t mistaken, she seemed to relax a bit at that revelation. He couldn’t blame her. They hadn’t known each other long. It was a bit soon to meet his family, especially since he knew it would take some long chats to establish how the two of them would present themselves in front of other people.

Tom wasn’t worried about his parents or any of his siblings being judgmental about his lifestyle choice. He was pretty sure behind closed doors his parents also had some type of Dom/sub relationship. He knew his brothers were both dominant men. He wasn’t sure about his sisters, but he was certain they would accept any woman Tom fell in love with.

That didn’t mean it would be easy, especially for Elizabeth. He needed to be mindful of her feelings, and the two of them would have to work together to decide how they would interact as a couple with his family.