Fever Dream (Emerald Lake, #1)(34)

She nods, looking pleased. And I nod back, impressed with her directness.

Trying to ignore the way the camera moved closer during that last interaction, I turn searching for the next woman who—unfortunately for me—happens to be Handsy Evelyn.

With a grimace that I hope isn’t too obvious, I hold out a hand in offering. “Evelyn?”

“Of course,” she replies with a saucy wink, as if me offering to help her scoop shit is akin to getting down on one knee.

The energy on set shifts, and the other women look—no, glare—more closely. I can’t help but notice the odd shake of the head as though I’ve let them down by selecting her.

Whatever animosity is building in the bunkhouse is abundantly clear, but I skirt the tension by pretending not to notice. I assume the position with her and go through the same steps. Scoop, shake, flip.

But Evelyn doesn’t give a fuck about scooping shit. She’s too focused on arching her back and rubbing her ass against my dick. It’s something I’d usually be into, but in this setting, it just feels gross.

Especially when I hear Dick Wad whispering, “Camera Two, zoom in on her ass. Yeah, right there. Fuck, that looks good.”

God, he’s so embarrassing.

When I finally step away and look over at him, his expression is totally smarmy—he might as well be rubbing his hands together like a fly on shit.

“Me next!” a woman who introduced herself—unforgettably—as Cookie exclaims.

Akira actually glances around herself like she’s living in some sort of alternate reality. “Ladies, seriously? If pretending you don’t know how a pitchfork works is impressive to a man he’s not worth impressing.”

And I can’t help myself, I laugh. Because she’s right.

Based on the way Teri purses her lips, I suspect she’s seen my reaction. And she doesn’t approve.

So I double down, forcing myself to smile in her direction before turning back to the women. I go through the rounds and give them all the charm I can muster. I help five of the ten women learn how to use a pitchfork as though it’s a special skill.

The experience makes me want to eliminate all five on the spot just for being annoying, but I know Richard would not approve of it. Especially considering he has such a massive boner for Evelyn.

When I finally break free of the final stall, I can’t help but think about Julia. There’s no way in hell she’d need me to show her how to hold a pitchfork. She’d sooner pick it up and beat me with it.

Without meaning to, my eyes find her through the crowd of crew members standing at the end of the barn alleyway. She’s still got that smirk from yesterday plastered on her lips.

We stare at each other for a couple of beats.

I watch as her eyes drop, meandering over my body and landing just below my belt where they stay. I actually look down to see if I’ve spilled something on my jeans. But there’s nothing at all, so I shake it off, refusing to be unnerved by a twenty-five-year-old who is related to my biggest and most obnoxious rival.

I’m here to get a job done. I’m here for my family. And what Julia Silva thinks of me is of little consequence. I force her out of my mind and try to focus on the women who I’m actually here for.

We feed horses. We drive the tractor and grade the driveway. Hell, we even water both the outdoor and indoor arena for Riley.

It’s as the women are wrapping the hose up in the indoor arena that Handsy Evelyn makes a show of wiping her mucky hands off on my T-shirt with a playful giggle.

Dick Wad shares his approval from the sidelines, but it only makes the other women dislike her more.

Still, by the time we wrap up, news of all the chores that were completed has made it to the family group chat. Since having to lay off staff to keep expenses down, it’s impossible not to notice that a lot of ground has been covered around the farm today.

Riley

Are you sure you can’t keep all ten? It would be awfully helpful.





Opa

Fuck no.





Evan

That’s about how many women it would take to hold his attention. A stable’s worth!





Parker

That’s only because he hasn’t met that one special person who can hold his attention all on her own.





Oma

LOL.





I smirk down at the screen. Specifically at Oma’s LOL, which she has recently learned means “laugh out loud,” not “lots of love.”

Emmett

Sorry, Riley, I eliminated all of them. Show’s over. So you are shit out of luck. And everyone else can stop talking about me like I’m not here, too.





Oma

We know you are here and we are sending

lots of love! LOL.





That forces a chuckle out of me as I shove my phone back into my pocket. And then my eyes seek out Julia among the crew.

Julia, who makes a point of staring back at me before looking at my crotch again with a knowing smirk tipping her lips.

I decide I’ve had enough of her mocking glances, so I give the crew a friendly wave before dropping my mask of a fake smile and marching over to Julia. I don’t meet her eyes as I move past, but my hand shoots out, gripping her wrist and dragging her along with me. Straight out of the indoor arena and into the adjoining barn.