Before the Rain Read Free

asking for directions, he had swung open his door and climbed down.
    “You lost, love?” He tapped on her window. “Hey, Miss America, I asked if you were lost.”
    “Nuh-uh.” She shook her head, keeping her focus straight ahead and not daring to glance his way.
    “Love, open your window. Perhaps I can help.”
    She paused before winding her window down a little, but not enough for him to stick his hand in. Slowly turning to face him, she said, “Sir, I’m looking for….” She paused before even trying to announce the name of the farm. Instead, she decided to go with the English option. “Rose Farm.”
    He leaned against her car and smirked, his intense dark eyes gleaming. He peered from behind his mop of dark hair, his stare fierce. “What business do you have at Rose?”
    It must have been the fresh country air sparking her long-neglected desires back to life, because his rawness turned her on. Or perhaps it was the growl in his accent. A fleeting idea to invite him to her backseat hit like a bolt of lightening. But would they fit? Maybe if she straddled him. Darn it, not even a full day in Wales and she had already broken her sabbatical rule of no swooning over men. Okay, so she wasn’t exactly swooning, but she was thinking up positions to make sex in a public place in a tiny car doable. Kind of counted as the same thing, didn’t it?
    “Your business at Rose Farm, love?”
    Zoe pressed the power switch on the GPS over and over, determined not to stare at him. Though no matter how hard she tried, her gaze drifted to meet his. She stuttered, “Erm, never mind. I’m sure I can get this thing working again.”
    “I told you that ‘thing’ won’t help you out here.” He huffed and checked his watch.
    “Am I keeping you?” People still wear watches?
    “Yes, so let’s get you on your way. You best take Bramble Road.” He pointed down the dirt road.
    “That leads nowhere. Do I look dumb to you?”
    “Well, you’re stupid enough to drive the wrong way down a one-way road.”
    How rude. And how completely and utterly sex on legs. What the heck was it with this stranger who had her panties in a knot?
    “Yeah.” She dipped her gaze but realized she’d settled her sight line on his package straining his faded jeans, and she snapped her attention back to his face. “I’m totally lost. Could you be a little more helpful?”
    He snickered and shifted his weight, his eyes narrowing on her. “I can do helpful when I want to.”
    “And do you want to be?”
    He raised a shoulder in a sort of half-shrug. “Not particularly inspired right now. How about you ask me nicely?”
    Really? Ugh. All she had found attractive about him just dived out the window. “Fine. Would you please direct me to Rose Farm?” she asked with a forced smile.
    “Beyond those trees, you’ll find Rose Cottage and Rose Farm. Just half a mile down there.”
    To thank the man grated on her nerves, but as her mom had brought her up to be polite she did as required. “Thank you, sir.”
    “Sir?” He shook his head. “Get on your way now. Hate to see you get on Betty’s bad side, and you will if you mess with her allotted time for baking. She has a set schedule and hates anyone who throws it off. You need the first two-story house as you pull in. Red door. Black Jeep in the driveway. Can’t miss it, Miss America.”
    “Betty?”
    “You’re renting out Rose Cottage for the summer, right? If so, you’ll need to see Betty Mostyn to get the keys. And as it goes, she doesn’t take kindly to being called dumb or an ass so be nice.”
    “Ms. Mostyn? Yes, that’s who I need. I need Betty.”
    “You need Betty?” He shot her a studious glance then diverted his line of sight to the trash on the floor and raised a brow. “She’s a clean freak. Besides, I believe she’s already dating someone.”
    Heat raced to Zoe’s cheeks. She wasn’t sure what embarrassed her more, the double entendre or the mess in her car.
    “I’m just