Julian Hollis flashed his signature grin down at the frazzled woman in front of him and gently released her hand. “Hi. I’m new in town, well not new new,” He chuckled, the deep rumbling sound sending a jolt of electricity straight up Marit’s spine. “I’m sure you already knew, but my Grandfather, Walt Hollis passed away recently.”

  The sound of a familiar name jumpstarted the female and Julian was granted the first honest smile he had seen in years. None of that fake pretentious crap he was used to back in Las Vegas, but a real honest to God smile. It warmed his heart. “Oh yes. So sorry about your loss Mr. Hollis.”

  And thoughtful. Perhaps he had made the right move in leaving the big city behind and coming back to his roots. Well, the roots he had always clung to. In reality he didn’t really have a home with how often his mother was moving from man to man, but his grandfather had always provided him with stability. “Thank you, Mrs?” Because why would this woman be single. Surely someone had snatched up such a sweet thing.

  “It’s Ms. Pearce.” Marit smiled, having the urge to reach for that warm hand in greeting only to realize she had already done it. Good God girl pull it together, he’s way too good looking for you. Marit knew where her limits were, and she knew this man was way out of her league.

  It was pretty clear he wasn’t from around the county. Perfectly styled jet black hair with groomed side burns that tapered down into the perfect five o’clock shadow she knew was maintained. Julian was a tall drink of water too, well over six feet with a body that had been made in the gym, not on the farm. Marit was positive every muscle on his broad torso was perfectly defined by his tanned skin.

  Mercy, and with a smile like that, he was trouble. Thank god she couldn’t see his eyes or she had a feeling she’d be a puddle of female hormones covering the ground. Shaking off the momentary loss of sanity, the woman offered him her own smile. “Sorry, Marit is my first name. No need to be so formal. You’re practically family. Everyone loved Mr. Hollis, he was a kind man.”

  Something shifts on Julian’s features at the mention of his grandfather, that handsome smile fading away into a harsh frown. “Yeah…” His voice cracked lightly on the word, alerting Marit to the real pain that comes with loss. She had gone through it with her own Grandfather when she was fifteen. She had stopped being anyone’s baby that day, though her Uncles tried to make up for it, but it wasn’t the same. Her grandfather helped raise her and that kind of bond couldn’t be replaced.

  It left a hole in the soul that only time would ease, but never heal. Without thinking, Marit reached out and pulled Julian down into her arms for a gentle hug. “It’s ok.”

  Curling his arms around the female who had barely known him for a minute, something in her embrace gave him that small bit of peace he had been missing far longer than the time he had found out about his grandfather’s death. “I should’ve been here.” He murmured against her black plaid shoulder, clutching into the shirt like it was a lifeline.

  You cannot cry with this woman. She doesn’t know you. Man up dude. Pull yourself together. Julian chided himself, but Marit’s warmth and kindness beat down all of his walls and before he knew it the tears were coming in fast and hot. “It’s ok.” Her calm, alto whispered as she held him in a town he no longer knew. He had no one.

  Except this small town woman who offered her kindness without a second’s hesitation. How long had it been since he experienced this if ever? Honestly, the last person was his grandfather, but it had never come from a woman. Not even his wife or his mother.

  After a few minutes he finally got himself under control. Taking off his designer sunglasses, he wiped the back of his eyes with his hand and tried to work up a smile for the woman watching him worriedly. “Sorry about that.”

  “No. It’s ok. I lost my grandfather when I was a kid. It’s a hard loss.” Her words of understanding almost brought on a second round of tears, but Julian sucked them back.

  Holy Hannah those are the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. Marit was transfixed by the crystal clear blue ringed in red staring at her, and yet again she had to remind herself to breathe. You are way out of his league. Friend material at best. If she had met him where he came from he wouldn’t give her a second glance, but here they had a shot of being bar acquaintances.

  Either way they were neighbors. “So, this is embarassing.” He chuckled, running a hand through his thick black hair. “I really am sorry.”

  “No no. It’s fine.” Thinking back to their introductions she asked, “But I don’t think you were here to cry on my shoulder.”

  Julian laughed at her tease and shook his head. “No. I was wondering where the court house was. I just got my things unloaded at my grandfather’s house. The key was in the box like Judge Pearce…” Stopping, he recalled the female’s name who was with him and asked, “Are you related to the Judge?”

  Marit nodded. “Yeah. Daughter and disappointment.” She laughed wryly, already mentally prepared for the talks about college to begin. She had gone off and gotten a four year degree, but her mother wanted more. Preferably law school, but Marit didn’t have any desire for that whole mess.

  Julian’s face darkened, something in him feeling rather protective of this little woman who had been so kind to him. “I’m sure not. She has to be proud. You’re a very kind woman.”

  In her world, being kind was just your average run of the mill expectation, but Marit could tell in his world it was something to be guarded. She didn’t know that kind of world, and honestly despite the lack of adventure in her life, she didn’t want to know either. “Well thank you.”

  Julian was pleased when she accepted his compliment. He liked the little blush that colored her plump cheeks and the way her hazel eyes lit up. It was honest. “You’re most welcome.” He smiled, lost in her bashful countenance.

  Women, where he came from, weren’t bashful unless you paid for it. They knew what they wanted and they took it when and how they wanted. When he was younger he had admired that about his wife, but as he grew older, her determination morphed into petty jealousy and the never ending game of keeping up with everyone in their circle.

  Marit was a breath of fresh air for him and solidified in his mind even further that he was making the right choice to move back to his grandfather's and start fresh. “Oh.” Her small shout of discovery startled the dark haired man, but when she smiled so did he. “This means we’re neighbors.”

  “We are?” There wasn’t another house for a few miles.

  Marit nodded. “Yeah. We’re about a quarter mile down the road from you. When you turn onto our road, your property are the first four fields, with the house in the center of the property, and then our property starts. We own the next eight fields. Then come my Uncles who own the land down the road from me, and then they own lands on the two streets south of us and three streets north of us.”

  “Wow. A lot of farming in your family.”

  “YEah. Will you be farming?” Marit asked, hoping she wasn’t being too nosey.

  Julian shook his head and sighed. “I don’t know the first thing.”

  “Well you can expect my Uncles to come calling for your land then.” Tucking a wayward strand of dark blond behind her ear, Marit suddenly remembered that she was supposed to be working. “Oh shit… oh sorry!”

  Julian merely smiled and shook his head. “No apology needed. I’m sure you need to get back to work.”

  She nodded. “I do. But to get to the courthouse, just head down the main highway and it’ll take you into town. There’ll be a sign for the court house, just follow them and you’ll show right up. Mom’s office is up the stairs and at the end of the first hallway on your right.”

  “Thank you Marit.” Her name rolled off his tongue with ease, firing that blush back up in her cheeks that sent his heart to beating. Yeah, he was making the right choice.

  “No problem Mr. Hollis.”

  “Julian. Please. We’re neighbors, I think it’s only appropriate.” He winked, climbing up into his brand new truck before pulling out and heading the way she told him.

  Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

  Marit watched the truck disappear and had the distinct feeling that the moment she was off work Andrea would be waiting for her at home to know what happened between her and Julian. Good God there were days she was positive that girl had some sort of gossip radar that covered the whole county.

  ***

  Signing the papers didn’t take him long and once he stopped off at the grocery store and grabbed a few things from the house, he headed back out only to find his entire front yard was filled with cars and a variety of women.

  “There he is!” An elderly woman shouted out as he stepped down from his truck and grabbed the brown paper bag out of the passenger seat. Each one of the women were dressed in their sunday finest with their hands full of ancient casserole dishes.

  Julian remembered this greeting from the first time he had come to stay with his grandfather and the women in town worried he would only be fed canned beans and microwave meals. “Hello ladies.”

  “Hi there.” They all called out in unison, some giving him that motherly smile he had wanted all his life while others were set to flirt with him. It’s gonna be a long afternoon.

  Putting on his best smile, he put his customer service skills to the test and opened the door to admit the close to thirty females crowding his porch. “Won’t you all come in? I apologize I don’t have much to offer you.”

  “Now that’s all right darling.” A little white haired lady, probably in her early 70’s, told him with a gentle pat to his forearm. “Mildred has brought you over some tea and punch and her husband will be over later with a cooler of beers.”

  “Oh.” Smiling at Mildred when she flashed him a saucy wink, once the last woman was in his home, Julian followed after them for an afternoon he had only seen in the movies.

  *

  Marit steered her ‘76 Chevy Blazer down her dirt driveway and just as she had predicted, there sat Andrea’s brand new black toyota corolla in her yard. “Of course.” Putting the truck into park, she opened the door and hopped down.

  Andrea was on the porch waiting and the moment she saw her cousin, she jumped up and made her way to her. “Tell me everything!” Grabbing her arm, Andrea led the two of them into the house where Marit’s first move was to kick off her boots and grab a glass of tea.

  “Well, I had a long ass day and we are nearly into September, so I would really appreciate if your Daddy would hire someone already. I received two more applications, but I can just by looking at them that he will turn ‘em both down.”

  They were heading into harvesting season pretty quick, like yesterday, and Marit really wanted the busy season to be covered, even if she was still training the person.

  “Not that!” Andrea shouted, throwing something at her cousin when she smirked behind her glass. “You know what.”

  “What? That I met Ju…”

  “Julian HOLLIS!” Andrea squealed in delight, cutting off what Marit had been starting to say. When the older woman nodded, Andrea jumped over to her cousin and shoved her toward the back of the house where her bedroom was. “Go get changed.”

  “What? Why?” Shrugging the eager woman off of her, Marit attempted to head back to the kitchen but was rerouted by an arm that was far stronger than it looked. “Cuz, I just spent time making this casserole that you are going to go over and give him.”

  Shoving her down to the bed, Andrea made her way to MArit’s closet and began to sift through her clothes. “Ok, we have to go shopping soon.”

  “Everything I have in there is fine.”

  “Yeah if you’re a spinster.”

  “Aren’t I?” Marit muttered. Andrea threw her a look that nearly started her hair on fire.

  The pretty brunette stalked over to her cousin and gave her a sharp slap on the arm. “OW! Damnit Andrea that hurts.” All the Pearce women had it. That perfect tap that could ring out through a crowded room and hurt just about as bad as it sounded.

  Rubbing her arm, Marit sighed. “What?”

  Dark chocolate eyes flashed with disappointment before the woman who possessed them returned to the closet. “Marit, you're a great catch.”

  “Uh huh.” Sure she was, that’s why she had dates lined up for the next… oh wait, never!

  “You are. Your mom just sets you up with losers and everyone at the bar has known you since you were a kid.”

  “Right. Which isn’t satisfactory criteria when my graduating class had a 70% marriage rate and a 12% divorce rate, with each other.” Flopping back onto her bed, Marit just wished for once someone would stop trying to make her into something she wasn’t.

  “Dre, I’m not pretty ok.”

  “But you are. You’re beautiful.” Andrea insisted, crawling up onto the bed beside her cousin and curling around her.

  Marit turned her gaze to the sad one beside her and sighed. This was a moment about her self esteem and it was Andrea near tears. “Look. I’m not that super skinny girl that the guys look at. Everyone sees me as their friend and it’s fine.”

  “But aren’t you lonely?”

  The pain of the question nearly floored the older cousin, but she had had plenty of self practice to tell herself it didn’t really matter in the long run. Even if yes, she was painfully lonely. Hell, it would just be nice to have a guy tell her she was pretty, or buy her a drink and not as a thanks for helping him talk to a girl. Marit was the perfect wing man, but she wasn’t dating material.

  Sighing, she hugged her cousin close and lied through her teeth. “Of course not. I have you guys.” It was an answer that always appeased Andrea, her young age allowing for the lies, though her other cousins new better.

  Still, they weren’t here. But Andrea was staring at her with her puppy dog brown eyes that would not be denied. Groaning, Marit climbed off of the bed with the smaller woman in tow. “Get my favorite jeans and that green shirt I like. I’ll go start a pie.”

  “But I made…”

  “You made a tuna casserole. Probably one out of five that he’s going to get. You know all the women have already been down there.”

  Andrea frowned. “Uh. Poor soul.”

  Marit nodded. “Mmhmm.” Whenever someone moved in, moved away, had a major life event or sometimes just because it was Saturday, the women of the town would bombard some unfortunate soul and steal an afternoon that person would never be able to get back.

  This time, it was Julian.

  Shrugging off her black and blue flannel work shirt and left only in her grey tank, Marit stepped back into the kitchen, pulling her hair up as she went. After withdrawing the ingredients she needed, and a prepared frozen pie crust from the freezer, she got started on her pie.

  “Mmm… Marit’s famous lemon meringue pie.” Andrea murmured with a hint of lust in her voice. For being as tiny as she was, that girl could eat, and pie was one of her weaknesses, much like all the Pearce’s.

  Pie and cobbler. If her family could live off of either, they would. When a slender hand reached for her piping hot lemon curd, Marit smacked away the intruder with her wooden spoon. “Aw come on! Quality control, I have to test it.”

  “You can test it if he offers you some. Did you get my clothes picked out?” Marit murmured, checking on her meringue before she poured her curd into the ready and waiting pie shell.

  Andrea hummed an affirmative and took up her spot at the dining room table while waiting for the pie. “So,” Changing topics, she waited until Marit joined her after putting the pie in the oven. “It’s nearly five. We can drop off this pie, chat a bit and invite him out to the bar…”

  Marit’s brows rose at such a suggestion. “Oh? And you think you’re going to the bar?” Their Aunt Ana would have a fit if Andrea started going to the bars so soon.

  Andrea however wasn’t overly concerned with their protective Aunt. “Oh come on. I haven’t seen or heard from him in three weeks. I’m sure he’s back at school and is leaving me alone now.”

  Marit didn’t want to take a chance on it, but she could understand needing to get out of the house. “How about all of us hang out here tonight. Mom is heading into Witchita for her flight tomorrow morning.”

  Andrea’s nose wrinkled. “Where’s she going now.” Her Aunt Mabel was always going to some conference or another.

  Marit shrugged. “Dunno. Some conference.”

  “Didn’t she get back from one a week ago?”

  “Yeah. But this one’s being led by a top leading forensic expert and she was invited to go.”

  “Huh.” Thinking on it and whether or not a night of fun would be worth the wrath of their over protective Aunt and Sheriff of the county, Andrea finally decided on staying in. “Ok. I’ll text the girls. Tuna casserole and wine at 7.”

  “So we’ll be back from the new guy’s house by 7? Or are you going to try to pimp me out to him?”

  Andrea scoffs. “If you would let me, I would. You need to get laid.”

  No. Marit most definitely didn’t need that, and no desire to get laid. Her first and last experience had been rather disappointing and the romance novels she read in the privacy of her own room just hammered home the fact that real life men were worthless. “Right.” There was no use in arguing with Andrea.

  In no time the pie was done and with a quick change Marit was prepared to go. Snatching up her keys, Andrea taking the pie, the two of them headed out to her truck and climbed in. “I love this thing. Remember when Grandpa would take us to get ice cream and we’d ride in the back?”

  Marit did remember. She was ten, Andrea seven, Phoebe nine, and the leader of their group Trinity was fourteen. For as long as she could remember, no matter the age, they had always been close and nearly inseparable. One of them was always at one of the other’s house, and very few weekends were spent apart.

  Boyfriends came and went, but if they couldn’t find their place within their foursome, then they often didn’t stay. And if the girls didn’t approve, the man certainly didn’t stay. None of them had liked Jackson, but when he raised his hand to Andrea all three of them stepped in and ended the relationship before Andrea even had a choice. Her brothers took care of the rest and Aunt Ana filed the necessary reports to make it stick.

  There were days she missed those simpler times before the boys and the drama, and mostly she missed her grandfather. For being an old crotchety man to the rest of the world, he was always kind and gentle with his granddaughter and great nieces. Family was everything to him and he instilled those values into his children who passed it down to theirs.

  “Did you get it redone?” Andrea looks around the interior and checks the quality of the light grey fabric.

  Marit nodded and backed out of the driveway. “Yeah. Got it painted and upholstered.” She loved this truck too. So many good memories. She had been touched when her grandfather gave it to her on her 14th birthday. She hadn't been of driving age yet, but he has wanted to teach her early. She got one year of practice with him.

  The interior was done in a dark grey as opposed to it’s original beige and Marit continued to keep the same theme. while the exterior was a gorgeous maroon color with white paneling.

  “Well she looks great. Don’t you Lily.” Andrea coo’d, patting the dash as if the truck were a living entity. Lily was the grandmother Marit never knew, but her grandfather talked about all the time. When she was eight she dubbed this truck Lily, and it stuck.

  Pulling out onto the road, if Marit didn’t know the road like the back of her hand, it wouldn’t be hard to spot the old Hollis place with the hodge podge of cars littering the sides of the road and down into the drive. “They’re still here…”

  Marit nodded and drove into the semi crowded yard and parked beside the black supersized truck she was quickly falling in love with. “That’s a thing of beauty.” Andrea breathed while staring at the brand new suped up piece of machinery.

  If there was one thing country women loved it was the look and smell of a new truck. Marit merely nodded and got out, taking her pie and stepping up to the front door. Just the old wooden screen was closed, letting the chatter from inside the house spill out into the yard.

  “Is he as cute as his pictures?” Andrea asked in giddy excitement.

  Marit flushed slightly as she remembered just how handsome and the fact that she had held him earlier like a long lost friend while he cried. Not that she was ever going to tell her cousin that because they would spend all night analyzing it and she didn’t need the drama.

  Andrea noticed the blush though, but thankfully the tall drink of water known as Julian Hollis made it to the door before the smaller woman could beat any information out of her. And she meant it literally, some days she walked away with bruises from Andrea’s interrogations.

  “Well… hi again.” HIs pleasant voice greeted as the door swung open to admit them inside. Bright blue sparkled with interest at the pie before darting up to meet Marit’s gaze. He didn’t even look at Andrea. “Is this for me?”

  Marit swore that she would get lost in those big blue eyes but what she didn’t know was that Julian absolutely wanted her to.