Farmer Wants a Wife: Love and Friendship, Book 3 by Shelley Munro Read Free Book Online

from the township.”
    “That far?” The woman frowned. “He told me about the beautiful scenery. I assumed the town was closer.”
    “Is that a problem?” Susan asked.
    “I guess not. I mean Nolan is gorgeous. His boots are welcome under my bed any time.” The woman whispered the last and cast a sidelong glance in Nolan’s direction.
    “Yes, he is attractive. I’m looking forward to learning more about him.” She wondered if she could slip in a few questions about his family. Connor had given Tyler a genuine stamp. The information on him was patchy, though, and not enough to quench her curiosity.
    The ferry ride was a short one, and Susan stood at the stern, enjoying the fresh sea air and watching the flit of yachts as they zapped back and forth across the waves, their colorful sails billowing in the gusts of wind. The panoramic view of the city buildings, bathed in autumn sun, caught her eye and she fumbled inside her pack for her camera.
    “I have to say,” Nolan said, coming to stand beside her, “that the city looks good from this angle.”
    “As nice as the view from your house?” Susan asked.
    “They’re each pretty in their own way.”
    There was a moment of companionable silence between them.
    “Do you have brothers and sisters?” Susan asked finally.
    “A younger brother. Tyler.”
    “Does he work on the farm with you?”
    “No, he lives with his in-laws and works on his father-in-law’s farm.”
    “He’s married?”
    “A widower. His wife died a few years ago.”
    Susan nodded. “That must have been rough.”
    Nolan shrugged, and Susan knew she couldn’t ask more questions without him asking questions in return.
    “I have two sisters, both married.”
    His expression sharpened. “Older or younger?”
    Susan sighed, knowing exactly where this conversation would head. “Both younger than me, married with children.”
    “But you’re not married.”
    “No.” She’d come close, thought she’d found the one. Twice. And both times she’d regained possession of her trampled heart with her confidence in tatters.
    His brows rose, a silent prompt for her to continue. “If I were married, I wouldn’t be on Farmer Wants a Wife, ” she said. “What do your parents think about you being on a reality show?”
    “What do yours think about you?”
    “Snap,” she said. “My mother loathes the publicity caused by her delinquent daughter.”
    “My mother, on the other hand, is following proceedings closely since she was the one who sent in my application.” His dry tone filled in some gaps. Namely, that he hadn’t come willingly.
    “You don’t want a wife?”
    “I’m not averse to the idea,” he said. “But I like to do my own choosing.”
    “I hear you. My mother and sisters are always trying to fix me up with suitable men when I go home to Hamilton. Blind dates are awkward.”
    “On that we agree.”
    “I’m like most of the women who applied for the show. I’d like someone to share my life, but if it doesn’t happen I’ve realized that’s okay too. I have great friends—ones who’d go the extra mile for me if I asked for a favor. Settling for second best to make my family happy won’t do much for my contentment.”
    He nodded and moved out of the way of a deck hand as the captain backed the ferry up to the wharf. “That’s true.”
    Susan disembarked with the rest of the women and moved aside to take photos. She strode back to the hovering group. “Can I take a group shot?”
    The women clustered around Nolan. “Say sexy farmer,” Susan said and clicked the shutter when everyone laughed. She examined the shot. “Nice photo.”
    “Everyone ready to walk to the summit?” Nolan asked.
    “I’d like to catch the cute train,” one of the women said.
    A couple of the others agreed and went off to buy tickets. The rest of them started the walk along the scoria paths. Weird lava shapes studded the landscape, remnants of the eruption over six hundred years ago.