Trust In Love (A McCord Family Novel Book 2) by Amanda Siegrist Read Free Book Online Page B

question. I've never known you to give a woman a gift before," Zane said.
    Austin turned around, anger vibrating in waves. "What do you mean? It's not a gift, it's just being neighborly or nice or whatever. I've given flowers and whatnot to a woman before. I don't see her that way anyway."
    "Are you sure you don't? Flowers are one thing. A lawn mower, a whole other ball game."
    "What does that even mean? A diamond ring might raise questions, but a lawn mower, I don't think so."
    "It means, you say you don't like her, and yet, I think you do. You don't just give anyone a lawn mower," Zane said with a teasing smirk.
    "You're impossible. Let's fix the fence already. I'm done talking," Austin said, stomping away in irritation.
    "Sounds like what I always said when you pestered me about Ava," Zane hollered at his back.
    "I barely know the woman to like her like that. Knock it off," Austin shouted, closing the barn door on his face.
    ***
    Austin blew out a small breath, ruffled Axel's hair for a measure of confidence—something he never lacked before—and knocked soundly on the door.
    He smiled wide when Sophie opened the door, cute and delectable in a white sundress that accented her beauty way more than he wanted. It hugged her breasts in a teasing manner, making him wish he had the right to cup them softly and appreciate them in the fullest extent. The dress ran just above her knees, telling a man there was something delicious waiting for him just a little further up. It wrapped delicately around her waist with a soft bow just where her belly button would be, waiting for him to unwrap what lay beneath.
    Three days had gone by. Three long, agonizing days of torture of not seeing her beautiful face.
    "Austin...hi. I suppose you're here for your key to the shed. I've been meaning to return it, but I've been so busy with my orders that I lost track of time. I'm so sorry," Sophie said, biting her lip in unease.
    "No problem. That's not why I'm here. You look beautiful, by the way," he said, unable to hold it in. Biting her lip in that manner was not helping him to tame down his attraction. Temptation tingled throughout his body to step forward a bit and have a little nibble on her lips himself.
    "Umm...thank you. Why are you here?" she asked uncomfortably.
    "Right, I have something for you. We don't use it, sits collecting dust really, and it works great. I figured you'd get better use out of it than it sitting in the barn doing nothing."
    Sophie looked confused, raising her brow as she said, "What is it?"
    "Oh, right. A lawn mower." Austin smiled, pointing to her driveway where he had set it down after unloading it from his truck.
    It refused to start when he first tried it out, but after a few replacement parts, he got it running without an issue. He had to spend a few dollars, nothing extreme, to fix it. He would leave that little part from Sophie or she would likely not accept it. Ava probed him the entire time he worked on it, but he refused to talk about it. Zane and Ava were enjoying his discomfort in the matter. He assured them it was nothing more than him being nice. A new friend. That was it. He refused to allow anything to happen with her. He wouldn't go any further than a simple friendship.
    Sophie glanced over his shoulder, gasping in surprise. "Oh, I can't accept that, Austin. That just isn't right."
    He frowned. "Why not? Like I said, we aren't using it. We recently bought a rider for the farm. I totally forgot about this lawn mower when I bought the one for this house here. Stupid of me, but works out great for you. I want you to have it."
    "But I can't. It would—"
    "Sophie, please. I don't want anything in return. Since the first day I met you, I've only been trying to be nice. I get the impression you aren't used to that and I'm sorry. I can't imagine anyone being horrible to you because even when you're getting stern with me, you're sweet and eloquent about it. I'm sure there are reasons for it, but you don't