Sun-Kissed Baby

“Those are the Hamlins and the Parson Browns. They’ll mature from October through January, but I guess you know that.”

“Right. Those are the early varieties. But what about mid-season oranges like pineapple oranges? Don’t you grow those, as well?”

“No. We concentrate on the Hamlins and Parson Browns because we probably transport over fifty tons of oranges a day during full season to juice-processing plants. That’s our profit. The Valencias are gravy. We bag them and send them to wholesalers who then turn around and sell to retail outlets.”

Carlee’s thoughts were straying again, this time to the way his T-shirt stretched across his broad chest and shoulders. He was wearing shorts again, and she tried not to look at his rock-hard thighs. She understood how Alicia had fallen for him so easily. He was handsome and charming, and she could well imagine how irresistible he would be if he tried to seduce a woman.

Suddenly she asked, “Do you ever go to the beach? Like Cocoa Beach, maybe? It’s so pretty there. I was thinking about going to work there at the Indian River Groves. But then I heard Starke was hiring and how it was a good place for migrants and their children,” she added the lie.

“As a matter of fact I do. There’s a Growers’ Association meeting held there every year. I really like the area. It’s pretty. I haven’t missed going since I took over the business after my father died.”

Bitterness flashed. How very convenient. She wondered where he’d hung out the last time he’d gone and whether he’d left yet another woman heartbroken and pregnant. “What about the rest of your family?”

“It’s just me. My mother passed away before my father. I don’t have any brothers and sisters.”

“So you’re all alone since your divorce?”

He threw her a wry grin. “Looking back, I think I was alone when I was married. At least it felt that way. How about you? Any family?”

“My mother is somewhere in California. I haven’t heard from her in years. It’s just me and Scotty.”

“Well, what more could you ask for?” he cast her a mock incredulous glance. “He’s all boy, too, I can tell. I came by to see you yesterday evening, by the way. I wanted to check on whether you needed anything and was going to ask if I could take Scotty down to the lake to see the ducks, but your car was gone.”

“I found my way into town to get a few things I needed.” She was glad she had missed him. Being around him from time to time while working and casually asking other workers about him would tell her what she needed to know. She did not want him coming around the cottage. Nor did she like being with him in a one-on-one situation, as she was now. After all, she was no fool when it came to men, and she was aware of how he looked at her sometimes. The man was a womanizer. No doubt that was why his wife divorced him. She had probably caught him running around and hit him for huge alimony, and as a result he had sworn off marriage. Instead, he would consider women a buffet—enjoy as much as he wanted, sample all the varieties, and then go his merry way.

But not with her, he wouldn’t. Oh, no. She would hold him at bay and wait until the last minute to inform him he’d left Alicia with a souvenir of their love affair. The Valencia season would last till the end of June or first of July, and she intended to stay till it did.

“Well, would it be all right if I came by this evening?”

She snapped her head around to stare at him, wondering how to gracefully decline, then explained she had planned to put Scotty to bed early. “And I intend to turn in early myself so I won’t be late tomorrow.”

“It wouldn’t take long,” he persisted. “We’ve got some really pretty ducks down there. I even bought a pair of swans. Besides, it would give you a chance to unwind and catch your breath while I take him, unless you’d like to go with us.”