I ’ve worked my ass off today, but it’s worth it. Owning a farm isn’t exactly a glamorous life. It’s a lot of hard work. But I have the cornfields planted in the north pasture, and I have the hay mowed and ready to be turned in a couple of days. That means as of tonight, I am free to enjoy the evening and all day tomorrow and tomorrow night with Jenny. She’s been a little distant since she came back from her friend’s. I made an effort to come in for lunch to see her, but she was in her room. Mavis said she had a migraine, so as much as it hurt me not to—I didn’t bother her .

Now, though, I’m dying to see her, to smell that familiar scent of vanilla when she’s in the room, to hear her laugh and to feel her head lie against my chest, while seeing the smile on her lips that haunts me every day. I throw on clean clothes, and run a quick comb through my damp hair, anxious as hell to get to her .

I expected to see her on the couch, watching one of those damn television shows she loves. I only keep cable because she likes it. I rarely get time to turn a television on. Hell, when she’s gone, I never touch it. Then again, when Jenny is not here I can’t bring myself to go in the living room. I stay in my office. The house feels empty without her. I feel empty without her .

I head into the living room, but to my disappointment the room is empty .

“Mavis!” I yell out, staring at the empty couch like a mad man—as if that will make her appear out of thin air .

“Yeah?” Mavis answers, doing a half walk, half jog from the kitchen .

“Where’s Jenny ?”

“Jenny? Why, she left for her date about an hour ago .”

Everything in me freezes at the sound of that. “Her date?” I ask, my voice coming out sharper than normal. Jenny is out on a fucking date? On the very night that was supposed to be mine? What the hell is going on here ?

The night that was supposed to be yours? Fuck, man, you haven’t had the balls to tell her how you feel .

“Yeah,” Mavis says, sounding very unhappy. “She went out with that Anderson boy. Jake I think his name is. I tried to talk her out of it, tried to get her to relax at home after her travels, but she wouldn’t listen.” Mavis purses her lips. “I don’t like that boy. Something about his eyes. They look beady. Don’t they look beady to you?” she rambles .

I’m not really paying attention to her. My brain seems to have stopped working the minute she said that Jenny was out on a date .

A fucking date .

I do know what boy she’s talking about. Jake Anderson is a lazy, good for nothing kid who would rather get his dick wet than do a minute’s worth of hard work. What in the hell is Jenny doing out with him ?

Jenny might deserve better than me, but she sure as hell deserves better than Jake Anderson. An image of that asshole touching my girl flashes in my mind and rage fills me. If he lays a finger on her, I’ll kill him. My hands curl into fists on their own accord and I squeeze them tight, trying to control myself. I need to be logical here. The problem is, when Jenny is involved, I’m rarely logical .

“Where did they go?” I bark out the question to Mavis. I see the way her pupils go round. I’ve shocked her. Am I betraying myself? Does she know how I feel about Jenny? I’ve done my best to keep it hidden, but I’m done with that. And acting like a fucking caveman right now is ensuring that she knows exactly my intentions for Jenny. Before tonight is over, everyone will know that Jenny is mine—especially Jake-fucking-Anderson .

“Carson, maybe — ”

“Where did he take her, Mavis?” I growl. Every minute that Mavis delays is another minute that little lazy asshole could be trying to force himself on Jenny. There’s no way she’d let him touch her willingly. I might be confused about the way Jenny is reacting now that she’s back home, but I’m not wrong about this .

I can’t be .

“She said they were going to Murphy’s Grill for dinner and then maybe a movie …”

“How long ago did she leave ?”

“ Boss — ”

“How long, Mavis?” I bark, very close to the end of my rope .

“About thirty minutes ago or so…” she whispers worriedly, wringing her hands. “You need to calm down, Carson. I’ve never seen you like this .”

Calming down was sure as shit not going to happen .

Thirty minutes ago… While I was in the shower she’d left with that little prick. She didn’t tell me she was leaving. She didn’t talk to me about canceling our night. She left with him while I was in the damn shower !

She should still be at Murphy’s. I grab my keys and turn toward the door. I have one thing on my mind, one fucking intention. Getting my woman back .

“Lord have mercy,” I hear Mavis whisper in the background .

If the Lord is listening, she better pray He has mercy on Jake Anderson. Because when I get Jenny back, I’m going to spank her until her ass glows bright red. And Jake ?

I’m going to kill that son of a bitch…with my bare hands .