I told Ed what I planned to do as we had breakfast at my home on the patio. I'd resolved to keep showing up before Callum and to stick to him like glue until he acknowledged how serious I was about keeping our friendship. He also wanted me in his life and I found it pointless to stay away from him.

"Simply listening to you makes me feel like I'm reading a novel," Ed said as she peeled the crust off her bread. "In fact, it vaguely reminds me of that book, Fields of Temptation."

"You read it?" I asked in surprise.

"How could I not after you narrated to me your little library escapade?" she replied, tossing the crusts onto my plate.

"Lara Devine and I have no similarities whatsoever," I argued, referring to the protagonist, who happened to be a seductress.

"You're aiming to get Callum's attention, aren't you?" Ed said as I stirred my tea. "The only thing missing here is the hot and heavy scenes. Did you get to the part where she cornered him and they got down and dirty in the hay-"

"My God, Ed!" I reprimanded, bringing a hand to my temple.

She snickered at my reaction. "Of course, you didn't, you squeamish little girl."

I glared at her. We were both virgins, but I didn't understand how she read each and every erotic scene so easily, like she would a newspaper.

"But don't worry," she continued. "It's why fate chose me to be your dearest friend. I will read and obtain all the dirty knowledge so that when the time comes, I will be able to coach you properly in the arts."

She grinned at her innuendo and I frowned, cringing.

"I'm eating, for goodness sake," I groaned and she snickered again.

*****

In the afternoon, I happily made my way to Mr. Vaughn's work place. I was in a good mood, because I believed this hurdle Callum and I were facing would soon go away with my effort. I found Mr. Vaughn standing in the shop with another man while they discussed something. They soon shook hands and smiled, and the guest left. I greeted him as he exited through the door.

"Rose! What a pleasant surprise," Mr. Vaughn's voice reached my ears.

I smiled at him as he placed his hands on his hips. "Good day, Mr. Vaughn."

He smiled and nodded in acknowledgement. "Good to see you, Rose."

"Uh..." My gaze darted around, specifically to the door in the corner. "Could Callum be back there by any chance?"

His smile slightly faded. "No, sorry. He and his brothers usually work at McGregory's farm on Saturdays."

"Oh." My face fell in disappointment.

"They're still there," Mr. Vaughn said, directly meeting my eyes. "I mean, if you really wish to see him. They clock out at 7:00pm."

I gave it a thought. There were quite some hindrances, the first being that McGregory's farm was quite far and on a somewhat hilly area. It was more than an hour's walk from the Town centre, and the farm itself was humongous. It would take longer to locate Callum, and I'd probably reach him when the sun had set.

Was it worth it?

"I better get going then," I chirped, and Mr. Vaughn's smile was back.

"Good luck," he wished me.

"Thank you."

I would definitely need it.

*****

I decided to take a coach up to the McGregory's farm. The two-storey farmhouse was simple and nice. Between the flower fields to my left and the stretch of grass to my right was a clear stone path that led to the house. There were post and rail fences barricading the flower fields and the lawns.

I spotted garden roses and hydrangeas as I walked along the path to the house. The sun was already low in the sky, so it was probably past 5:00pm.

"Rosa, is that you?" A soft feminine voice called from the veranda.

It belonged to Mrs. Olivia McGregory, who was seated in an armchair on the veranda. An unfinished quilt was strewn over her lap as her once knitting fingers stilled. She was in her late fifties, with light brown and grey hair, which she held in pigtails. A pair of round eyeglasses were perched on her nose and her thin lips stretched into a wide smile when she recognised me, showing all her wrinkles.

I basically knew Mrs McGregory from church, although her eldest son lived with his wife in LightHouse.

"The one and only," I replied, standing just below the veranda so she could see my grin.

She was a cute old woman and the only one who insisted on my singing in the church choir. She'd advised me to take the Gareth issue up with the Church and the Mayor, but I had declined and assured her I didn't mind. It didn't stop her from bringing it up again and again, though.

"And to what do I owe the pleasure of having to see you twice on a weekend, sweetheart?" she asked me with eagerness in her tone.

"I wish I could stay and chat, Livy, but I'm sort of in a hurry." I folded my face apologetically. "I heard the Vaughn brothers are here. I want to know exactly where the youngest one is."

Her nose crinkled as she thought. "The youngest boy...Ah, you mean Callum!"

I perked up. "Yes!"

She checked her pocket watch from under the quilt. "He must nearly be done milking the cows by now. You can check the cow shed."

I beamed. "Thank you, Livy!"

"I didn't think you knew Callum," she said in a confused tone. "He's not social. Very shy."

"We met recently and became friends."

"Oh!" Livy nodded but then a frown sported her face and she pouted like an upset child.

I tilted my head. "What's wrong, Livy?"

"It's just..." She sighed. "I'd always imagined that the Mayor's son would be perfect for you. You have a lot in common; like your voices, and he would be able to approach his father about that croon, Gareth."

"Livy!" I whined.

"I didn't say anything!" she gave a childish retort. "But those who have ears, listen."

I gave her a reprimanding look, to which she sighed.

"But if you would rather go for the shy one, then I won't stop you. I like him too."

I shook my head at her antics. "You're a riot, Livy."

*****

I moved round the side of the house and on my way, I saw what looked like Benjamin splitting wood out in the distance to my right. He was without a shirt, and energetically swinging the axe, splitting the wood with precision.

His muscles flexed as he did, and my eyes lingered a little too long on his defined muscular upper body. I would have greeted him, but he was too far and wouldn't have heard me. Besides, Callum was my top priority.

I walked for about ten minutes before I finally reached the post and rail fence that stretched on for miles on both my left and right. Another fence perpendicular to this one divided the lands, so that the crops were to the right and the animal farmland was to the left. I pushed back the gate leading into the animal farm and walked onto the tall grass.

The first structure I came across was the storage shed for machinery and equipment, followed by the barn for forage and lastly the cow shed. A few eucalyptus trees surrounded the area.
I met one of the farmhands coming out of the shed and asked him about Callum, and whether he had finished milking.

"I left him washing up at the tap," he replied. "But that was over ten minutes ago, so he'll soon come back this way."

I thanked him and he walked by. The tap was just on the opposite side of the shed, so I decided to wait for him. Not long after, I made a double take as he stepped out from the shed and onto the grass, his head bowed. My jaw dropped when I saw him.

He was clad in nothing but a black vest that hugged his torso and showed off his well toned arms, plus black trousers tucked into grey gumboots. It seemed he'd taken off his shirt, because he'd used its maroon sleeves to tie it around his waist. His dark hair, usually straight and neat, was tousled and messy. My throat became strangely parched - like I was thirsty for something, but not water.

He was busy cracking his knuckles so he hadn't noticed me gawking at him shamelessly - well specifically at the slight movement in his biceps.

So this is what you've been hiding under those baggy clothes, Callum Vaughn.

I wet my lips and gulped. Holy shit, I was in trouble.

He lifted his head and at last saw me standing in front of him. To say he was shocked was an understatement. His eyes bulged out of his sockets and he actually stumbled back, barely regaining composure because I was so sure he would fall on his behind.

I bit back a smile. God, how I'd missed his clumsiness.

"Wh-what are you..." he choked out, gesturing to nothing in particular. "What are you doing here?"

I clasped my hands behind my back and rocked on the balls of my feet. "I was looking for you."

"Why?"

"To spend time with you," I replied and looked into his beautiful blue eyes. "I missed you."

His Adam's apple bobbed as a reddish hue blossomed on his skin; up his neck, to his cheeks and tips of his ears till he was painted in it. He lowered his gaze to his boots and folded his lips in, giving me a view of that adorable dimple of his. I could've sworn he was trying not to smile and failing miserably.

"You shouldn't have come here," he murmured.

"But I wanted to."

He squeezed his eyes shut, then took a deep breath before he let it out. Without looking at me, he bypassed me, going back the way I'd come. I wasted no time in following beside him.

"So you and your brothers work here every Saturday, huh?" I asked in a perky tone.

He didn't reply and kept his focus up ahead.

"Do you work from sun up to sun down?" I asked. "And spend the whole day up here?"

Still no reply.

"It must be exhausting," I complained. He was walking fast, and I struggled to keep up with him.

"Go home, Rose," he spoke at last.

"Not until I've had my quality time with you."

He bit his bottom lip, probably in frustration. "I still have things to do here."

"Then I'll do those things with you!" I twittered with a beam.

He halted at once and looked at me with incredulous eyes. "Really?" he asked in a barely audible voice that sounded like a plea. I nodded in agreement.

He stared at me for a short while before narrowing his eyes in distrust and marching forward once more.

I smirked. He wouldn't get rid of me so easily.

I followed him into the barn. There were uneven stacks of hay on each side and some of it was strewn all over the floor like a carpet. I saw pitchforks and filled sacks - I didn't know of what - at the end.

Something about this scene felt strangely familiar.

Callum seemed to be looking for something in the barn, judging by the way he moved around and peered in corners. I was about to ask what he was looking for when something buzzed behind me. I turned and saw a giant-ass bumblebee floating in front of my face.

My pulse shot up in terror and I released a shriek. I jumped, fleeing in the opposite direction and collided with Callum's body so hard, we fell back into the hay. Our noses bumped and incidentally, so did our lips.

Oh my.

It was a slight bump that lasted a second, but the realisation of what it was made my face warm and stomach twist. I stared down at him and he stared back at me, our breaths mingling with how close we were. So close, I could easily brush my lips against his again, just to feel more of what I'd just felt.

It was tempting, oh so tempting, with this cursed - or blessed - position our bodies were entangled in.

But then that buzzing hovered above me and with a squeal, I instead buried my face in his neck. One of his hands held the back of my head as his other arm wrapped around my waist in a protective grasp.

I didn't know whether it was my fear of the bumblebee or his touch that had my heart racing. Perhaps it was both. I waited for the buzzing to subside, and his voice was a whisper in my ear, "It's gone."

Involuntary shudders crept upon my skin, and I gingerly lifted my head as he loosened his hold on me.

Our eyes met before he averted his and I practically jumped off him.

"Sorry!" I squeaked, feeling hot
all over with embarrassment, "for bumping into you like that. I didn't mean to do that and also for the other thing." My sweat glands activated upon mentioning and remembering the peck. "I really didn't mean to do that. It was accidental, I swear."

He had stood up, and was dusting himself off.

"I want to spend time with you but it doesn't mean I'm trying to seduce you or something," I blabbered on. "I'm not Lara Devine. She and I are different. It's just that the bumble bee..."

He nodded, not meeting my gaze. "I get it."

"It was because of the bumblebee..." I said breathlessly.

He nodded again. "Yes."

"It was all the bumblebee..."

He finally looked at me. "Rose, I understand. I saw the bee."

I let out a breath of a laugh. "Right you did!"

I needed to get out of this awkward situation ASAP.

"So what were you looking for in here?" I quickly asked and cleared my throat.

His tensed up body relaxed. "Watering cans," he replied. "I forgot they're kept in the storage shed."

"Cautious and Careful Callum, huh?" I teased, smirking.

A slight smile crossed his lips at that, but it quickly disappeared and he scratched his eyebrow before gesturing to the exit. "We're going to water the crops."

We carried a watering can and bucket each from the storage shed and headed downhill, crossing the gate into the crop fields. We picked buckets because the closest water source was the borehole and it was easier for the water to go into buckets.

"Ever used one of these before?" Callum asked as we set our fetching appliances down near the borehole. I placed my bucket under the spout.

"Don't underestimate me, Vaughn," I gave my prideful reply and walked behind the borehole.

Gripping the handle, I worked the pump until a mass of water burst out, pouring into my bucket. I smirked at him in triumph, but found him already watching me with a satisfied smile of approval. But it disappeared and he looked away the moment I noticed him.

All in due time, Callum Vaughn.

I put my full bucket aside to let him fetch his. As I was pouring the water from my bucket into the silver watering can, I glanced up at him, except my glance turned into a stare when I saw how nicely his muscles flexed with each pump of the handle.

The way he'd positioned himself - with his booted feet slightly a part and his well toned arms controlling the handle up and down. His expression showed effortlessness but his eyes were focused on the water pouring in the bucket to make sure it didn't spill over.

He looked...really good.

And he'd look even better without that vest.

My inappropriate thoughts alarmed me and I turned my attention back to the watering can. Either I was overhyped because I'd just finished my period the previous day, or it was just the heat driving me crazy.

I was assigned to water the newly planted sweet potato slips while Callum watered the beans. There were quite a number of rows of the slips, and it was tiring having to fetch from the borehole and come back to water.

I easily let Callum fill my bucket whenever we coincided at the borehole. A small part was because it was tiring and a much larger part because I couldn't get enough of his arms, of his shoulders and torso...of everything that was him at the moment.

Lord, forgive your daughter for she is just a teenager falling to the sickness of the flesh.

We talked more this time around, and I found out about the activities he and his brothers did at the farm. I even managed to make him laugh when I told him to make me a wig out of the sheep wool they sheared, but he not-so subtly disguised the laugh as a cough.

Progress.

By 7:00pm, we were on our way to the farmhouse.

"Did you come up here with your bicycle?" I asked and he nodded.

"Great! Then you can give me a ride home!" I chirped.

He turned to me, ready to give an excuse. "But..."

"It's late and I can't get a coach up here," I whined, pouting. "Do you really expect me to walk all the way back home alone? Ruffians, thugs, poison ivy-"

"Okay," he interrupted, giving in. "I'll take you home."

A big smile sported my face. There was no way sweet and kind Callum would refuse.

"I need to inform my brothers first," he added and I nodded in agreement.

We found Benjamin and Abraham back at the farmhouse, having some juice in the sitting room which Livy had offered.

"Just in time, you two!" Livy beamed as the boys gawked at me in surprise. They obviously didn't expect me to be there.

"Come here and have some refreshments. Work well done, work well done!"

I obliged and sat down in one of the sofas, but Callum had to bathe first so he disappeared upstairs. His brothers already appeared clean, well groomed and fully dressed.

"So you came to see our little brother, huh?" Benjamin smirked at me and I nearly choked on my beet juice.

"That she did!" Livy replied on my behalf as she sat back in her arm chair. "I was surprised when she told me they're friends."

"I think they're a little bit more than that, granny," said Abe, humour in his voice.

I glared at him and he flashed me a knowing smile.

"Really?" Livy asked me and I laughed it off.

"They're only pulling your leg," I assured her. "Now where's John?

Asking about her husband effectively changed the subject and we all engaged in a conversation about the farm and John's travels to other farms outside Richard Town. Callum soon joined us in the sitting room; fully dressed much to my dismay, and we bid our farewells to Livy.

As we walked to the shed where the bicycles were parked, Callum handed me the dark green sweater he'd been clutching in his hands. I gave him a questioning look as I took it.

"You'll get cold on the bicycle," he answered my silent query but without looking at me directly. The whole gesture had been done with reluctance and almost begrudgingly, but it warmed my heart to know he still cared and was considerate of me.

"Thank you." I smiled.

"Let's go, lovebirds!" Abe's voice boomed.

He and Ben had already settled on their bicycles which caused Callum to jog into the shed and retrieve his bicycle.

I wore the sweater and mellowed at how warm and cosy it was. I caught a faint whiff of his scent, which gave me the urge to bury my nose in the fabric and inhale deeply.

Bad girl, Rosie.

I controlled my urges, but only because there were eyes everywhere. I would do it when no one was watching.

God, the boy was turning me into a pervert.

A/N:

This chapter😝🤭