Ripe For The Picking

By Ebony Jean

Bruised and drowning in debt from divorcing her high-school sweetheart, Leesa Cummings is determined to rebuild her life on the family farm, one quiet crop season at a time. 

All her problems seem over when handsome big-city lawyer Harry Stephenson buys the 'front house' - no more debt, no more worries, right?

 

Wrong! 

 

Harry soon embroils her in a fake engagement, drags her into the centre of high-society life and puts her at the centre of a storm of gossip. Leesa's problems are only just beginning.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ebony McKenna
• Release date: Oct 30, 2020
• ISBN: 9781922486028

Book preview

1

Leesa Cummins watched the real estate agent’s car throw dust and gravel in its wake as it took the bend away from her family’s berry farm. Yet another potential buyer hadn’t turned up to look at the ‘front house’. They’d probably seen something closer to town, with a better view and better amenities.

The town was Wadawoy, a thriving tourist haven nestled amongst eucalyptus forests and stunning beaches on Australia’s southeast, where tourists poured in from all over the state.

Just as she thought about ringing the agent and agreeing to drop the price, a black Saab came around the corner and pulled up. A man got out of the car, the late sun setting behind him like a halo. Tall, well proportioned, with a confident swagger, he stepped right up to the porch and extended his hand.

Harry Stephenson.

If ever there was a complete package, this man was it.

Leesa Cummins. Warm tendrils of excitement filled Leesa as she held his hand. For a moment time stood still and she found herself staring and – how embarrassing! – smiling into his walnut-colored eyes.

Get a grip! Selling a house demanded professionalism, not schoolgirl silliness. Instead she was grinning like a loon because one person had finally turned up to inspect it after months of indifference. One person with long eyelashes that she absolutely should not be staring at.

Would you like to see inside? She offered, giving herself a mental kick for stating the obvious. It was going to be hard to focus on the house instead of him, with his wavy hair that would be so much fun to mess up, not to mention his tapered bedroom eyes, his aquiline nose, full - but not overdone – lips, so yummy they just had to be fattening.

Can we go in? He smiled, producing a hint of dimple in his left cheek.

Hello new neighbor!

Oh! Of course, she said, giving her shins an imaginary kick. By the end of this she’d be covered in make-believe bruises.

They stepped inside, over the threshold where Leesa had once been carried, after what should have been the best day of her life. But that was a lifetime – and a quarrel of lawyers – ago.

This is the lounge, as you can see it’s quite spacious, perfect for having friends over, that kind of thing, it leads through here to the kitchen… For a moment she fantasized about borrowing a cup of sugar from her new neighbor, but she had to sell him the house first. She should also call the agent and get him back here ASAP. It was only built recently, it used to be part of a larger farm. The original house, where I live with my family, is still standing up on the hill. You can see it out the kitchen window. We’re a little way out of town, but still on mains gas so no changing over LPG tanks… she was blathering now. A hot, red flush rose up her cheek. He must have seen it, because he smiled and flashed that dimple. Feel free to stop me at any time and ask questions.

The bedrooms?

The request was innocent enough, but the words sent a quiver up her spine. His voice was so kind and gentle… If she didn’t stop fantasizing, those hot flashes would turn to power surges!

There are three, the main is this way. It has an ensuite and built-in robes. Although now empty of furniture, Leesa could still see the queen bed and side tables that used to be there.

It’s gas-boosted hot water, she said, and watched him walk into the ensuite. Try as she might, she couldn’t shake the image of his perfect form – and the way his dark grey suit seemed to be poured over his body, the mold under the cloth had to be perfect – standing under that steaming water. So, Mister Stephenson, I take it you’re from Melbourne?

Yes, and call me ‘Harry’, he said, opening the vanity cabinet and inspecting the space inside.

And what do you do? It was just a way of making conversation, but she hoped he’d be a masseuse or a model … anything so long as it began with ‘mmmmm’.

I’m a lawyer, he said, turning the shower tap on and appearing impressed by the water pressure.

Leesa’s body chilled, as if she’d been standing under that cold spray herself. Greedy lawyers were the reason she had to sell this house. It galled her to think she was fantasizing about one of the enemy – nay, on the brink of selling the house of her dreams – to an oxygen thief of a lawyer! And what field of law is that? If you don’t mind my asking?

Criminal law.

So, you get crooks off? The words were out before she’d realized their power, and Leesa blushed in shame, I’m sorry, that was rude. Opening my mouth to change feet.

He smiled at her faux pas, flashing that dimple, If they’re innocent, I get them off.

But if they’re not? All his formerly charming attributes turned to slime as she imagined him schmoozing a jury into letting a boozy thug go free, I mean, there must have been a few dodgy customers who slipped through the cracks?

If they have, it’s because the prosecution didn’t do a good enough job. Now, the other bedrooms?

The other bedrooms, where children were meant to grow up. Something grew cold grew inside Leesa as all her prior fantasies popped like overfilled balloons.

So, he said at the conclusion of the tour, What was the asking price again?

She rolled it off her tongue without hesitation, hoping it was out of his price range. She’d rather the banks sell her up for defaulting on the mortgage than make another deal with a lawyer that she’d live to regret.

OK then, he said.

Leesa nearly lost her footing. Had he just agreed to it?

I’ll flip it next year and make my money back, he added with a shrug.

Fine, and although she smiled, her teeth remained together, You’ll speak to the agents and they’ll work out all the details.

I’d like to move in immediately. I’m happy to rent it from you until settlement goes through.

She nodded and said nothing.

With casual arrogance, he leaned against the door frame, his eyebrow raised. I get the feeling you don’t like lawyers?

We all have out faults. I’m terribly sorry, Mister Stephenson, but I really must show you out now, I have things to be getting on with.

OK, he smiled, but if we’re going to be neighbors, you’ll have to overcome your hatred of lawyers.

"Oh, I don’t hate them, she said, opening the door and ushering him out, I just…well… good-day Mister Stephenson." Maybe there were a few good lawyers about, but she doubted any of them were likely to cross her path.