105 Desire Drive

By Hope Ford

He can't let her go.

Honey wants two things. To supply produce to the local pantry and for me, David Cantal to ask her out.

She is overalls, sunshine and freckles. I'm big, gruff, rough around the edges and I don't know the first thing about women that are sweet and way too good for me.

We're as different as night and day and that's all anyone wants to talk about. So I plan to stay away from her, no matter how tempting she is.

But when she calls me in the middle of the night, asking for my help, I can't tell her no. I go to her but she has plans to take more than just my help… she also wants my heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hope Ford
• Release date: Nov 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223605553

Hope Ford

USA Today Bestselling Author Hope Ford loves writing about curvy women finding love with hot alpha men. Her stories are short, sweet & steamy. To stay up to date on new releases, copy and paste this link to a new window and sign up: www.authorhopeford.com/subscribe For Freebies - copy and paste this link to a new window:https://authorhopeford.com/freebies/

Book preview

1

HONEY

One of these days, I imagine you’ll have some young strapping man to help load all these crates of produce into your truck, my dad, Marcus McGee, says as he hands me the last crate of fruit.

I laugh, shaking my head at him. Maybe, I answer as I do every time he hints at me taking on a relationship. My golden blond hair is weaved into two Dutch girl braids so as to keep the strands out of my way while I’m working, and my dad gives one of them a tug.

You are a stubborn one, aren’t you? You know I never thought I’d be saying this to one of my kids, but Honey, you’re a bit too picky.

You think so, huh? I ask him over my shoulder as I walk over to my truck. I’m taking some extra produce into town to the Cherry Falls Pantry, and I swear I’ve had this conversation with my dad before. He’s always trying to get my sister and me hitched. It’s a running joke between us that he just wants more help on the farm. And I know this is not all I’m going to hear about my lack of dating—oh no, he’s not finished yet.

He follows me over to my truck with another box of produce. There have been many different, eligible men who’ve stopped by the produce stand to win your attention and affection, and you haven’t given any one of them the time of day.

I set the box down on the bed of the truck. That’s not entirely true. Plus, as my dad, aren’t you supposed to be running off guys, not pushing me toward them? I slide the box into the truck as he does the same next to me. My dad’s right. I just haven’t found a guy I like, though. The guys that have shown an interest, I’ve given them enough attention to know that none of them did it for me. And despite what my father is saying, I’m not going to settle for anyone who is less than extraordinary.

Honey, by the time your mom was your age, we were married, and she was pregnant with you. I just want you to be happy, that’s all.

I look him straight in the eye. Do I not look happy?

My gaze doesn’t even waver. I’m not lying to him that I just haven’t found the one yet. I know what kind of man I want, and I’d like to think once I find him, my dad’s going to support me in my decision. There’s no sense rushing into something that I know is not going to work.

Dad, I’m going to remember this conversation when I bring a guy home I like and you don’t approve of him. And I know that’s probably going to happen. My tastes seem to run more toward the independent, bad boy type, and I don’t know if my dad’s going to like that or not.

I just want you and your sister happy. That’s all. That’s all that matters to your mom and me.

I walk around to the driver’s side of the truck. I know if I let him, he’ll keep me cornered here all day, trying to convince me that it’s about time I settle down. You would think I’m older than my twenty-four years of age the way my dad is talking.

Don’t work too hard today, I tell him in farewell and drive off to the Rosewood Produce Stand at the edge of our farm that I run with the help of my sister and family.

My younger sister Ginger is running the stand and has plenty of folks lined up to buy not just because we sell great produce but because my sister Ginger, with her long brown hair, sweet smile, and friendly ways, is great for business. A lot of the females in town dislike Ginger because she’s a beautiful and self-confident woman. Men respond to confidence, and everyone responds to kindness. If only more of the women in town would take the time to get to know Ginger, they’d see that she’s an amazing person.

You need anything from me before I head into town? I ask her between customers. I used to only deliver to the Pantry once a week, but now I’m able to deliver every other day. Sometimes every day. This has been really important to our family to give back to the community, and I volunteered to take it on. Cherry Falls is a small town, but the Pantry still stays busy providing food and supplies to the needy families and homeless in the area.

No. I’m good. Did you get the speech from Dad? Ginger asks me.

We both roll our eyes. You too, huh?

She laughs. You know it.

Ya know, he’s thinking that if he marries one of us off it’s going to save his back.

We both laugh at that. I’ll see you soon, I call out the window before I drive off.

The way into town, I can’t help but wonder if my dad is right. Am I too picky?

I don’t think so. Maybe I just know what I like, and I haven’t found it yet. At least that’s what I’m thinking anyway. I’ve dated a few guys in town, was even sort of serious about one, but when he wanted to get serious, I broke it off with him. It’s not like I’m scared of commitment or anything. I do want a husband and a family. My parents have been perfect role models for how good married life can be. They’ve stuck together through it all, droughts, storms that destroyed our land, deaths in the family. They’ve always been there for each other, and it’s obvious they love each other. Probably a little too much. I grimace thinking about their constant displays of affection. But even knowing all that, I don’t think I should be rushing into anything either. Not until it feels right, anyway.

2

DAVID

Throw it out and make room for the new stuff I’ve got coming in, my boss, Caroline Park, who owns The Virgin Diner, tells me. She hates being called Mrs. Park and tells