Farmer Wants a Wife: Love and Friendship, Book 3 Read online

  Eric grinned over the rim of his tea mug. “Easy to see where Katey gets her fidgety nature.”

  God, he couldn’t wait any longer. “Josie, I wondered if you and Eric would mind looking after Katey next weekend. I want to go up to Auckland to visit friends.”

  Eric and Josie shared a quick glance before making him the center of their attention.

  “Of course we’ll look after Katey,” Josie said. “You haven’t visited your friends before.”

  Tyler sighed inwardly. He’d known nosey questions would come, and he couldn’t be rude to this couple who’d treated him better than his own parents. “I’ve met someone on the internet. I’m going to meet her and her friends.”

  Josie frowned. “But what if she’s spinning you a line?”

  “I don’t think so, but meeting her in person will let me know either way,” Tyler said.

  “Where are you staying?” Eric asked.

  “With a friend of hers,” Tyler said. “The show is starting again.”

  Eric and Josie exchanged a concerned look before focusing on the television.

  “It’s Nolan,” Josie said. “Good gracious. Look at that girl’s shoes. How does she expect to tramp to the top of Rangitoto in that footwear?”

  They watched as she plus a couple of the other girls headed straight for the land train and climbed aboard.

  “She’s suitably dressed,” Tyler said, his eyes feasting on Susan. She’d dressed for the day and wore a pair of sturdy boots. She looked just as appealing in her casual jeans, jacket and beanie as she had in her red dress.

  The show continued with snatches of conversation, a panoramic view of the city and then the questions started.

  “Oh my,” Josie said. “The kissing one wasn’t too bad, but the questions seem to becoming harder and more difficult for the girls to answer.”

  Susan appeared on the screen—at long last—and Tyler’s heart beat a little faster.

  “She’s my favorite,” Josie said. “But I thought Nolan preferred blondes. Every woman I’ve seen him with has been blonde.”

  “The rest of the women look like blondes,” Tyler said.

  “I hear your mother is outraged at his selection of women,” Eric said. “I caught up with the gossip at the sale.”

  “I haven’t seen her for a long time,” Tyler said, the pain of his mother’s rejection having faded into a dull ache.

  “I know she’s your mother, but she’s a judgmental old bat,” Eric said.

  “Oh my. Good answer,” Josie said. “Well at least Susan’s question wasn’t too bad.”

  Nolan appeared on the screen and asked a second question.

  “He’s baiting her,” Eric said.

  Tyler’s hands clenched around his mug and fantasized about punching Nolan. His brother was needling Susan.

  Susan answered the question and the camera shifted back to Nolan. “What is your favorite sexual fantasy?”

  “Oh my.” Josie shot a quick frown at both of them. “That’s a horrid question. If she answers people will slam her for it, and if she doesn’t answer she’ll receive the same amount of flak.”

  Tyler stared at the screen, his chest tight with apprehension. She’d said she’d lost her verbal filter. Susan started talking, painting pictures with her seductive words.

  When she finished, Josie clapped her hands together in delight. “I like this girl. She has gumption and sass.”

  Tyler liked her too. Very much. The weekend couldn’t come quickly enough.

  The segment with Nolan wrapped up, and Hailee appeared on the screen. “Wasn’t that exciting? That last question—wow!” She beamed at the camera. “Tune in next week to meet the rest of the farmers and their ladies, plus we’ll have the announcement of who goes through to the next round. I think we’re in for a treat. Don’t forget to check out the blogs on the station website. Feel free to enter the online polls and chat on the forum. See you next week!”

  “Well,” Josie said. “Who do you think Nolan will choose?”

  Chapter Five

  Tyler caught a cab from the airport to the hotel Eric and Josie had insisted on booking. For peace of mind, according to Josie when she handed over her credit card.

  Tyler wasn’t worried about Susan or her friends murdering him in his bed. He’d learned a lot from their exchange of emails.

  After checking in, he shot Susan a text to tell her he’d arrived. His phone beeped a few minutes after he’d hit send.

  Meet at Maxwell’s on K’ Rd. Bang for entry on arrival.

  Tyler decided to walk from his hotel at the bottom of Queen Street. He strolled past the cruise terminal where a huge ship hugged the wharf. Passengers and crew scurried up and down the gangway.

  An Elizabeth Square flower seller snagged his attention and he bought four bunches—for Susan and one for each of her close friends. He was looking forward to putting faces to names.

  Tyler wandered up Queen Street and tackled the hill leading to K’ Road at a fast stroll. Buses, cars and taxis choked the streets and workers spilled from offices and shops, ready for their home comforts and a weekend of freedom. He paused at a crossing, taking a rapid step back when a huge bus lumbered around the corner. It lurched to a stop and passengers piled on board.

  When he reached K’ Road, he took note of the clubs, the adult stores interspersed with a small convenience store, a shop selling saris and a café. The door of Maxwell’s was closed and after a quick breath, Tyler knocked for entry.

  An elderly man opened the door a crack and peered at him. “We open at six.”

  “I’m here to see Susan. She told me to bang on the door.”

  “You’re Tyler.” An attractive blonde appeared behind the man. “Let him in, Stan. This is Tyler, Susan’s friend.”

  “Hi.” Tyler smiled, his nerves settling until he recalled the rest of New Zealand thought Susan was Nolan’s girl. His brother—blast him—had included Susan in his latest pick. “I bought some flowers.” Tyler handed over a bunch to Julia.

  “Aren’t you sweet?” Julia sniffed at the bouquet of mixed flowers. “Susan is sorting out the change floats.” She took his arm in a friendly manner. “I’ll show you to the office. We can’t leave for dinner until after the first dance sequence.”

  “That’s fine,” Tyler said, taking in his surroundings with interest. The room was huge, the walls the deep blue-black of dusk before real dark stole in to mute the landscape. Borders of intricate golden scrolls contrasted with the blue to give a classy air. “You have a nice place here. It’s…elegant.”

  “We like it,” Julia said. “If it weren’t for Susan and the rest of my friends, my mother would have ended up selling the club.”

  “It’s a family business?”

  “I’m fourth generation.” Julia steered him toward the bar, past gleaming tables to a group of men and women. “This is Maggie and Connor. This is Caleb and Ryan, my husband.” She released Tyler and winked at her husband.

  Maggie was a curvy woman with brown hair and large breasts, although after his first glance, Tyler focused on her husband. Connor was a big man, a few inches taller than Tyler and he bore the fit build of a rugby player. Tyler would’ve picked him as a rugby man even if Susan hadn’t told him about her friends.

  Ryan and Caleb were as alike as Susan had said with dark good looks—at least from a female perspective—and the wiry strength and grace of runners.

  “I recognize the names. Susan has mentioned you in her emails.” Tyler handed flowers to Maggie and shook hands with everyone, despite his impatience to meet Susan. They were vetting, checking him out because they cared about their friend, and he couldn’t blame their caution. He’d do the same if he were in their position, and the size of the three men, their assessing gazes, didn’t faze him in the slightest.

  “Is he here yet?” A woman’s voice came from up on stage.

  Tyler straightened, admitted to nerves and did his best not to show his anxiety.

  “Yes,” Juli
a said, amusement coloring her tone.

  The woman with golden brown hair popped from behind the curtains, and Tyler relaxed. She wore glasses and each time she moved, her bracelets jingled.

  “Oops. I’ll go and tell Susan,” she said.

  “Not so fast,” Maggie said.

  Tyler shifted to stare at her impish face.

  Maggie winked and the big, husky man at her side growled. “We haven’t had time to interrogate him yet.”

  “Excellent. I haven’t missed the good stuff,” Christina said, careening to a halt beside him. “Hi.” She stuck out her hand. “I’m Christina. Are you playing our girl?”

  “No,” Tyler said, sharing his glare around. He got their protectiveness, but surely he deserved a chance. “I haven’t told Susan a single lie.” He offered flowers to Christina when instinct prodded him to use them like a sword and smack her over the head.

  “What about your brother?” Julia asked.

  Tyler met her slightly accusing gaze. “I don’t know anything of Nolan’s plans.”

  “Does he know you’re up here?” Connor shifted his weight and Tyler got the idea the men were waiting to pounce if he screwed up in his replies.

  “I haven’t spoken to Nolan for weeks.”

  “Why not?” Christina’s gesture set her bracelets jangling. “Aren’t you close to your family?”

  “We’re polite,” Tyler said. “I’ll discuss my family situation with Susan.” He’d intended to tell her of the sordid past anyway, since he wanted to start with honesty.

  Julia scowled. “Why—?”

  “That’s enough, sweetheart,” Ryan said. “Give the man a break and take him to meet Susan.”

  She nodded. “Come on.”

  “Leave them alone,” Ryan added. “Susan knows we’re here if she needs us.”

  While they’d been talking, two women appeared behind the bar. An elderly man prowled from behind the curtain. Although he was older, he looked alert and fit in his white shirt and black trousers.

  “Should I tell Stan to open the doors, Julia?” the man asked.

  Julia glanced at her watch. “Please, Curt. Come on, Tyler. Susan won’t have much time until she needs to change for her routine.”

  Tyler went with Julia, aware of the murmur of voices behind him, the silent speculation. No doubt he’d face more questioning during the weekend. No problem. Susan’s friends cared for her, which only made her more attractive to him. A woman who inspired loyalty beat his wife, hands down.

  “Susan, you have a visitor,” Julia said, standing back to usher him into the small office. She checked her watch and grinned. “Sorry, but you only have ten minutes. Inconvenient for us too, since we had to cut our interrogation short. See you soon.”

  Susan groaned, her blue eyes settling on him as Julia left them alone. “They didn’t?”

  “They care about you,” Tyler said, drinking her in. With her long straight hair and freckles, her bright blue eyes, she was even prettier in person. “I know this is forward since we haven’t met before, but I want to kiss you.”

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  He set his last bunch of flowers aside and closed the space between them. She glanced up, a tiny smile playing on her lips.

  “I’m so glad you agreed to meet me in person.” Unable to resist, he ran the tips of his fingers over her cheek. It was soft and silky and immediately he wanted to experience more of her—preferably while she was naked. He breathed in her scent, soapy with a blast of citrus, and his craving intensified. In person, her freckles stood out—charming cinnamon-colored dots that tempted him to taste. “You’re beautiful.”

  Her dark lashes lowered to screen her blue eyes but the curve of her lips told him she found the compliment pleasing.

  “It’s hard to judge height on television.” It was difficult to judge a lot of things while watching the screen. Seeing her in person let him indulge his senses.

  “What’s wrong with my height?”

  “Not a thing.” The six inches difference worked for him. His head dipped and he took her lips. Gentle at first, he explored, tasted, then her arms wrapped around his neck and she pressed closer. Given her encouragement, he took the kiss deeper, tangling their tongues and doing some of the things he’d dreamed of when he first saw her on television. He stroked his tongue against hers then bit her full lower lip. Her soft breasts pressed against his chest and her encouraging sounds went straight to his cock.

  He let his hands wander down her back and come to rest on her butt. He pulled her against him, groaning against her mouth when his cock came into contact with her lower body.

  “Ahem!” Julia said from the doorway.

  They sprang apart, both breathing hard and emotionally off-balance. At least he was teetering, the rush of lust almost taking him out at the knees. He found he wanted to possess her, to mark her, take her in every way so no one was in any doubt she belonged to him and he belonged to her.

  “I thought you’d be talking,” Julia said, a wicked gleam in her eyes. “I can’t wait to report back.”

  “I don’t suppose I can bribe you to keep quiet?” Susan asked.

  Tyler shot her a quick glance. Nope, she didn’t look as if she regretted their close encounter. Oh, her cheeks were flushed, but she’d moved close again, the heat from her body searing his hip through his clothing.

  “Not a hope.” Julia had changed into a figure-hugging blue dress with a slit up one side. “I’m going to do the intro thing because we’re packed already. You’re on soon.” She started to leave before strolling back into the room. She grasped Tyler’s arm. “Since I can’t trust the two of you alone, you’re coming with me.”

  Giving in gracefully, Tyler blew Susan a kiss. The smile that spread over her face pumped lust afresh. Once Susan finished work they’d have the rest of the night to talk and get to know each other, and hopefully most of Saturday and Sunday morning before he caught his flight back to Napier.

  Julia towed him back to her friends. “I found them in a lip lock,” she announced.

  In the short time he’d been away, the club had filled with both men and women. Soft music played in the background and waitresses scurried to and from the bar with trays of drinks. Two female bartenders moved with practiced efficiency behind the bar.

  The group of friends exchanged glances before focusing on him. Tyler stared back, determined not to speak first. He didn’t owe them explanations. This was between him and Susan.

  “Do you play rugby?” Connor asked.

  Tyler blinked. “I played at high school and university, but I don’t get much free time on the farm.”

  “Position?” Connor asked.

  “Occasionally winger but mostly a back.”

  Connor grunted. “We’re a man down for our game tomorrow afternoon. Are you interested?”

  “It depends on Susan,” Tyler said. “She might have other plans.”

  “We’re all going to watch the game,” Julia said.

  Another thought occurred. “Are you intending to beat me into a pulp on the rugby field?”

  Julia’s husband laughed and the other guy—Caleb—joined him. “You catch on quick, country boy,” Ryan said.

  “Are you playing?” Tyler asked him.

  Ryan shook his head. “Caleb and I don’t play. We have more sense than Connor.”

  Why not? Tyler decided. Fitness wasn’t a problem. “Sure, I’d love to play.”

  Connor nodded.

  “You’d better grab your table before someone decides to ignore the reserved sign,” Julia said. “What would you like to drink, Tyler? A beer?”

  “That would be great.”

  Julia nodded. “Everyone else want their usual?”

  Minutes later, Tyler found himself seated at a large circular table, hemmed in by Connor and Christina, and waiting for character assassination, for potshots, for concern.

  “I hear you have a daughter,” Connor said.

  Tyler relaxed at the non-confro
ntational question. “Yes, Katey is four.”

  “A similar age to my son, Alex,” Ryan said. “Who’s looking after her this weekend?”

  “My in-laws,” Tyler said. “Josie—that’s my mother-in-law—she’s taking her shopping and for afternoon tea. She wasn’t happy about me going on a plane without her, but the promise of afternoon tea smoothed the path.”

  “Susan said your wife died a few years ago,” Maggie said. “I’m sorry. That must have been rough.”

  It had also been a relief, but Tyler didn’t intend to share that particular snippet. He’d get to the dark details of his past with Susan, once they knew each other better.

  The drinks arrived, interrupting his need to reply straightaway. He gripped his beer bottle, tension sliding across him to settle in his shoulders. When the waitress departed he said, “Yes, she died way too young. My in-laws were great and they continue to support me. I’m lucky.”

  “Do they know you’ve come up here to meet a woman?” Caleb asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Do they know her identity?” Maggie asked, shooting to the heart of the line of questioning.

  “No. I told them I met her on the internet.”

  “They were okay with that?” Ryan asked. “My parents would have asked a hundred questions, given me a hundred lectures.”

  Tyler smiled. “Oh, they asked nosy questions but I told them I didn’t intend to answer any until I knew if things were going to work out.”

  “Do you do this sort of thing often?” Connor demanded.

  Tyler met his gaze without flinching. “No, I haven’t dated anyone since my wife died.” He’d gone out to town socials and danced with women, but after his wife trampled his feelings, he’d needed time to heal plus he’d had responsibility for Katey. “My concern was for my daughter, not my love life.”

  “Why Susan?” Maggie asked.

  Tyler scowled. “Why not? She’s beautiful.”

  The music changed to a vocal track and the lights dimmed—a signal of some sort because club patrons straightened to attention and the buzz of conversation died. Up on the stage, a spotlight appeared and Julia walked into it, stunning and attention grabbing in her blue gown.