Learning to Love Again: This Time a Billionaire

Chapter 6: Going to Market

ABIGAIL'S POV

“That'll be twenty dollars," I rang up a few items for Mrs. Rogers, who lived down the way.

“Thank you, darling," Mrs. Rogers smiled at me and reached into her purse to pay me in cash, most of which were coins from an old coin purse. “I don't know how much is there, dear."

I warmly smiled as she struggled, “I'll help ya', Mrs. Rogers."

I began to make stacks of change to equal a dollar each when I heard a familiar voice. My heart sped up and betrayed me by throwing itself against my ribs. How dare it do such a thing. I swallowed hard and tried to ignore John shopping around my family's market in his usual business attire.

I finished counting out Mrs. Rogers' change when John got in line with a stack of muffins in his arms. I had no idea why he needed so many, and we were short today. I smiled as I put her items into a bag for her and wished her a good day.

I sized John up as he set the five boxes of muffins down. “Didn't know you were taking up my mama's offer of putting meat on your bones so hard."

John burst out laughing, “Nah, Betty at the Bed and Breakfast asked if I could do her a favor. A batch of muffins ended up burnt because someone wasn't paying attention and there wasn't enough time to make any. She sent me to your family's market. Something about Abigail making the best of the best." He winked at me, and I blushed.

“Well, I don't know about that, but we do alright." I shrugged and rang up the muffins.

“You should try our honey, honey." My mama came up behind me and set down a jar of wildflower honey for John.

“Mama, I doubt he—" I complained before John interrupted me.

“Yes, ma'am." He pulled his wallet from his back pocket, and I shut my mouth. “How much do I owe you?"

“Fifty," I stared at him, and he pulled a crisp hundred out of his wallet, holding it out to me.

“Keep the change," John smiled, as I took the bill from him.

“I insist," I opened the metal change box and grabbed a fifty for him, holding it out.

“Now John, you should come to this little get-together at the community center we have coming up. It's always fun," my mama gestured with her index finger with a smile on her face. Everyone knew better than to turn mama down when she got like that. “There's food, craft sales, and square dancing. I'm sure Abigail would love for you to come."

“Mama," the word shot out of my mouth in a clipped tone, as I glared at her over my shoulder. I peered back at John, “Here, take the change."

“It's alright. Use it for the farm." John smiled and pushed my hand away. He looked past me at my mama with a laugh, “I'd love to see it."

“Good, starts at six," my mama pointed in the air towards him.

I sighed and he gathered the items in his arms and wrapped his large hand around the jar of honey to take it away.

“Abigail, help the man," Mama gestured with her hand to shoo me away.

“But mama, I need to work the register. We have a line," I tried to protest, but she waved me away.

“Nonsense! Help him take those to Betty. Charlotte and I got the market covered." Mama wouldn't take no for an answer.

“It's alright. I don't want to be trouble." John raised his hand, but my mama gently pushed me forward. “Guess you have no choice."

I nervously giggled and brushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear, throwing my hand down and gaining a serious expression when I caught myself letting go around him. “Guess not. Here." I took a few of the boxes of muffins from his hands.

“Thanks," John cleared his throat.

“Did you drive?" I followed him through the market and out to the dirt parking area.

“I did," John unlocked his rental car and opened the backdoor. “You can just put them on the seat."

“Thanks," I set the boxes down and watched him add his own items to the pile.

“So, what else do you sell?" John walked around to open the passenger door for me.

“Jam, fruit, veggies, and baked goods." I had said those words so many times that it was second nature to me.

“I'll have to try the other things you all sell. I'm excited to taste the muffins. I heard they're life changing." John softly smiled and started the car.

I snorted, “I don't know about that."

“Well, I'll tell you when I finally get to eat one." John winked at me and took off towards the bed and breakfast.

He turned on the radio and let country music pour from the speakers. I peered over at him, watching him tap the beat of the song on the steering wheel with his slender fingers.

“You listen to country at home?" I turned my attention back to the front windshield.

“Nah, although it's growing on me. I just couldn't find anything else on the radio that would come through besides static." John started to crack jokes about losing his dog and woman, drinking too much, and about how his tractor was sexy.

I tried so hard not to laugh, but it got too hard once he reached the bit about the sexy tractor. I suddenly snorted and covered my mouth, stifling my laugh until I couldn't anymore.

“Is that what country music is to you?" I peered over at him in a fit of laughter.

“Isn't that what most of it is about?" John laughed flashing glances between the road and me.

I tilted my head from side to side, “Pretty much."

“See? Wasn't wrong," John tapped his temple and pulled into the parking lot of the bed and breakfast.

“You're ridiculous," I laughed and shook my head.

“Here to make you laugh," John winked at me. God, I hated that wink. Not because it was annoying, but because it came with a damn cute smile that made the corners of his eyes crinkle.

“But there are some more serious songs out there," I shrugged.

He nodded, “I don't doubt that."

“Anyway," I cleared my throat and unbuckled my seatbelt.

We got out and he opened the backdoor so that I could grab some of the boxes for him. He grabbed the rest and swept up the jar of honey with his hand. I walked towards the front of Betty's Bed and Breakfast, taking the wooden stairs up to the front door.

The boards creaked and cracked beneath my boots, as I made my way up them. John followed me and rushed forward to grab the door for me. He held it open, and I smiled, “Chivalry isn't dead."

“No, at least not with me." John softly laughed and followed me inside.

Betty was at the front desk talking to a family who must have just gotten into town. She always knew how to dress cute with her vintage polka dot dress and boots. Her floppy sunhat completed the look, and I was always jealous of how pretty she was. Her black curly hair was short, and her makeup was always perfect. And with her freckles across her cheeks, she was absolutely adorable.

We walked up with the muffins, and she rushed towards us. She gave me a hug and took the boxes from me, “Thank you, sugar."

“All him," I gestured towards John with my thumb.

“Still helped," Betty winked at me. “Anyway, let's take them to the kitchen."

John followed us to the kitchen. We set them down on a counter and made our way back out. Betty thanked us before going back to the front desk, leaving me alone with John again.

“Let me drive you back," John gestured with his hand for me to walk in front of him.

“That would be great." I smiled and followed him back to his car, climbing in.

“So, that get together at the Community Center. Is that all the time?" John's steel watch caught the sunlight, as he held the steering wheel.

“Mmm… not all the time per say, but pretty often." I shrugged. “Why?" I peered over at him with a curious expression.

“I was just curious about how often everyone got together," John pulled up to the farm.

“See you there?" My hand hesitated on the handle.

“And miss Heber's best baker?" He teased and leaned on the steering wheel with his forearm, “Never." He laughed at my serious expression. “I'm kidding, I'll be there."

“See you there," I climbed out before he could do more damage. I didn't want to fall for him. I didn't want to feel this way about someone. He was dangerous all right, but not in the same way as Aaron. He was going to slowly fix the cracks in my heart, one stitch at a time, and I couldn't have that.