Issues, Issues, Issues

Let me introduce you to the main characters of my latest release Turnaround Farm, a Kindle Unlimited title available at https://wingsepress.com/turnaround-farm/

Holly Grant is a tall, stunning blonde who started her own real estate office a few years ago. She’s doing well, but she wants to do better, and buying Turnaround Farm for her client will make her a tidy profit and give her a bigger name in the real estate world.

Dan Wakefield doesn’t own Turnaround Farm, but his grandfather does, and one day the farm will be Dan’s. He’s totally against the idea of selling even though his life would be a lot easier if he did. The Wakefields are barely making ends meet.

Unfortunately, both Holly and Dan have some serious personal issues to contend with. The two of them had dysfunctional childhoods that color the way they see the world and react to others. In spite of it, they’re both very attracted to one another.

Here’s a short excerpt from Turnaround Farm that focuses on Dan’s issues. We’ll do Holly another time. The speaker who joined Dan in the excerpt is his grandfather Jeb.

Joining Dan, he ran a practiced hand down the horse’s leg, feeling for heat or tenderness. “You liked her, didn’t you?”

Dan made a noise that might have passed for a laugh. “Yeah, right. The woman wants to buy the place that’s been in our family for generations. Sure, I liked her.”

Jeb dropped the mare’s leg and fastened his gaze on Dan. “You like her looks. She’s a beautiful woman, and you’re a young man. Why don’t you ask her out?”

Dan grabbed a pitchfork and forked hay to the horse in the stall behind him, even though Jeb knew he’d already fed her. “Huh! What do I have to offer a woman like that? There’s no reason why she’d have any interest in me.”

“Nothing to offer? No, nothing except honor, kindness, and integrity wrapped up in one of the nicest packages anywhere.”

The sharp lines that had begun to insinuate themselves around Dan’s mouth in the last year or so deepened as a faint flush darkened his cheeks. “I don’t think most people would use the words honor and integrity in the same sentence as the name Wakefield.”

“In your case they’d be wrong, wouldn’t they?”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m too busy to take the time. Besides, a woman like that is too high maintenance for me to afford.”

Jeb patted the mare’s neck, and she bumped his chest with her nose. She’d always been an affectionate creature. “I have no idea why you’d think Miss Grant is high maintenance, but it doesn’t matter if she is or not. I’m not asking you to make a life-long commitment to her. Just take her to dinner or a movie. You really need to get out more. Your social life is nonexistent.”

“I don’t think so, Gramps.”

Jeb’s lips marginally tightened. Dan was so stubborn. That was one thing he had inherited from Kyle, although he’d never said so to Dan. Any resemblance to his father horrified his grandson. “How do you ever expect to get married if you don’t look around a little?”

“I don’t want to get married.”

Jeb’s eyes widened. “Why not? Having a pretty woman to snuggle with would be a lot better than sleeping alone. I think you’d be a pretty good father too.”

Dan looked at him as if he’d suddenly sprouted hooves and a tail. “You must be joking! Me, a father? I’d never have a kid who might turn out like my dad. Since most women seem to want kids, that rules out marriage. I can’t afford to get married anyway. We can barely make it with two people in the house. We don’t need three.”

Jeb continued his work in silence, but his mind darted from one possibility to another. If Dan wouldn’t help himself, his grandfather would have to do it for him. He had had to stand by and watch Kyle ruin his life, but if he had anything to say about it, Dan would get a happy ending.

Advertisement