Love Finds You: A Helena's Grove Novella Read Online Free Page B

in an hour.”
    Jen huffed and turned to walk out. Zack and Aunt Gabby seemed to have a lot of the same thoughts! He opened the front door and waited for Jen to walk onto the front porch before closing the door behind them.
    “How much did you pay for those shoes?” Zack asked as they walked to the truck.
    “None of your business!” Jen snapped. She wasn’t going to give him more to scoff at.
    “I’m honestly curious.” He smiled at her and his dimple appeared, mocking her.
    “They’re Vera Wang; let’s just leave it at that,” Jen said in an irritated tone.
    Zack nodded and let out a slow “Hmmmm” that proved to Jen he was just pretending to be interested.
    They had reached the truck and Zack opened the passenger door for her. Aunt Gabby was already nestled in the middle, clearly eager to get a move on. Zack got into the driver’s seat and started the truck. It roared loudly and they were on their way.
    “So, where are we going?” Jen asked. She had forgotten to get an answer from Aunt Gabby.
    “We’re gonna go do some branding,” Zack said enthusiastically without looking at her.
    Jen had absolutely no idea what that meant, but she wasn’t about to give Zack the satisfaction of knowing that. So she just nodded, determined to look as if it hadn’t faze d her. Aunt Gabby chatted happily to no one in particular as they drove. Jen stared out the window, not intentionally ignoring her but not really paying much attention. She had her own thoughts to deal with and realized she had a problem. She couldn’t decide if she was attracted to Zack LaFaye, or if he annoyed the ever living hell out of her. She sneaked a peek at him; he wore a navy blue t-shirt and jeans. Did this guy ever dress in anything other than a t-shirt and jeans? Of course not, this was Ohio. Farm boy town. They all dressed that way, or so she assumed. His dark hair was uncombed; it looked like he’d been wearing a hat. He still hadn’t shaved. His whiskers would become a full blown beard if he didn’t trim up soon. Maybe that’s what he was going for. Maybe he didn’t care about the way he looked. Maybe he was one of those back-woodsy type people that never showered or shaved. Jen’s eyebrows furrowed, and then she mentally scratched out that thought. He didn’t seem dirty; just… she searched mentally for the word. ‘Rugged’ was what she finally came up with.
    Her thoughts were broken when Zack turned and caught her looking at him. She didn’t move. The last thing she wanted was for him to think she was intimidated. Their eyes locked for a few seconds. He didn’t smile. Jen finally looked away; three seconds, maybe? She felt a flutter in the pit of her stomach and immediately pushed it away. She looked back at him one more time. He caught her again and this time he winked. She turned away quickly in defiance. Annoying . He definitely annoyed her. He was annoying. It was official.

Chapter 5
     
    Jen got out of the truck and stood there dumbstruck. Cows. As far as the eye could see, nothing but big, mooing, black and brown, cows. Jen had never actually touched a cow, and she didn’t want to. They were dirty and smelly and HUGE! Aunt Gabby jumped from the truck, ran to the fence and began cooing at the beasts closest to her. Jen marveled once again at how much energy she had, especially for a woman that was dying of cancer.
    Zack walke d around the front of the truck. “You gonna stay here by the truck?” he asked as he put a black cowboy hat on his head.
    Jen surveyed her surroundings; besides the cows, the next thing she noticed was the mud. It was everywhere and it was deep! Dark brown, watery sludge lined the fence that held the cows in and they themselves were sinking and swaying in the thickness as they moved along. She wasn’t staying here, no way! She turned to get back into the truck when she heard her name. She turned to see Annie waving as she walked toward her. Jen waved and thought about meeting her half way but