“Dad wanted me to run things when he retired, but Mum wanted me to have choices. I took her advice and graduated from Durham University with a bachelor’s degree in business and finance. Mum and Dad’s graduation gift was money to travel. I did that for six months, backpacking through Europe and Asia. And I was glad for it. I met some amazing people, tried new and wonderful food, and had my eyes opened to the world beyond my own borders. But ultimately, I missed Alnster. I missed the farm.

“Three months after I came home, my mum and dad told me they were retiring, moving to Greece, and the farm was mine if I wanted it.”

“Wow.” I pressed my palm flat to his stomach. “That was a lot of responsibility all of a sudden.”

“It was.” He gave me a squeeze. “But it meant something to me that they believed I could handle it.”

“How many years ago was that?”

Roane seemed to stop breathing at the question, and then his voice was gruff as he replied, “Oh, it was a long time ago. You hungry?”

I blinked at the abrupt subject change. “Um, the heat kind of kills my appetite. Are you hungry?”

“I can wait if you just want to lie for a while.”

“I do.” I launched back into questioning him. “Do you see your parents often?”

“Every year. They usually come home around July or August for a few months, but they’re traveling this year. They’ll be home at Christmas instead.”

Depending on how things progressed between us, I might not even get to meet Roane’s parents. The thought sobered me. No, it more than sobered me. It upset me.

“Have you . . . have you talked to your mum since you got that voice mail?” His voice was gentle, like he didn’t want to spook me with a question I might not want to answer.

I pressed a quick, reassuring kiss to his pec before I replied, “No. I’ve talked to Phil, but I haven’t spoken to Mom directly. Phil says she’s doing okay. I . . . just don’t want things between her and me to affect my time here. I’m being selfish for once.”

“It’s not selfish, Evie.”

“I don’t want to talk about my mom,” I whispered, turning to look up at him. He stared down at me with that tender expression I’d come to know and love. “Tell me about your ex-girlfriends before I expire of curiosity.”

He flashed me a quick, boyish smile. “What do you want to know?”

“Who they were, what they were like, why it ended?”

Roane shook with laughter. “Not much then?”

“Stop teasing and talk.”