Glancing at his soaked boxers, he debated whether to leave them with his pants for Liz to clean. It felt somewhat personal, but at the same time, he didn’t want her to think he wasn’t wearing any underwear if he didn’t leave a pair. Ultimately, he folded them neatly and placed them between his shirt and pants. With a deep breath, he stepped back out into the kitchen.
Liz was bent over, her head in the fridge, providing Mark with a tantalizing glimpse of what lay beneath her shorts. Clearing his throat to announce his presence, she stood up, asking if he was hungry or thirsty. She had a few items in her hands–a bit of meat, cheese, and butter. “I can slap together a sandwich for you,” she offered. “I feel bad for dragging you out here this late at night. Do you want a beer?”
Mark wasn’t particularly hungry or thirsty, but he figured that if he declined, it might cut short their time together. He accepted both the simple sandwich and the beer. Liz handed him a can of something cheap and began assembling the sandwich–a few slices of cheese, some ham, and a generous smear of butter. “I know it’s not much,” she said, “but I really do appreciate it. If you ever need a hand from me, just shoot me a text, and I’ll be over within an hour.”
Mark nodded appreciatively, feeling a mix of gratitude and nervous excitement. “Thank you, Liz. I’ll definitely keep that in mind,” he replied, taking a bite of the sandwich.
As they sat in the kitchen, sharing a quiet moment together, Mark couldn’t help but hope that their connection would continue to grow, fueled by the sparks that seemed to fly between them.
She made them both small sandwiches and began eating, breaking the silence that had settled between them. After a few bites, Liz initiated the conversation. “So, you’re new to helping your grandma, huh? Is this your first serious farming experience?”
Mark nervously replied, “Yeah, actually. I found it kind of funny when my grandma offered my help to you because it seems like you’re much more knowledgeable than I am.”
Liz chuckled lightly and responded, “Yeah, I’ve been farming for a good chunk of my life. I used to spend summers out here when my old man was around. It’s always been a part of my life.”
Curiosity got the better of Mark, and he ventured into another topic. “Any chance you know anything about fixing tractors?”
Liz was taken aback for a moment before leaning back in her chair, stretching her body. Her serious expression indicated that she was genuinely considering his question.
Mark tried to downplay it, emphasizing that it wasn’t a big deal. “It’s just that we have a couple of tractors for harvest that keep kicking the drive belt clean off, and I have no clue what’s causing it. I’ve been watching YouTube videos and trying to figure things out, but tractors are not my expertise.”
Liz burst into a deep belly laugh, finding humor in the situation. It was a beautiful sound that resonated with Mark, instantly drawing him closer to her. In that moment, he resolved to cherish the sound of her laughter for as long as possible. “I mean, I don’t use tractors much here, but I do have one. I could take a look. Maybe we have a similar issue. I’ve had my drive belt kicked off a couple of times, so who knows? I’ll swing by tomorrow with your dry clothes in the afternoon, and we can figure it out,” Liz offered.
Mark’s face lit up with gratitude and anticipation. He was thrilled by the prospect of seeing her again so soon. “I’d really appreciate that,” he responded sincerely. The rest of the night was filled with perfect moments–light-hearted jokes that led to laughter far beyond their deserving. Mark only had one beer, as did Liz. Eventually, Mark realized it was time for him to take his leave. He bid her goodnight, went back home, and attempted to sleep, though his thoughts of Liz kept him awake.
As the sun rose, Mark acknowledged that he would have to endure a tired day due to his lack of sleep. Despite feeling the effects of exhaustion, he dressed and began tackling his daily chores. He split firewood for the fireplace, tended to the animals, and pulled a few weeds from the garden. He intentionally avoided starting any major tasks until after Liz arrived, wanting to fully concentrate on their time together.
Surprisingly, Liz showed up early in the afternoon, around 1:00. Mark had been expecting to hear her car, but instead, she arrived on a bicycle. They lived relatively close to each other, which explained her mode of transportation. Liz had a bag on her back, and she pulled out a plastic bag tied at the top. “Brought your clothes,” she said, handing them to Mark. He briefly went inside to put them away before returning to thank her.
“Thanks,” Mark expressed. “I don’t think I actually thanked you last night for the sandwich. It was good.”
Liz appeared slightly confused. “The sandwich was to thank you for helping me with that whole disaster last night. I don’t think you’re supposed to thank a thanks,” she chuckled. Mark joined in, realizing his unintentional redundancy.
They moved on to the reason Liz had come over–to take a look at the troublesome tractor. Mark nodded, recalling the other half of why she was there. “Oh yeah, come on. It’s over here,” he motioned, leading her to his small workshop/garage. Inside, there were two small blue tractors. Curiosity got the better of Liz, and she asked why he had two tractors if he was the only one there.
Mark shared an amusing story. “This is kind of a funny story, I guess. The farm used to be even smaller, and my grandfather bought the small tractor. But as they grew a bit bigger, it became really time-consuming to do all the fieldwork with such a crappy little tractor. Instead of buying a bigger one, he just bought a second small one. And whenever different seasons would come around, he would get one of my uncles or someone to come out and give him a hand.” Liz laughed, finding the story fitting for Mark’s grandfather.
They popped the hood of the tractor and began inspecting it. Almost immediately, Liz identified the issue. “Right here,” she pointed out, indicating a small bent piece of metal that was hidden behind the wheel on the drive belt.
“I think we have the same model of tractor, honestly. It’s this dumb little piece here. It bends if you hit a rock or anything, and then it hooks the belt every time it goes above a certain speed. You can just bang it flat with a hammer, and you’ll be okay. If you have a hammer around, I can do it myself,” she suggested.
Mark directed her to the workbench, and she hurriedly fetched a hammer. Crawling mostly inside the hood of the tractor, Liz began hammering away at the problematic area. In that moment, she caught Mark’s eye, radiating confidence and grace. It didn’t matter how peculiar her position seemed; she always looked perfect to him. He moved around the side of the tractor, pretending to observe her work but truly captivated by her presence. Each forceful blow of the hammer sent a shiver through her body, leaving Mark in awe.
When Liz finished and stood up, Mark found his voice. “I guess I owe you a sandwich now,” he said, a slight flush creeping up his face.
Liz giggled before responding, “No, I think I’m still in your debt. You were a real good boy last night.” The words “good boy” sent an electrifying sensation through him.
Mark couldn’t shake off the effect of being called a “good boy.” It had sent a jolt of excitement through him, making him feel alive in the most exhilarating way. Liz paused, creating a momentary suspense as she seemed to contemplate his reaction. Eventually, she assured him that he didn’t owe her anything and went on to fix the other tractor.
Before long, Liz was gone again, leaving Mark yearning for the next time he would see her. He hurriedly rushed inside, running up to his bedroom and locking the door behind him. Sitting at the end of his bed, he replayed in his mind the way she had called him a “good boy.” It sounded like a melodic song, reverberating in his thoughts.
He held the plastic bag containing his old clothes that Liz had cleaned, ready to put them away. As he sorted through the items, he realized that only his pants and shirt remained; his boxers must have fallen out at some point. Mark brushed it off as insignificant, as they were not particularly new anyway. He neatly stored the clothes in his dresser, but not before taking a moment to lean his head down and inhale deeply. The scent of the clothes carried the essence of Liz’s home, likely from the soap she used. He carefully set them aside, not wanting them to lose her touch or the comforting reminder of their encounter.
As Liz pedaled her bike away from Mark’s house, a wide smile formed on her face. She couldn’t help but feel a sense of triumph, knowing that she had managed to evoke a reaction from him. Though she had played it cool, deep down, she relished in the way he had flushed and reacted to being called a “good boy.”
In that moment, Liz made a conscious decision. She wanted more. She wanted to explore the chemistry and connection she felt with Mark. The attraction between them had become undeniable, and the thought of indulging in their desires excited her.
With newfound determination, Liz allowed her thoughts to wander, contemplating the possibilities that lay ahead. She knew that pursuing something with Mark would be a delicious adventure, and she was ready to take that leap.
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