Mechanic Jordan Hart is down on his luck, so he gladly accepts a temporary job servicing tractors at a hazelnut farm in Newberg, Oregon. He doesn’t expect to be attracted to his boss, Beckett Shaw. Still working on embracing his bisexuality, he’s reluctant to start anything, but Beckett’s gentle coaxing convinces Jordan to take a risk.<br><br>Beckett has vowed not to get involved with anyone until he can restore the Shaw Farms name as a leader in hazelnuts. But there’s no denying his interest in the shy mechanic who shows up at his door. Just as they begin to find a balance, outside forces threaten to tear them apart. Job opportunities force Jordan out of the Portland area he loves so much. But when danger comes too close to Beckett, Jordan must decide if he can follow his heart to the Willamette Valley ... and straight back to Beckett.

Hearts and Hazelnuts

“Uh-oh.” The words popped out of Jordan’s mouth without thought, but Beckett’s bark of laughter eased his momentary panic. For a second there, he’d been worried Beckett wouldn’t take it as a joke. They were still getting to know each other, and Jordan wasn’t sure yet what Beckett’s sense of humor was like.


“Cute.” Beckett waggled his eyebrows and then turned back to the bowl and began to mix the batter. “But no. I think it’s a good thing. You don’t have a full-time job right now, right?”


Beckett nodded. “So I thought you could stay on here for a few weeks.”


“What?” He had to have heard Beckett wrong. There wasn’t any work left for Jordan to do. The tractors were all purring like kittens, and everything was running at peak performance. They wouldn’t need service until the next spring, when they would be put to use again. So what, exactly, was Beckett saying?


Chapter 23