Chapter 3

Esme was around twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Her body was fully ripe, tempting in ways that made Flynn's throat go dry.

"Esme, quit joking. I—how could I help you? If your in-laws find out, they'll kill me!"

Flynn shook his head so fast it might as well have been a rattle drum. He had never been in a situation like this before.

"Come on, Flynn, don't worry. I won't tell a soul. Just help me this once," she coaxed, her voice turning softer.

When Flynn still refused, Esme grew anxious. Her expression hardened. "If you don't agree, I'll go straight to your aunt and tell her what you were just up to…"

"Wait, no—I'll do it, okay?" The heat rushed to Flynn's head, making it impossible to think clearly. Before he knew it, his hands were at his waistband, fumbling to undo his belt.

Esme beamed, but she quickly held up a hand. "Not so fast, Flynn. This is my first time. Yours is… kind of scary. If it hurts too much, your aunt might hear, and that wouldn't be good, would it?"

She leaned in conspiratorially. "Listen, my in-laws are out of town for the next couple of days. Come by tonight, when it's quieter. That's settled then. No backing out."

She planted a firm kiss on Flynn's cheek before smoothing her hair and sauntering out, hips swaying with every step.

Flynn stood frozen, his mind a mess.

What the hell was he supposed to do now?

He wanted to know what it felt like to be with a woman, sure. But Esme was a widow. If word got out, the whole village would tear him apart. Worse, his aunt would be dragged down with him.

But from the look in Esme's eyes, if he refused, she wasn't going to let him off easy. She'd hound him relentlessly.

So what now? Should he actually go?

Flynn groaned. After everything, his manhood ached more than ever.

"Screw it," he muttered. "A widow's still a woman. If she's offering, why the hell not?"

With his decision made, he settled into the clinic, watching the clock tick toward nightfall.

Truth be told, he liked Daisy more. She was younger, closer to his own age, fresh in a way Esme wasn't. But there was no point in dwelling on it—he had no shot with her.

Barely half an hour had passed when the sound of hurried footsteps echoed outside.

"Damn this heat, it's enough to kill a man! That little punk Flynn better be home."

Flynn stiffened. That was Noah Harper, the village chief.

What was he doing here?

Flynn kept still, listening intently. Noah never came to this rundown clinic. If he was sick, he went straight to the town hospital.

Could it be about Daisy? Had she told him what happened at the river? Was he here to settle the score?

Before he could figure it out, Noah strode inside.

"Hey, Chief," Flynn greeted, forcing a casual tone.

"Good day, Chief," Anne chimed in politely.

"Let's cut to the chase," Noah grumbled, wiping sweat from his brow. "I'm here to tell you something."

He exhaled sharply. "Your clinic doesn't have a medical license. That makes it illegal. You've got three days to shut it down."

And with that, he turned and walked right out.

"Wait, Chief—hold on!" Flynn rushed after him. "This clinic's been here for over ten years, since my dad's time. Why now? Why suddenly shut it down?"

This place wasn't just a clinic—it was his inheritance, his only way to make a living. If he lost it, he had nothing.

"I told you, it's the law. Orders from the higher-ups—any clinic without a license gets shut down. You don't like it? Take it up with them."

Noah didn't even look back as he left.

Flynn clenched his fists.

This had to be Daisy's doing. She must have told him about what happened at the river. Now he was here for payback.

All this over a little accidental glimpse? What a grudge-holder.

With the clinic shut down, how the hell was he supposed to make money?

"Flynn, don't panic," Anne said gently. "The chief said it's about the license, right? Just get one."

Flynn sighed. "With my half-baked medical skills? You really think I'd pass?"

Not to mention, he barely knew how to read.

"You've got three days. Study hard and give it a shot. If you fail, then we'll figure something else out."

Flynn exhaled slowly. "Alright. I'll give it a try."

But he wasn't letting this go.

"I left some herbs outside. I'll go grab them," he said, standing abruptly.

He wasn't going for herbs.

He was going to find Daisy.

"Be careful," Anne called after him.

"Yeah, yeah," Flynn muttered, already heading out the door.

…

Flynn hid behind the old willow tree near the village grocery store.

He knew Daisy's family had money. Every time she came back from the city, she made a habit of stopping by this store for snacks. If he waited here, he'd run into her sooner or later.

As angry as he was, Flynn wasn't stupid enough to march straight into her house and confront her.

Sure enough, after about ten minutes, she appeared.

She wasn't wearing the same outfit as before. Instead, she had on a white T-shirt and a black pleated skirt. The sunlight reflected off her fair skin. Her dark hair was tied into a high ponytail, and with each step, her silhouette curved and swayed in a way that was hard to ignore.

Daisy might have grown up in the countryside, but at her city school, she was known as one of the top beauties.

But to Flynn, she had never been more annoying. If anything, she made his blood boil.

"Damn it," he muttered under his breath. He wanted to wipe that smug look off her face.

Oblivious to him, Daisy reached the store, practically skipping with excitement. "Ugh, it's so hot! I'm gonna buy ten popsicles and eat them all in one go," she said to herself.

Flynn stepped out from behind the tree.

"Eat what, my ass," he snapped.

Before she could react, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the cornfield.

"Flynn, you jerk! What the hell do you think you're doing?" she shrieked, struggling against him. "You're hurting me! Let go!"

"Shut up, or I'll rip off your skirt!" Flynn shot her a threatening glare.

"Let me go, you shameless jerk!" Daisy's face paled. Without hesitation, she sank her teeth into his arm.

"Ah—damn it! Are you part dog?" Flynn snarled through the pain, tightening his grip like a vice. In one brutal motion, he hoisted her up, her legs trapped against his chest, and charged into the cornfield.

"You lunatic," Daisy spat. "What, you think you can scare me? You think I don't know what you're planning?"

Despite her flustered expression, there was a flicker of amusement in her eyes. There could only be one reason why he would carry her to such a secluded place.

"Come on then, what now?" she taunted. "Even if I took my skirt off right now, you wouldn't be able to get it up, would you?"

The second the words left her mouth, her cocky expression faltered.