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“You ready for this?” Adam nudged me in the hip.
“Are you is the question! I don’t want you falling off the horse and breaking a leg or anything.”
“Trust me, Anna. You don’t need to worry about me.”
“Let’s hope not.” I smiled at him and walked ahead, joining the kids as they made their way to the house.
“Welcome,” Marie, the owner, greeted us.
I’d spoken to Marie on the phone a few times before our arrival, and so I already recognized her voice. She stood with open arms on the large front porch. The place reminded me of home. Of course, my family’s farm was nowhere near this big, but it had that same country feel, with the porch and rocking chairs, the fresh air, and the open spaces.
“You’ll love it here.” Marie winked at me as I climbed the few stairs to the porch. “The stew’s ready. Let me show you to your rooms, and then we’ll all meet in the dining room for supper.”
The kids entered through the open door, and I came up alongside Marie. “I have them set up two per room.”
“Perfect. Thank you for fitting us in.”
Adam stepped up next to us, and Marie’s attention shifted fast to him.
“You must be the lovely man footing the bill for all of this.”
He shook her hand and nodded. “They’re a good group of kids.” He smiled and then walked into the home.
“He’s a keeper.” Marie smiled, and my cheeks burst red.
“Oh. No. We’re—well, we work together.”
“Too bad.” She winked a green eye at me once again and went ahead into the house.
I gave myself a minute to collect my thoughts before going in.
I caught up with the group, trailing behind as we toured the cute, but large home. “Now, I didn’t think you’d want to use the hall bathroom with the kids, so I have two rooms on the other side of the house.” We followed after Marie, and she stopped outside one of the rooms and motioned for Adam and me to enter.
The bedroom was quaint, with a queen-sized bed in the middle, covered by a yellow, flowery comforter. There was a nightstand on each side. “This works.” I nodded and smiled.
“The door to the bathroom is here.” Marie pointed to a door in one of the interior walls of the room.
“So, Adam and I will share the bathroom?” I wondered if Marie could sense the hesitation in my voice.
“Is that a problem?” She looked to Adam, who remained standing near me with a blank look on his face. “There are locks on both sides of the doors. Be sure to lock the door when you’re in there so you don’t drop in on the other accidentally.”
“I’ll do my best to remember.” Adam’s eyes were on me now, and a cool bristle of need slipped inside me.
What the hell is wrong with me? I dropped my small bag and purse on the chair as Marie and Adam walked through the bathroom to his room.
“I’m starving. Going to find the kids,” I called out.
I needed a moment alone—to fight back the biting desire that funneled through me like a tornado, taking all my emotions round and round in one sweeping movement.
* * *
After the meal, Marie’s husband, James, started a large fire outside the house. We all gathered around on makeshift stools made of cut lumber. Adam immediately got down to the business of roasting a marshmallow. Well, more like torching it. The flames ate at the sugary treat until it was charred. He brought the sticky black blob close to his mouth, and I couldn’t help but stare at his lips as they parted.
I shifted my attention away and upward.
The sky was a map of the stars; constellations glittered above our heads. It was serene, and kind of perfect. The fire licked the air, rising between us as flecks of red sparks shot out and brushed against my marshmallow stick.
I brought the stick closer and peeled off the gooey, white mess at the end, popping the entire thing into my mouth, which produced a laugh from Chloe. “Mmm,” I exaggerated as I chewed, looking at her.
