I waved to Larry as she left her post at the corn maze and took off for the night. Mom and Dad stopped by after they locked up the General Store. They let me know that they had dinner plans and wouldn’t see me later in case I stopped by the house. I fully intended to relax at home—well, Grandma and Grandpa’shome—with a frozen pizza, a nice long bath, a new charcoal sheet mask, and a bottle of wine. With how busy we’d been, Saturdays on the farm were stressful, and as soon as I finished up here, I’d be on my way out.
I only had two carts left when Brady Judd came walking down the path from the main gate. I froze, debating darting behind the shed, but then realized I’d already been spotted. He had a huge grin on his face. I could see the dimple in his cheek from here.
My heart rate picked up. Yes, I’d been avoiding him, but my body was obviously confused by his proximity. I was probably just used to feeling the anticipation for our battles. That had to be it. I resisted pressing a hand to my sternum.
What was he even doing at Grandpappy’s anyway?
When he veered into the pumpkin patch and approached, I called out, “Are you lost? Your farm is across the street.”
His smile widened and he pushed his hands into the pockets of that damn puffy vest he always wore. “I knew I took a wrong turn somewhere.”
I stared as he came to a stop in front of me.
His gaze moved all over my face, and I could feel myself going warm. Was he just going to stand there and ... look at me?
Finally, he glanced down at the ground before meeting my impatient stare. “Joan called earlier and talked to William. He has a part she needs for the tractor.”
“Ah.” My uncle William was the head farmer. He and Brady’s older sister got along remarkably well. They were both quiet, stubborn, and preferred the company of farm equipment to most people.
“But then I saw you and figured I’d say hi.”
“Say hi?” I crossed my arms over my chest. Brady’s attention briefly dropped to my cleavage, and I felt that warmth from earlier head due south. “I thought you were glad to be rid of me today?”
His bright blue eyes practically sparkled. “I don’t remember saying that.”
I wanted to pull my phone out and recite his stupid Chatter post word for word, but that would prove I cared about the things he said online. Plus, my cell was inside the booth.
I rolled my eyes.
“Isaid,” he emphasized, “that it was peaceful. Not that I liked it.”
“Oh.” I frowned, suddenly feeling flustered. I didn’t know what to do with that statement. God, he wasn’t going to bring up the kiss, was he? I didn’t think I could handle that right now. I still wasn’t letting myself think about what it meant. And I definitely wasn’t remembering how good it was.
In an effort to maintain some equilibrium, I grabbed the handle of the cart nearest to me and started towing it toward the shed. I heard the last remaining cart start bumping over the ground and figured Brady was following me.
“So did you have more fun here than at the farmers’ market?” he asked casually.
I didn’t turn around to answer. Just typed in the four-digit password on the keypad and opened the metal door. The rock I had it propped open with must not have been able to hold up. “My mom wanted to work the market. She asked to trade shifts.”
Brady came up behind me, his Axe-body-spray scent washing over me and making me swallow hard. Hands brushing mine, he took the swinging shed door out of my grasp and held it wide. “Liar,” he murmured against the shell of my ear.
I pulled back to glare at him.
But he only grinned harder. “Your momma said you were in a mood, and you begged her to take your shift. Said you’d even offered to wash her car for her tomorrow.”
Betrayed, I gasped. “She did not.”
“Oh, she did. I told her she should have held out for a washanda wax.”
I glared, then retreated inside the shed to park the cart among the others.
“You didn’t have to trade shifts just to avoid me, Mac.” Brady’s smile was still firmly in place, but it looked purposeful, like it took some effort. And his voice was soft.
At his accusation, defensiveness mingled with guilt. The lie burst out of my mouth reflexively. “I didn’t.”
“You did,” he argued. “But that’s okay. I know why.”
I had just a moment to wonder what he meant. Before I could tell him to stop, Brady stepped into the shadowed interior, pulling his wagon in with him and releasing the door.
