“Now you know how I felt watching you lean over the engine of my tractor,” I reply.
“Okay, you two!” Sadie calls with a laugh, drawing my attention back to her. “Are you creeping closer to that corner on purpose?”
Looking down, I notice my arm is almost down by my side, with my fingers interlocked with Mason’s at the same angle. We’re both now no more than six inches from the corner of the barn, and my skin is buzzing with anticipation to lay eyes on him again.
Before Mason or I respond, Sadie chimes in again, walking toward us.
“Now, I want you to step away from the barn, facing away from each other, so you’re back-to-back, but don’t peek yet.” Mason and I do as she asks. “I’m so good, it’s scary,” she says, clearly pleased with herself.
“What makes you so sure?” I ask, my voice light and playful.
Sadie winks at me. “Not only can I see the grins you two are wearing, but as soon as you were connected like this, you instinctively grabbed each other’s other hand.
Well, I’ll be damned. I hadn’t even noticed. It just seemed like the most natural thing in the world. And it wasn’t just me. As soon as I’d reached behind me, Mason’s hand was there, his palm sliding against mine as his fingers wedged between my own.
Because I still have my T-shirtandmy flannel on, I can’t feel his skin, and it’s literally killing me.
Sadie takes her time walking in slow circles around us. She squats down, then holds the camera up high, adjusts some things, and starts snapping again.
She’s far enough away that she can’t hear our whispered conversation, and we use the minute she changes out her lens to our advantage.
“So,” Mason starts. “Are you into guys, or did you get roped into this somehow?”
“I’m into guys,” I confirm. “You?”
“Both.” He laughs, and the sound washes over me like a late summer rain. “I have a persistent cousin who, I’m pretty sure, wants me to find someone as much as I do.”
“I hope I get the chance to meet her. I’d like to tell her thank you for making you do this today.” As soon as it leaves my mouth, I know how it sounded, and I quickly try to correct. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to assume you—”
“Hey, Casey?” he interrupts. “Never apologize for speaking your mind. I don’t like to have to guess what someone’s thinking. I’d love to introduce you to her,” he says.
I swallow hard as Sadie’s voice reaches us, “Oh, these are so good. I want to capture that first meeting right as the sun’s rays land on the barn. So, are you guys good to stay like that another minute or two?”
“Anything you need,” Mason answers easily.
He said he wants to know what’s on my mind, so I blurt out what I’ve been wondering for the last ten minutes. “What are you wearing? I saw her take your shirt. I probably need to be prepared if I turn around and you’re in nothing but skin.”
He chuckles, and I feel it in my balls. “I had a black tank top on under that button-down, so that’s what you’ll see. You?”
“A white T-shirt and a flannel overtop.”
“Hmph,” he huffs.
“Something wrong?” I ask, suddenly wary.
“She was right when she said she’s good at this. Flannel is my weakness.”
“You know what I’m thinking right now?” I ask, hoping he feels the same.
“I’d hate to get myself in trouble, so why don’t you just tell me?” he says. It’s hard to hear the smile under all the lust in his voice, but it’s there.
“That I’d really like to kiss you. Is that crazy?”
“I don’t think so. That’s sort of the point of this whole thing, right?”
“Right,” I breathe.
We stand there another sixty seconds in silence, having an entire conversation as our chests expand and relax against each other. I toss my hat in the dirt so it’s not in the way when I reach for him, knowing I’m going to do so as soon as I turn around.
