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The idiot smiled a shit-eating grin and removed his cap from his head. I waited for the “aw, shucks,” but it never came.
“Just let me grab my coat and I’ll be right with you.”
Jonah and I stood in absolute silence.
“Ready,” she said, wrapping her scarf and putting on her beanie.
I watched her climb on the back of the four-wheeler and wrap her hands around his torso.
Yup, gonna need to nip that in the bud, I thought. Jonah slowly edged them out onto the snow-filled road and drove up toward the house at a snail’s pace. At least he’s being careful with her.
I shut off all the lights and applied layer after layer of clothing, knowing how freaking cold I’d be getting as the morning wore on. Luckily, I was in a little better shape than Bridge was, attending a college in Rhode Island. I had two pairs of wool socks on, and my boots felt tight as shit, but that was it as far as double coverage. Everything else I improvised.
I started toward the barn and was grateful that the wind was still. About halfway up the drive, my heart began to beat an irregular rhythm as I caught sight of Cricket coming toward me. My breath caught in my throat. This girl. This tiny little girl had such incredible power over me with her big, blue, round, sad eyes. Her unusual face, her unusually striking face. Her pert nose. The faint laugh lines around her eyes and mouth. And I didn’t know her, didn’t really even know if she and I were anything alike, but that didn’t stop me from wishing we shared a future...even if she did belong to someone else.
“What are you doing in my neck of the woods?” I asked her.
“Just wanted to make sure you found your way all right. Jonah told me he was getting Bridget this morning. Thought it’d be rude if we didn’t also help you out a little,” she joshed.
“Sure you just didn’t want to see me?”
She rolled her eyes. “This blatant flirting? You know you’re courting Ethan’s wrath again, right?”
This made me smile. “Am I getting you in trouble, little lady?”
“No, but—” she began, but I cut her off by grabbing her upper arm, stunned, truly stunned for the first time in my life.
“Holy shit! Are you wearing chaps?” I asked, pulling her away from me so I could get a good look.
“Excuse me?” she asked, looking at me like I was crazy again.
“You are. You are wearing chaps.” My stomach dropped to my feet. God, she’s sexy as hell. “Turn around for me,” I teased.
“Excuse me!” Is she mad? “What is wrong with you!” she yelled, yanking her arm away. Yeah, she’s mad.
“I just-I’ve never seen a girl in chaps before,” I said, staring, a hand involuntarily ran the length of my face. I clamped my lips to prevent drool.
She haughtily brought her fists to her hips. “Listen, you’re here to work not to flirt.”
“I can’t work and flirt?”
“Of course not, you’re here to—”
“I’m pretty sure I can do both. I’ve tried it before. I was very successful.”
“Stop it. You’re—”
“And you look delectable in those, if I say so myself. I wonder if I could get you to wear those at all times,” I mused.
“No! I-I...ugh!” Click.
“Are you flustered?”
“I’m getting Ethan.”
“You are flustered. I fluster you. Huh, quite a change of pace since yesterday.” She huffed ahead of me, her glorious backside facing me, rushing toward the barn. “Beautiful!” I said, stopping to appreciate it. “Now was that so hard?”
She immediately covered her ass with her hands and turned around, her eyes narrowed at me. She began to walk sideways like a crab, and I burst out laughing.
