Page 83 of One Wild Chance

Her lips part, and she stares at me for a moment, not moving. “Jaxon, are you feeling all right?”

“Never better, why?”

“Because you’re not acting like yourself,” she says, studying me. “You know, you’re usually more…”

“Pigheaded?” I offer.

“I was going to say the most stubborn and infuriating man I know…”

“Okay, okay, I get the point,” I say with a laugh.

She smiles as my thumb strokes her back. “I guess I can be hard to live with. When I’m at the farm, I’m focused on all the problems. I know that can turn me into someone who’s not always easy to be around.”

She blinks. “Is Jaxon Chance admitting he has a weakness?”

“Okay, Wildflower, I’m trying to apologize here, so I’m going to let that comment go.”

“And you just stopped yourself from arguing with me too?”

“Yes,” I admit. “Don’t rub it in.”

She looks me over. “Did you fall on your head, maybe get a concussion? This is very out of character for you.”

I open my mouth to fire something back, then take one look at her, and forget what I was going to say. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry for what I said that day about Blaine’s email. It wasn’t my place. Even if I do have strong feelings about Blaine Callahan.”

Her gaze drops to the ground. “Well, you’re not the only one who can be stubborn. I came in swinging when you returned to Lucky Chance. Didn’t give you much grace after everything you’ve been through.”

“I noticed,” I say dryly. “You didn’t take it easy on me from day one.”

“Okay, wise guy,” she says, poking me in the chest. “That was my attempt at an apology.”

“Well, I guess I’ll take it,” I tease back. “But I’m not sorry for stealing you from Blaine Callahan. If you want him gone tonight, just say the word.”

She lifts an eyebrow. “You’re offering to bury his body?”

“Just find me a shovel, Wildflower.”

She tips her head back and laughs, not holding back, and the sound is like a dopamine hit.

“Actually,” she says. “I was wondering if you might help me get out of here so I can avoid another dance with him.”

I glance toward the edge of the dance floor where Blaine is standing with his arms crossed, waiting for his chance.

“You want me to sneak you out? How do you propose I do that?”

“I don’t know.” She bites her lip. “Unless you want to pretend to be my date…just for tonight.”

I lift a brow. “Are you asking me out, Summer?”

She scoffs. “Absolutely not.”

“Sure sounds like you are,” I say, a slow grin curving my lips. “And I’m going to remember that.”

“A Southern girl doesn’t ask a man out,” she says firmly. “A gentleman does the asking. Properly, I might add.”

My hands tighten around her, as our bodies press close, and I notice she doesn’t resist. “Is that right? But I’m not allowed to comment on your dating life?”

“You’re allowed to weigh in…” Her lips twitch. “But only when I ask.”