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Luc pulled as she stepped up, placing his other hand on her waist to steady her when she almost fell against him, and hauled her over the side of the wagon.
Julia’s face burned—both at Luc’s closeness and the inelegance of it all. She kept her chin high, trying to look unaffected by his touch, and sat, knees to the side, arranging her skirts around her legs, as she imagined was the proper manner to sit for a picnic in a farm wagon. She pulled out the basket from the shady place beneath the wagon seat.
Luc sat across from her, resting his back against the side of the wagon, one leg bent, and the other stretched out next to her.
She took the cloth from the basket and, seeing the abundance of food within, grinned. “Gabi certainly will not allow us to go hungry.” She laid out the cloth on the wagon bed and set out plates, cups, a knife, bread, cheese, a tin of sardines, a bowl of tapenade, a bottle of wine, and the remainder of the yogurt cake.
Luc’s brow rose, and he shook his head. “She sends only a sandwich when I travel alone.”
Julia cut a slice of bread and offered it to Luc, then cut one for herself and spread on some cheese. She leaned back against the wagon side and took a bite, the taste of the chèvre reminding her of the reason for the journey. A lump grew in her throat, and it became hard to swallow. “How did you find Fleur last night?” Shame made it difficult to even raise her eyes to Luc’s gaze, but she darted a glance at him.
He brushed a crumb from the corner of his mouth. “She’s ill. She’ll probably not—”
“Oh.” Julia covered her mouth, a fresh rush of emotion pushing on her eyes.
“Nobody blames—” Luc grimaced. “Nobody believes you intended deliberately to harm the animal,” he corrected.
Julia nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
He bumped her knee with his leg, giving a smile. “It will be well. You’ll see. You’re making things right.”
Julia nodded. The ache in her throat eased somewhat, but she still felt embarrassed for her dreadful mistake. And something about Luc’s soft smile made the emotions feel even more muddled. She picked at her bread and looked around, hoping to change the subject. Beneath the wagon seat was an umbrella. Julia leaned to the side and lifted it. “I hope this wasn’t here when we rode from the train station.” She forced her voice to sound light.
Luc swallowed his bread and smirked. “Do you think I wouldn’t have mentioned it when you were so wet?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know if I’d put it past you.”
“Gabi sent it today.” He nodded toward the umbrella. “Said it will rain this afternoon.”
Julia looked up at the clear sky. “Surely not.”
“I’d never bet against Gabi when it comes to predicting the weather.” Luc wrapped the bread and put it back into the basket.
Following suit, Julia helped him pack away the rest of the food. “But there’s not one cloud in the entire sky.”
“Gabi’s knees ache when a storm’s on the way,” Luc said. He swung himself over the side of the wagon and landed on the ground.
Julia tucked the basket back beneath the seat with her coat. She stood, brushing crumbs from her skirt, and debated for a moment whether it would be easier to climb over the back of the wagon seat or to jump down to the ground and climb back up. Though both options seemed equally graceless, she chose the latter. She lifted one leg over the side of the wagon, turned around, and eased downward. The running board was lower than she’d estimated, and her other leg slipped as she tried to get her footing.
Luc caught her around the waist, holding her up as she swung over the other leg.
Her back brushed against his chest, and she felt his breath on her cheek as he set her down on the ground.
She turned, and her hands settled on his chest as she caught her balance. She looked up to thank him, but his eyes caught hers, and her words froze in her mouth.
Luc’s hands stilled on her waist, and for an instant, she was enveloped in his arms. His eyes softened, and his gaze flicked to her lips.
Fluttering threatened to tear apart Julia’s stomach, and at once, panic stole her thoughts. She pulled away, mumbling a thanks to Luc for his assistance, and climbed up into the seat at the front of the wagon with shaking hands. Her cheeks burned, but this time, the heat wasn’t caused by embarrassment from her near-fall. She could feel exactly where Luc had touched her, even though it had been for merely an instant. Her breath was light and her pulse heavy as she settled into the seat. And when Luc climbed up, she was unusually aware of how close he sat beside her. The air between them felt tense and alive, as if it were somehow filled with Mr. Edison’s electricity. Luc flicked the reins, and his arm came dangerously close to brushing hers. Her skin tingled with goose pimples at the thought.
She breathed steadily to calm herself. And as they continued on toward wherever one goes to purchase a goat, Julia was for once grateful for the quiet as her mind turned over both their accidental embrace and the intensity of her reaction to it.
Chapter Eleven
The remainder of the morningpassed in a silence that was a different type of uncomfortable. Julia found herself acutely aware of every movement Luc made. Each time he cleared his throat, shifted, even breathed, she was conscious of it. And at times, she hoped his movements would result in a brush against her arm or that his knee might bump hers. The entire side of her body tingled with anticipation of an accidental touch, to the point that when the wagon finally drew to a stop, Julia ached from the longing.
“You can remain here if you’d like,” Luc said. “I’ll inquire at the farmhouse.”
Julia’s face flushed at the sound of his voice, and the embarrassment of her reaction made her flush even more. She nodded.
