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He helped her dismount this time, his firm hands on her waist. And then he offered her a hand. Snow slid her palm against his, but the touch held no effect over her other than a desire to take her hand back.
This wasn’t fair. Honestly, she wished she felt more for him than she did. He was handsome and kind, but as far as attraction went, there was nothing there. She couldn’t see herself with him. Riding horses was a fun once-in-a-while activity, but for this man it sounded like it was his sole reason for living.
After thanking their hosts, they made their way to the parking lot. Judd’s steps slowed enough that Snow allowed hers to do the same, until they paused together feet away from the car.
“I sure had a nice time today,” he said.
“I did too.”
He removed his hat. “Mind if I steal a kiss, Miss Snow?”
She couldn’t help her smile. The question had been so timid, so hopeful, so completely adorable, even if a slip of regret sank into Snow’s bones. “I don’t think it’s stealing if you ask first.”
“What would you call it then?”
“Polite?” she suggested.
He let out a whistle. “Sayin’ it that way makes me feel like a boy saddlin’ up for a putdown.”
“Not at all,” she said. “I like your southern hospitality.” He’d been a perfect gentleman, and she’d felt completely safe with him, but one thing had been severely lacking: though he was easy to talk to, there hadn’t been any spark between them. She knew it was a long shot, but maybe a kiss was a good way to see if one might ignite.
“Go ahead and kiss me, cowboy.”
Judd grinned. He tilted his head, slipped his hands around her waist and plunged his mouth onto hers more fervently than she expected.
Snow gripped his shoulders, soaking in his sudden passion, allowing his lips to roam and enjoy the sensation of their mouths together until the otherwise unremarkable kiss broke.
Judd broke away just as rapidly as he’d sprang and flashed her a triumphant grin. “You sure are charmin’, Miss Snow Hendricks.”
“Why, thank you,” she said, slightly stunned. Snow knew this was the time to offer him the apple in her bag—but did she want another date with him? She only had a limited amount of apples to distribute to the men. Giving this one away now meant she wouldn’t have it to give to someone else. She still hadn’t had a date with Eric, Clayton, or Marcos. Or Carter, either, though he was so timid and quiet, she wasn’t sure they would make a good match together as it was.
Hopefully, Judd wouldn’t mention any kind of expectation for apples—at least, not until they returned to the hotel. Something told her he was too much of a gentleman to do so.
Judd opened her door only to reveal an unexpected sight. On the backseat of the car, a white envelope sat. Snow’s heart fisted in her chest. She hurried to retrieve it and opened it to find another note, again pieced together with clipped letters from magazines.
You’re running out of time. Leave now while you still can.
“What you got there?” Judd asked, peering for a closer look.
“Nothing.” Snow quickly folded the note with shaking hands. She peered around the parking lot, looking for any sign of someone watching her. For some reason, she didn’t want to show it to Judd, though she intended to pull Hector and the driver aside and ask each of them if they’d seen anything. The car hadn’t sat unattended during the date, had it? Perhaps the driver had gone into the clubhouse while she and Judd were gone. Someone could have slipped this into the car then…
Her blood pulsed through her body with noticeable throbs, extending the trembling from her hands to her entire frame. Who was sending these? Had whoever it was followed her and Judd out to the vineyard? Why?
What was so bad about her being on the show? What did this person mean by intimidating her with these notes?
8
Hunter drummed his fingers on the steering wheel and took in the trickling line outside Rambler Elementary. Kassie was standing in a cluster of students beside her teacher. She bounced on her toes and waved to him when his car came into view.
He loved his daughter’s bracing, untamed excitement for life and prayed she wouldn’t lose it as she got older.
Ordinarily, his parents handled after-school pick up, but his mom had an appointment she couldn’t miss. With Snow out on another date, things had been relatively quiet at the studio, so Hunter had gladly come. He could tell Kassie was excited at the surprise of him being there.
“Hi, Daddy!” she said, climbing into the back seat. “I didn’t expect to see you here right now.”
“How was your day, baby?” He checked his mirrors and took the next opening into the main stream of cars exiting the school pickup area and headed for the street.
“So great. Vivi brought a package of sour candies out onto the playground at recess, and she was charging people twenty-five cents a piece if we wanted some.”
