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“Oh sure.” Beth’s smile became even sunnier. “I’ll come with you, if you like. We can chat on the way there.”
Finn opened his mouth to tell her that she would not be coming with him anywhere, when she lifted the paper bag containing the sausage roll. “Here’s a bribe,” she said. “It’s yours if you can bear my company for ten whole minutes.”
Her green eyes danced, the color accentuated by the slight bit of pink sunburn, which made him even grumpier because she was just so pretty. And he didn’t want to spend ten minutes alone with her in his truck, or indeed anywhere, but he couldn’t think of how to refuse her, not without seeming like a total tool. Not a great look considering all the interested bystanders.
Also he kind of wanted the sausage roll.
“Fine,” he said with what he suspected was shockingly bad grace. “But you’ll have to wait around until I’m finished if you want a ride back into town.”
“Oh, I don’t mind. I love horses.”
He suspected that she did not, in fact, love horses, since she’d never once to his knowledge shown any interest in going to Clint’s before. But all he said was “Hop in, then.”
Bethany’s grin widened. “Yay. The sausage roll shall be yours.”
She stepped toward him, and he wondered what she was doing, then she stopped and blinked. “Oops. Keep forgetting. Passenger’s seat is on the other side, isn’t it?” She gave a soft laugh. “I’ll remember one of these days.” Then before he could say anything, she’d gone off around the other side of his truck.
Of course the passenger door was on the opposite side to what she was used to.
He didn’t know why he found that endearing, but he did.
Irritated with himself, he tried to ignore the sensation and pulled open the door and climbed inside.
Bethany had already seated herself and was putting her seat belt on, the paper bag containing the sausage roll on the console between the seats.
She pushed it toward him as he got in. “Let it never be said that a Grant doesn’t pay their debts.”
Finn grunted and started the truck, the realization slowly creeping up on him that he’d made a mistake. That he should never have agreed to have her in such close quarters. Because she was sitting close to him now and the delicate scent of something sweet was filling his cab. Like peaches or apricots, which were fruits he particularly liked.
You bloody idiot. Settle down.
Finn gripped the steering wheel and pulled the truck onto the road that wound around the lake. Clint’s farm wasn’t far, ten minutes down the road and then another five up a long, winding gravel drive that led up into the hills, rolling green fields on either side.
Not long. He could handle fifteen minutes of Bethany sitting in his truck, filling up the space with her warm, bright presence.
He wasn’t a teenager. He could deal.
For a minute, as they drove, there was blessed silence.
Then he felt Bethany’s attention turn unerringly on him, making every single muscle he had tighten up in response.
“So,” she said brightly. “What were we talking about again? Oh yes. Why don’t you like me, Finn Kelly?”
Chapter 2
Finn’s attention was stoically forward out the front windshield, which Beth supposed was a good thing since he should have his attention on the road ahead. Except she kind of wished he’d look at her.
His big, muscular body was radiating I-am-not-in-any-way-comfortable-with-this vibes and his handsome face was set in hard lines, his strong jaw sharp enough to cut glass.
She shouldn’t have been so blunt with her question, but it had just popped out. And why not? Shedidwant to know why he didn’t like her, because it was clear that he didn’t. And while she didn’t mind that—he was allowed not to like her—she wanted to know for sure. Just so everyone knew where they stood and there were no misunderstandings.
Still, tension filled the cab, and she felt the urge to put her hand on his shoulder to soothe him, reassure him somehow, but she had the sense that he wouldn’t welcome it, so she kept her hands to herself.
Perhaps you shouldn’t have this conversation now?
Maybe not. It was obvious he hadn’t been happy with it as they’d stood beside the truck, his dark eyes wary and guarded, his expression taut.
What was it about her that made him so tense? Did it have something to do with his wife? And if so, what was it? Because if she was hurting him in some way, she’d really like to know so she could stop.
