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“No. I don’t want to face anyone just yet.” Her voice and body language instantly filled with anxiety.
I covered her hand on my vest. “It’s all right. All my family should be at the wedding. We can hide out there for a while, but my mother isn’t very social. I’m sure she’ll be making noise to go home soon.”
“Is there another option?”
I glanced over my shoulder. My house was out of the way, but still very much a part of the orchard. I didn’t know if it would freak her out to go to a stranger’s house. Not that this whole situation wasn’t weird anyway. “Depends on you, Helena.”
Her big hazel eyes met mine. “In for a penny at this point. I’m up for anything.”
My eyebrow arched. “That’s a loaded statement.” When she lifted her chin and held my gaze, I grinned. “A lesser man would take advantage.”
“Are you a lesser man, Beckett?”
I swallowed hard. I liked the way she said my name, and the hint of bravery glinting in her eyes. “You’re safe with me. As safe as you want to be.”
Her breath hitched and I wondered if I went too far.
“I’m really tired of being safe,” she whispered.
My hand fisted the horn of my saddle in front of me. “Another loaded statement. Two for two, girl. You surprise me.”
“I generally don’t inspire that…sort of thing in men.”
I laughed as I twisted to face forward once more. “That just means you’ve been with the wrong kind of man.”
“We can agree there.”
I didn’t know all the nitty gritty details about her relationship with Clay. I knew they were old friends and often used one another as a plus one to avoid the ever present marriage topic. I guess it didn’t much matter if you were rich or regular people, families were always pushing for wedding bells.
However, the Reid guy—I didn’t like him or the way he treated her when I’d run into them at the reception.
We were quiet during the climb to where my parents lived. My aunt Laverne and my mother had built houses with their families on opposite ends of the orchard after my grandfather died. It was a way to give the families space and share their inheritance at the same time.
I didn’t need to lead Storm. He knew every curve and rock that led to the old homestead. We were often over there checking up on my mom and dad. My mother had taken to retirement far better than my father had. She tended to her greenhouse full of orchids with more love and attention than she’d ever paid to the farm. Not that she’d own up to that—ever.
I spotted a new vintage Ford truck next to the detached garage. This one was definitely worse for wear. On first glance, I was pretty sure that back panel was completely rusted through. I supposed that would be my dad’s next project. At least it kept him out of trouble.
Storm wanted to head around to the back of the house where he generally conned my mother out of carrots. I patted his neck. “Not this time, pal.”
It was a little awkward to get out of the saddle, but I managed to slide to the ground without kicking Helena off the back of the horse. I dropped his reins on a patch of grass under the massive oak tree. Storm gave an annoyed snort before ignoring me to graze.
“Okay, your turn.” I reached up for her. I tried not to notice the length of creamy thigh on display. She was perched just behind the seat of my saddle and Storm was not a thoroughbred kind of horse.
Damn, she was spread wide.
And I would not think about that.
She tried to tug at the ragged skirt of her dress, but there was no saving modesty at this point. I plucked her off the back of Storm who just went on with his grazing. Nothing bothered my damn horse.
I was bothered enough for both of us.
She squeaked and grabbed onto my shoulders. I set her on the gravel driveway, her floral scent curling around me with how close we were. She tried to tug her dress down, then just ended up huffing out an annoyed breath and pinching the side closed.
“C’mon, we’ll find you something to wear.” I frowned down at her feet. “Where are your shoes?”
“Four inch heels aren’t exactly good for running.”
I set my hat on the horn of the saddle, then I picked her back up, tucking her surprisingly firm ass on my forearm.
