AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Because I was never coming from Texas and my manager lives in New York. Any more questions?”
Like hell am I disclosing the main reason since it has more to do with her than I’d ever admit.
I meant the last question as a rhetorical one, but Piper ignores my annoyed tone.
“Yeah. Can I wear your hat?”
I finish topping up the gasoline and screw the can shut. She’s picked up my hat from the seat, running a finger along the ragged brim.
“No,” I answer.
“Why?” She frowns before setting it back down. “I didn’t pack one.”
I lean past her and grab my hat off the seat, then plop it on my head. I’m tempted to grin at her pout. “You have a bad habit of trying to makeyourproblems seem likemyproblems.”
“Guess it’s a side effect of being a stalker.”
Instant regret, as I realize she overheard that comment. “I didn’t call you a stalker.”
“You said I was stalking you. What’s the difference?” She throws my own question back at me, and I have no good response.
I bite down an apology and walk over to the door so I can roll it the rest of the way open. “You sure you wanna come?”
Piper twists her hair up into a bun on top of her head and nods.
She doesn’t fit here, in the musty, hot barn, filled with an assortment of junk, even in her jean shorts and T-shirt. But my body reacts anyway as I walk over to the tractor, the awareness that’s unique to her humming throughout my entire body. No one else has ever captured my attention as completely and easily as Piper manages to do anytime she’s in the same space as me.
“Need a boost?” I ask.
The wheels come up almost to her shoulder.
“No, I got it.”
I watch. She struggles.
After a couple of minutes, “Fine. Give me a boost.”
Any feeling of triumph is quickly eradicated by the sound of her quick inhale when my hand lands on her bare thigh, sliding down and around her knee to offer her support.
Unfortunately, her reaction only makes me more conscious of the reckless energy buzzing between us. Once she’s perched on the side of the tractor, I swing up, too, focusing on getting settled and turning the engine on.
I head for the southern fields, trying to relax.
I don’t hate haying. The smell of grass and sunshine and fresh air is a balm to the soul. Despite my complicated feelings toward this ranch, I love the land.
“So…” Piper speaks right as I spot the gate that will lead into the first pasture.
There’s an immediate sinking sensation in my stomach that feels like missing a step.
I should have seen this coming from miles away. She gets me out here, alone and stuck with her, and that’s when the badgering I’ve been waiting for begins. I can’t walk away now.
“Sowhat?” I don’t bother hiding the edge in my voice.
“So…is this your ranch?”
Relief. A ridiculous amount of it.
“According to the deed.” It’s never felt like mine.
