AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Oh, absolutely,” I growl.
I take off my high heels and lob them out of the ditch. I survey the side of the ditch, looking for the best place to get a grip to leverage my ascent.
Corran peers over the edge.
“Watch the thistles. You don’t want one of those lodged in your sole,” he observes.
“I’m Scottish. The thistle is always lodged in my soul.”
“Oh, very poetic. Are you planning on staying in there all night?”
I contemplate the edges of the ditch.
“I don’t think I’m going to be able to get out,” I say with a grimace.
There is silence then a whoosh and a thud. Corran stands next to me in the ditch, looking rather pleased with himself.
“Very impressive,” I mutter.
He grins and adjusts his overalls, which are tied at the waist. His blue t-shirt has ridden up, exposing a thin line of tanned skin above the thick cotton of his overalls. His biceps bulge at the sleeves of his t-shirt. My heart beats a little harder in my chest.
Not exactly the time, I think wryly.
Corran looks up at the wall of the ditch then positions himself in front of me. His blue eyes gleam.
“Ready?” he asks.
I look at him. The proximity of his body is doing crazy things to my brain. The urge to reach out and touch him is so overwhelming that I have to clasp my hands behind my back.
“For what?” I ask.
He interlaces his fingers, then nods at his hands. “I’m going to give you a punt up.”
“The hell you are!” I exclaim. “That is so not happening.”
“Do you want me to go and get the tractor?” he asks.
“Cheeky git. No, thank you. I can manage. No punt - or tractor - required.”
“Okay then.”
He smiles and steps back.
I look at the thistle covered wall of the ditch and sigh. “You are right. We’ll try the punt first but I don’t think we can rule out the tractor just yet.”
He grins and puts out his hands. “You’ll be fine. I’m going to punt you hard, okay. Just go with it. Your job is just to land without breaking anything.”
“Great. What could possibly go wrong?”
He puts his hands on my shoulders. “Victoria, I’ve got you. Nothing will go wrong.” His hands linger for a moment on my shoulders. I look up at him, willing him to bend forward and kiss me. He blinks and squeezes my shoulders.
“Foot, please,” he commands.
I barely have a moment to gather my thoughts before I find myself placing my foot into his palms. He gives me no time for second thoughts. He lobs me through the air like a sack of potatoes. I rise in a graceful arc over the thistles, easily clearing the edge of the ditch before landing with a thud beside the gate.
As I gather myself, there’s a grunt behind me. Corran’s face appears over the edge of the ditch. He hauls himself out and climbs to his feet, brushing the broken bits of bracken and thistle from his palms. He holds out his hand. I place my hand in his and he helps me to my feet.
“Thanks,” I mumble.
