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Faye stopped suddenly and spun around. Her amused expression was the first thing he noticed before her gaze swept over him from head to toe. “You’re soaked to the bone. Aren’t you going to want to head home to change before going out?”
She was right to a degree. His clothes had already started to dry a little. That didn’t mean they weren’t rubbing his skin raw underneath the surface, though. He might be able to grab a spare change of clothes at the auto shop.
Only he didn’t want to do that either. For some strange reason, he didn’t want to leave her here. It was as if the act of doing so would result in her not being willing to come with him. It was a lot easier for him to get her to agree when he was standing in front of her.
Adam shifted under her gaze and let out a dry chuckle. “I’m sure I can find something at the shop on the way to Sal’s. You can go ahead and change, though, and I’ll wait in my truck.” For a second, he wasn’t sure if she was going to follow through with their… what was it? A date? That didn’t sound right, though he couldn’t deny the thought of taking her on a date gave him its own kind of thrill.
She tilted her head, watching him for a moment before she shrugged. “You can get me coffee if you’d like, but I’m going to get myself some pie. I haven’t had a good slice of Sal’s apple pie in ages.” They stood at the edge of the barn, the sound of the rain hitting the earth being the only thing that filled the void.
“They still make that there?”
Faye nodded. “How long did you say you’ve been back in town?”
He gave her a chagrined smile. “A couple months, but I haven’t had a chance to really go out anywhere.”
Her pointed look said it all and was enough to make his stomach drop. “Except to the rodeo.”
“Yeah. I guess that’s where I’ve been spending most of my time.”
She glanced out toward the rain and grimaced. “Is it ridiculous that I don’t want to go out into the rain right now?”
“Who’s scared of the rain now?”
“I’m not scared of the rain. I’m just getting comfortable.” Even as she said the words, she shivered. It wasn’t any wonder that she’d prefer to stay sheltered. Faye sighed. “But that pie soundssogood.”
He stood there for a moment, the urge to do something truly reckless hovering in the back of his mind. Something held him back, but he wasn’t quite sure what it was. To heck with it. He wasn’t going to be a slave to these feelings that told him to be cautious. When did that ever get him anywhere?
In one swift movement, Adam scooped Faye into his arms and darted out into the rain. At first she screamed, her arms wrapping tight around his neck as she clung to him. He let out a laugh as he ran toward the house and waves of rain poured over them. It didn’t feel as cold as it had when they’d been riding. It was almost warm despite it being spring.
Faye’s arms relaxed and she tilted her face toward the rain for a moment before she glanced at him.
Shoot.
She’d caught him staring.
Again.
Their eyes locked for only a moment because that was how quickly he arrived at the house. He deposited her onto the porch and took a swift step back. “There. Now you’re here, and you’re not as wet as you might have been.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “I’m getting in the truck. Come on out when you’re ready to go. I’m not in a hurry.”
He couldn’t get to his vehicle fast enough. He shouldn’t have done that. Whatever she was probably thinking of him wasn’t going to be very good. The second she got in the truck, she was probably going to put him in his place.
Even as these thoughts dragged him down, one thought rose above them all.
It was totally worth it.
11
Faye
Faye stuck her fork into her pie. She couldn’t bring herself to look Adam in the eye because she knew if she did, he’d probably see just how much she was starting to like him. They hadn’t discussed the way he’d lifted her up like she weighed nothing at all. That didn’t stop her from thinking about how it had made her feel to be wrapped up in his strong arms.
Okay, thoughts like that were only going to get her in trouble. How many times had she seen that happen? People who developed feelings for someone who would never return said feelings always ended up hurt.
She couldn’t allow that to happen.
She wouldn’t.
Faye took another bite of her pie as her annoying thoughts continued bouncing around in her head like a lost rubber ball. Maybe she shouldn’t be so stiff. What would happen if she actually opened herself up to being closer to him? It wasn’t like she could avoid him. They had that agreement, and she didn’t know how long it would really last.
