He cherishes me.
I pinch my eyes shut.
I can’t let myself get attached to him.
It’s a bad idea.
I’m leaving town.
My sisters need my full focus. They have to come first.
Besides, Mack doesn’t date.
Except, now I know why.
I know the truth.
And I’d date Mack Bradley faster than you could saydibs!
But I can’t. The memory of how my last long-distance relationship fizzled out faster than a Fourth-of-July sparkler is fresh. Oh, and let’s not forget that that relationship was with Mack’s brother, so there’s that can of awkward that would be spilled all over the ground if this went any further.
Mack stirs beneath me. His hold on my waist tightens, and…did he nuzzle his nose into the top of my head?
Be still my heart.
I chance a glance up at his face.
He’s staring down at me. “Morning, Boo.”
“Hi.” I scooch up to a sitting position, silently mourning the loss of Mack’s warmth.
Game’s over, Kasper. You’ve got to go back to your plain, old, boring pillow from now on.
Even with a washing, I’m certain it won’t smell as good as Mack.
“Sorry. I guess we fell asleep.”
“It’s fine.” Mack pushes himself upright. “It was…nice.”
Oh no. He’s looking at me with those eyes of his. I’m a weak, weak woman in the face of him.
I turn to where the sun is starting to rise over the cab of the truck, because if I don’t put some distance between us, I’m going to jump right on top of him and kiss more than his forehead.
We sit there in silence, watching as the sun turns the wheat fields from sleepy amber to goldenrod yellow. I don’t think I could have planned out a more perfect twelve hours if I’d tried.
But it’s over now.
Back to reality.
“We should get back to town, huh?” I make a move to scoot toward the tailgate, but Mack grabs my wrist.
I turn, and he’s staring at me like he wants to say something else. He looks sort of uncomfortable, andoh my gosh,he’s worried that it’s going to be weird between us since we cuddled.
Or…wait.
I meet his gaze, and I see something so much worse. Interest. Desire.
I can’t go there with him, so I beat him to the punch.
