She quirked a brow and rested her elbows on the fence. “Howdy.” Her warm gaze slid to me and I felt myself blush. Iwas starting to accept the fact that I’d permanently be flustered in their presence. “Here to learn how to ride a tractor? Or ride a cowboy?”
Beau choked on air. I fought a laugh, although I felt like I was going to melt straight into the dirt like a popsicle in the sun. “Both?”
Pris’ laugh was like sunshine. “Mmhmm. I’m wrapping up here so we can go to the garden. We have some veggies we can pick, and you can take them to Boone and Winnie.”
“More than happy to be useful,” I said.
“Well, when a storm comes around, you can take me with you,” Pris said. “I’ve always wanted to try storm chasing.”
“Really?”
“I don’t know about that,” Beau mumbled. “Isn’t it dangerous?”
“Well, I’d be with a pro,” Pris countered, her brows drawing together in annoyance. “Besides, you aren’t my boss in my free time.”
His ears looked like they’d been sunburned. “Just want you to be safe, is all.”
Was I intruding? It damn sure seemed like it.
Pris leaned back from the fence and crossed her arms in front of her chest. “When have I not been safe, Beau Adams? I can take care of myself.”
He held up his callused hands. “Never said you couldn’t.”
Pris narrowed her eyes. “Maybe just say you’d worry about me, then. Instead of being a bossy man.”
“I always worry about you, Priscilla,” he snapped.
“Well, don’t.”
He blew out a sharp breath. “Impossible. I’m going back to work. Take care of Sky, will you?”
“Oh, I certainly will.”
I winced as Beau walked off, shaking his head as he headed back for the house. Pris let out a heavy sigh.
“Damn it,” she mumbled. “Sorry. I just hate it when he does that. He tries to mother-hen all of us, but he doesn’t need to do that with me.”
“Seems like he just cares,” I said softly.
“He cares too much.” She made a face and then rolled her shoulders. “He does too much for everyone and then never takes care of himself. It drives me nuts.”
I glanced back at him as he stomped inside the house, the screen door snapping shut. “Well . . . I don’t know what to say. But of course I’ll take you storm chasing if we get the chance to. The weather looks like it’ll be clear the next few days.”
Pris snorted. “Well, if the weather changes—which we both know it will—plan to have a third. I think he’ll have a heart attack if he isn’t there too.”
I smiled and shrugged. “I don’t mind being looked after. Better than being treated like I don’t exist.”
She hummed and tipped her head back, looking up at the cloudless sky as she mulled that over. “Damn,” she mumbled, kicking the dirt before looking at me again. “I know exactly what you mean. I know he does it from a place of caring. It just drives me a little crazy, you know?”
I nodded. “I understand.”
Pris offered a smile and then glanced over her shoulder at the piece of equipment sitting there. “Anyway . . . Want to ride the tractor?”
“Uh, yes. Of course,” I snorted.
“Great. Don’t mind sitting on my lap, do you?”
My mouth dropped. “I . . . I don’t mind.”
