Now? Nothing. But about a half hour ago, she’d finally been locking lips with the guy she used to doodle hearts around.
“Who, me? Just driving home from feeding the horses,” she replied, and not only did heat rush up into her face but her darn voice sounded breathless to her ears.
She just hoped her cousin hadn’t picked up on it.
“Really?” Harper’s voice dripped with curiosity and a tinge of mischief. “Why does it sound like you’re beet red and lying through your teeth?”
She laughed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t play coy with me, Sadie Quinn. You sound breathless like you just kissed a movie star. Spill.”
More heat infused her cheeks.
Well, damn. She was never going to talk her way out of it now.
“Someone much, much better than a movie star,” she admitted with a sigh. “Dale and I might’ve…kissed.”
Harper’s indrawn breath rustled through the phone. “Wait—Dale? As in your high school crush, Dale?”
Sadie nodded. “Yes.”
Harper’s squeal of delight echoed around the cab. “Oh my God, finally! Tell me everything!”
Omitting the tension-filled moments and the part about the wandering horses, she gave a brief overview of the unexpected yet perfect kiss. Harper listened with rapt attention, occasionally throwing in a “Yes, girl!” or “I knew it!” that made Sadie laugh. It felt good to share a happy moment and something pretty miraculous with her cousin, someone who had always been her confidante.
“So, was it worth the wait?” Harper asked.
“Absolutely! It was beyond amazing” Sadie admitted, her smile widening, and her body heating at the memory.
Damn, Dale was potent. Just the thought of him made herbreathless.
It was insane. She was stupid, but she didn’t care.
“He’s…he’s different, Harp,” she said, her voice sounding soft. “He isn’t like the guys I’ve dated before.”
Granted, one had been an eighteen-year-old when she had been a senior. And the other had been twenty-six when they’d parted after three years of dating. Austin had been fun-loving, creative, and free-spirited. She’d enjoyed her time with him but had always known he wasn’t the one. She’d wanted him to be, but he wasn’t, and she didn’t think she was the one for him either. Eventually, Austin had moved to Austin to be able to say just that and to improve his artistry. They’d parted with a lot of fond memories and no hard feelings.
In fact, he was one of her subscribers and avid supporters of her channel, and she, in turn, subscribed to and supported his art tutorial one.
“Of course, Dale is different,” Harper said, regaining Sadie’s attention. “He always was where you were concerned.”
She laughed. “True.”
“Plus, he is a former Navy SEAL. They’re a different breed altogether,” her cousin pointed out. “I’m so happy for you, Sadie. You deserve someone who sees how incredible you are.”
She swallowed past a suddenly hot throat. “So do you.”
Before her cousin could respond, a large, black SUV with dark tinted windows burst in front of her from a dirt road on her left, cutting her off.
Chapter Nine
Sadie gasped, instinctively gripping the steering wheel tighter and swerving to her right while slamming on the brakes.
Thank God there wasn’t a car behind her, or she would’ve been rear-ended.
Her heart was pounding hard in her throat as she watched the stupid SUV speed off.
“Sadie! Are you okay?” The urgency in Harper’s voice had her glancing at the phone.
