I let out a chuckle. “They should be inside? We should be inside. Let’s go. It’s gonna be a whole lot more than a slippery slope if we don’t wait this out inside.”
A flash of lightning illuminates the sky above us and the bolt stays visible for far too long for my liking. Lightning flashes in the distance, and I count in my mind.
“One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi…” Zara counts.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“Counting to see how?—”
Boom.
Thunder echoes above us. The cracking sound is so loud overhead that Zara jumps. Another lightning flash comes in. It’s closer this time. The thunder comes almost immediately. Even our cattle make their way toward the barn.
“You don’t need to count! Use your eyes sweetheart, it’s time to get out of here.”
Zara drops her phone and her eyes widen. “Yeah, okay, maybe we should head in now.”
We take a single step away from the split rail and the sky opens up. There’s nothing gradual about the combination of raindrops and wind. Debris scatters around us and I put an arm up to shield Zara from the spiral of chaos.
"Holy shit!" Zara shrieks, immediately soaked through. "This is insane!”
"Welcome to Texas," I shout over the roar of wind whipping past us.
I’ve got to get her out of here.
Without another word, I grab her hand. It sizzles in mine, but she doesn’t tug away. I pull Zara up the gravel road toward my place. Even in the chaos of this weather I don’t miss the way her hand fits mine like a glove.
“We aren’t gonna make it all the way up to Priya and Bowen’s place. My cottage is just up here. We can wait it out there.”
“Okay, I think that’s a good idea.” She’s yelling, but I can hardly hear her.
I tuck her body behind mine as we walk, but I’m already too late. There’s just enough rain to turn the soil into red clay. It’s muddy and treacherous. But the lightning is the real problem and it’s putting on a full show. Even worse, those ridiculous heels of hers are sinking into the earth with every step.
"Holden, I can't—" she starts.
I turn back just in time to see her lose her footing entirely. In a flash, Zara pitches forward into me. I spring into action on auto-pilot. My arms go around her waist automatically to steady her like saving her is the most important thing in the world. Something in the air shifts. My breath catches in my throat.
A metal shingle from the roof of a goat pen whips past us. Her breath comes fast. Her chest rises and falls as she clings to me. I don’t know whether she’s scared or if Zara feels the whole world shift too. She pauses for a moment, completely still in my arms.
“Hey, I’ve got you.” I keep her still and feel the thud of her heart against my chest.
She looks up at me. “Holden, I believe you.” Her gold flecked eyes widen with shock and something else, too.
We're pressed together and both soaked to the skin. All I want is to put my mouth on hers. To run my hands across her curves and claim her. But that’s insane and this certainly isn't the time. In the distance, I can see the lights of my cottage flicker once, twice, and then go dark completely as the power fails.
“Shit, the power's out. Let’s get up there.”
“Okay, hold on.” She leans down and unbuckles her shoes. “I’m not gonna make it in these.”
“You aren’t gonna make it across that gravel without them.”
“I guess we’ll have to find out.” She lets out a laugh despite being completely out of her element. She walks barefoot with wet hair and black eye makeup running down her cheeks.
This is a whole new side of Zara and I can’t look away.
“Come on, cowboy. What are you waiting for?” She takes a few gentle steps.
I shake my head and bite back a laugh. “That’s it, get on my back sweetheart. I’m taking you home.”
