He gets out and comes to my side, helping me slide out of the truck.
“Their sizes are big, so don’t go crazy unless you can eat a lot. This place is my favorite. They have the best ice cream by far.” He pulls the door open and places his hand on my lower back, ushering me up to the cashier. The place is small—a few tables and chairs littering the inside and a few pictures of the wall showcasing the high school sports teams. Most of the space is taken up by large see-through coolers filled with ice cream choices.
We take a few minutes to look over the menu, and I decide to order cookie dough, my favorite. He chooses coffee brownie and pulls his wallet out to pay for both. When they hand us our ice cream, I snort. He wasn’t lying when he said the portions are huge. I went with a small, but even that seems like a mistake. Two huge scoops fill my cone.
We sit outside the shop at a small metal table, neither of us saying a lot as we lick the melting, sweet treat. My mind wanders, and I’m suddenly very aware of how it looks when my tongue darts out to lick a patch of ice cream that’s sliding down the side of the cone. I turn red, and when he asks me if I’m okay, I lie and say it’s hot sitting in the sun.
I watch him through lowered lashes as he eats his cone. He licks around the lower part of his scoop, and I remember what that tongue does to me. I want to feel that tongue somewhere besides my mouth, so badly.
Right now, I wish I was more like Molly or Bethany and could just grab the bull by the horns and take what I want. I’m too shy for that though. Plus, he’s already made it clear he isn’t going to try anything. I can be happy with kissing, right? It’s a good way to forget about Joe like he forgot about me.
We finish eating and head back to the ranch. Mom and Dad are hanging around the front with Mr. and Mrs. Ellis, waiting for us to get back, and I groan as they wave at us. We get out, and they ask how the hike was. I show them the few pictures we snapped together, and then they let us go.
He walks me back to my cabin, and once we are out of view of the house, he takes my hand in his. As we pass the barn, I hear a few breathy pants. We slow our walking, and Tristan holds back a laugh.
“Harder, Holden,” Molly moans.
I turn bright red. Those two are going at it like bunnies in the middle of the barn. I hear him groan before everything quiets down again.What I wouldn’t give to be doing that with Tristan right now.I discreetly clamp my thighs, trying to ward off the ever-growing need for him.
My life in Connecticut seems so far away now. I left three days ago, but everything has changed. Joe seems like a distant memory now. My heart is leaping out of my chest for Tristan. Everything about him makes me happy—his smile, laugh, looks, even the way he rattles off random facts.
He’s passionate.
He’s who I want to take me. I want him to be my first. The longer I spend in his presence, the more I know he’s the right choice. He would be gentle, I know it. He wouldn’t move too fast. He cares too much about people.
Wow, girl!Too fast. Time to pull back and deal with your sexual frustrations another way. I’m not sure I want to remember my first time as being a rebound, and I know that’s exactly what I would be to him.Unless you’re not, a little voice inside my head yells at me.
“I’ve gotta check on some of the guests. I’ll see you later for stargazing?”
I nod. “Sure. Are we going to ride out there?”
“We’ll take the ATV. Make sure to bring a sweatshirt and maybe wear a pair of jeans. It can get chilly at night. Wouldn’t want you to get cold.”
“Darn, and here I thought you’d be willing to warm me up,” I smirk and bite my lip when he squints ever so slightly at me.
“Who said I wasn’t going to do that anyway?”
* * *
Dad walks with me to the front of the house to meet with Tristan. He sees me and smiles, then sees my dad and is confused.
“Hey, Mr. Robinson. Is everything all right?”
“Tristan, you seem like a fine young man, but Lana isn’t going out with you tonight to stargaze. I’m not comfortable with it being just the two of you.”
“Dad, I told you. We’re just friends. Boys and girls can be friends.” I cross my arms and glare at him. “You’re the one who wanted me to have fun. This ismehaving fun.”
“It’s not going to be just us,” he interjects.
“It’s not?” Dad and I ask at the same time. His tone is skeptical, and mine is shocked.
He shakes his head and smiles. “No, sir. Holden and Molly are coming, too. Thought both girls would enjoy the stars. Lana and Molly seem to be getting close with one another.”
What? No, we aren’t. We’ve hung out a few times for no more than thirty minutes, but she got bored with me reading. I keep my lips sealed, letting the two of them talk before Dad finally agrees to let me go. Molly and Holden appear moments later, and they’re holding hands. She’s glowing. Must be the crazy barn sex she had. A pang of jealousy courses through me, but I push the feeling aside.
The sun is barely above the horizon when we make it to the open field. The engines for both ATVs die out, and it’s peaceful; a few birds and crickets can be heard, but other than that, it’s quiet. I let go of Tristan’s waist and pull the helmet off my head. He pushes a few loose tendrils out of my face and smiles.
Molly and Holden have already taken off, running toward a few trees in the distance.
