June stood in the barn aisle drenched from head to toe, staring at me, eyes wide. For a moment, I thought she might be in shock—then a massive grin spread across her face. She radiated so much pride, I couldn’t help but return her smile. Relief and joy all tumbled together, the best reward for my efforts. My chest blazed, my arms and legs had gone numb from the rain and hail, and my head swam, but we’d brought in the horses.
“Wow,” she breathed, that elation turning into something else. “You should do that more often.”
“What?”
“Smile. Your smile is…” That tinge of pink came back into her cheeks, washing her skin with my favorite color. “It’s devastating.”
Not as devastating as her. She had brought in my horses and even got knocked down without missing a beat. Her willingness to run around in the rain and hail, doing whatever it took to help me out, ignited a fierce admiration in me. She was a lot stronger than I had given her credit for, that was for damn sure.
Stronger, sexier, sweeter. She was everything to me.
Everything I knew I couldn’t have.
“You were great out there.” My voice held decidedly less enthusiasm than I felt.
Her huge grin faltered. “Thanks.”
And just like that, her spark winked out. I’d killed the moment. What the hell was wrong with me?
A shiver rippled through her, and she wrapped her arms around herself. The barn was dry and a touch warmer than the chill outside, but that didn’t mean much when her thin T-shirt and heavy jeans were wet through.
“Let’s get you inside.”
She didn’t argue, but followed me to the open barn door. Hail skipped and bounced through the yard, pinging off the fences and gates. The pellets weren’t big, but it wouldn’t make for a fun walk back to the house, either.
Stepping closer, she adjusted the Stetson on my head as though reassuring herself I had a sliver of protection from the hail. Then she shifted away, her eyes lingering on my mouth, and her own lips parted. Despite the chill, heat bloomed inside me at the memory of our kiss, and my unrelenting ache for another.
Before I could think too hard about it, her eyes snapped back to mine. “I’m going to run for it.”
With a last glance at me, she ran through the doorway toward the house, shielding her eyes from the hail.
I pushed all my desires down, reminding myself I had no right to be disappointed. This was what I wanted. Or rather, this was what would be best for June. What I wanted... Now that was something else entirely.
NINETEEN
ty
By the timeI reached the cover of my front porch, my chest was nothing but anguish, and the back of my neck stung from hundreds of tiny hail strikes. I hadn’t had the heart to run for it like June had, so I’d walked the distance, the pain endured my due penance. Whether that punishment was for wanting her, or not doing anything about it, I didn’t know anymore.
The rubber work boots she had worn stood next to the door. Something comforting and warm flashed inside me at the idea of her waiting for me inside my house. I’d never come home to anybody before, but I liked the idea of coming home to June.
I shook my head at the romantic notion. Here I was thinking like a fool again. I wasn’t coming home to her—we had just outrun a storm together, that was all. I ran my work boots through the mud scraper and followed her lead, tugging them off to leave on the porch. I let myself inside, but the living room and dining room stood empty. The dark clouds overhead made the house gloomy, a stark contrast to the cheer I’d thought to find waiting for me.
“June?” I called, letting the searing in my lungs shake the crazy thoughts from my head. Something needed to.
“I’m up here.” Her muffled voice drifted down the stairwell. “I’m ransacking your closet.”
My closet?
“And your bathroom.” She grinned as she walked down the stairs toweling off her wet hair, her bundle of muddy clothes tucked under one arm.
I froze while taking her in. Lord Almighty. Seeing her in my old Johnny Cash T-shirt and worn sweatpants did something dangerous to me, lighting me up with longing and need. Minutes ago, I’d been cold through, but now, a crackling fire surged to life inside me. Maybe it wasn’t the best idea to be alone with her in a darkened house, after all. I felt suddenly predatory, possessive. My mouth went dry by the time she reached the main floor.
A line crinkled the center of her forehead.
“I didn’t think you’d mind.” She looked down at the oversized shirt she wore and my old gray sweatpants cinched around her hips, way too long for her. “I didn’t want to get everything wet. Maybe I shouldn’t have—”
“No,” I interrupted, finally finding my voice. “It’s good. You look good.”
