“This is not romantic, is it?”
Holly squints at me. “Definitely not. He’s a nice-looking cow, but I think I’ll keep my distance. If you have any other pets to show me, please let it be a cat. I think I can handle a cat.”
I chuckle. “Noted.”
I dump the bucket of peaches over the fence and make sure to thoroughly wipe my hands off on the grass and then my jeans. I walk toward Holly and she tucks her hands under her armpits, fully avoiding my outstretched hand.
Laughter bubbles up inside of me. “Okay, princesa, you win. Can I take you somewhere else?”
Her eyebrow quirks. “Um,canyou?”
I chuckle as I walk to the ATV, hooking the empty bucket on the back before turning around and leaning against its frame, my arms folded. “My bad, English teacher.MayI take you somewhere?”
She smiles. “Yes, you may. But first you need to wash your hands.”
“As you wish, Buttercup.”
I climb on the ATV and she steps up, gingerly wrapping her arms around my chest, avoiding my hands and my slobber-covered pants.
“Let’s stop at the house so we can both change.”
I turn the ATV on and rev the engine.
“We’re not doing anything crazy, right? I think I’m all pranked out.”
I shake my head. “No pranks, mi vida, I just want to show you somewhere special.”
Her arms tighten around me. “Okay, I’ll trust you.”
My heart swells, and I smile the whole way back to my house.
Chapter 38
Dirt Bike
Holly
Iwalk to the barn to meet Mateo. He changed faster than I did, and said he needed to get something ready. I have no clue what we’re doing, but I followed his instructions and changed into a long sleeve shirt, my least expensive pair of jeans, and my most comfortable tennis shoes.
I walk in the open doors and stop dead in my tracks.
Mateo is standing proudly next to a contraption I thought I could avoid.
“What is that?” I’ve seen motorcycles, and this resembles one, but I’m hoping it’s just a random piece of farming equipment we will not be riding. I doubt my hopes will come true, but hey, maybe I’m extra lucky today.
“A dirt bike,” Mateo says with an amused grin. “I’m taking you for a ride.”
I am, in fact, not extra lucky today.
“Nope.” I step back, my feet scraping the dirty cement. “I’m not riding on that thing. I’ll die.”
Mateo smirks, the handsome look stopping my backwards progress. “I promise you won’t. This is one of our bigger bikes, made for two. We’ll both have helmets, and I’m going on a well-worn trail.” He places his hand on his heart, and I about swoon from how ruggedly handsome he looks. “You’ll be fine, I promise.”
He steps forward until he grabs both of my hands, then slowly tugs me closer to the bike of death. We stop next to the bike and he places my hands on his heart. “Amor, I’ll keep you safe. I promise.”
That word—I love it and hate it at the same time. I don’t want him calling me his love if it’s not real. “You don’t have to call me that when other people aren’t around.”
Mateo’s eyebrows arch. “Who said anything about other people?”
