Olivia shot to her feet and smoothed her gown with nervousness.
“Mr. Adam,” the children called and hugged him.
Olivia watched with fondness as he spoke to the children one at a time. The children were beaming from ear to ear by the time he finished talking to them and shifted his gaze to her.
“You look beautiful,” he told her after raking her from head to foot.
Blushing, she replied, “Thank you.”
“Are you ready?”
She nodded.
Olivia said goodbye to the children and followed Adam outside the compound. He helped her up the wagon bench, and she thanked him.
“How was your day?” Adam asked after he swung on the bench beside her and flipped the horse’s reins.
“It was good.”
Only that I couldn’t stop thinking about you.
“Yours?” she asked, trying not to be so self-conscious around him.
“Fine.”
Darting a glance in his direction, “Thank you for the things you got me yesterday. I appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome.”
“You should have waited,” she told him so that he would do so next time.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to disturb your lessons.”
“I understand.” Looking ahead, she said, “How’s work?”
He shrugged. “Fine. I was out of town for a few days.”
She nodded. “Mrs. Harrison told me.”
Olivia wondered why they sounded like strangers. She reckoned it was because they hadn’t seen each other in a while and were somewhat overly conscious of what to say to each other. Well, that was how she felt, she didn’t know about him.
He turned slightly on the bench to regard her keenly. “How has working at the orphanage been?”
Olivia pulled a wayward strand from her ponytail behind her ear. She wished she could stop being so shy and nervous around him.
Forcing her self-consciousness away, she began talking about the children and the other workers at the orphanage. Since it was something she loved doing, it helped her not to be so aware of Adam.
They continued talking about her work until they reached his brother’s ranch. Olivia had never been there so she marveled at the size of the place.
Her eyes lifted when she saw the large ranch house. Looking far ahead, she saw cattle grazing in the fields and a dried creek.
“It’s so beautiful and peaceful.”
Adam smiled and helped her down from the wagon. Unknown sensations filtered inside her when her feet touched the ground and he still held her waist.
Their eyes met and held for a moment. Olivia drew in a ragged breath and her lips parted at the intensity of his gaze.
The tense moment was broken when Annie came out of the house to the porch, calling Olivia’s name.
