Jared’s grip on my hips tightened, almost bruising. “Fuck, you all right?”
Extremely conscious of how sweaty I was and how that might have translated to smelly, I pushed against his muscled chest and stumbled back, righting myself. My cheeks felt scalding hot as I smoothed my hair down with an embarrassed smile. “Yeah, sorry.”
Jared’s gaze dropped to my chest, the top of his cheeks slightly flushed as he quickly looked away with a clearing of his throat. “Let’s grab something to eat.”
A quick glance down told me that my tank had slipped to reveal the top of my athletic bra. There was nothing remotely sexy about that bra. Shrugging, I pulled the neckline up and followed Jared out of the mammoth shed and toward his Defender.
We were barely in the vehicle two seconds when he announced abruptly, “I was thinking I should come to your art gallery showing after all.”
I blinked at his randomness. “Oh?”
A bead of sweat rolled down his temple and he wiped at it with his forearm in the midst of a three-point turn. “Fuck, it’s hot today.”
Desire clenched deep in my belly, and I pressed my thighs together. While I was worriedIwas a mess, I thought sweatyJared, all damp with perspiration and biceps flexing, was the hottest thing I’d ever seen. “Yeah. Hot.”
He shot me a quizzical look and I realized I’d practically purred the words at him.
Oh God.Get a grip, Allegra!I cleared my throat. “Uh, so, art show?”
“Aye.” He drove the Defender onto the farm road that would lead us toward the house. “You were right. I should be there. And you know …” He cut me a seriously sexy smirk. “I’d like to see your work.”
“Really?” A flush of pleasure suffused me.
“Aye, really.”
“Okay. I’d really like for you to be there.”
“Good. That’s settled.” His hands squeezed around the wheel for a few seconds … then, “Did you enjoy your morning on the farm?”
“I did,” I told him honestly.I’d enjoy anything as long as I was with you. The thought popped into my head and I blanched, turning away.Do not catch feelings, Allegra. “You seem to really love it. The farm, I mean.”
“I do. It saved my life.”
Studying his handsome profile, I nodded. “I know it did. I love it too just for that.”
Those words probably revealed more than they should, but I couldn’t help myself.
“Thanks,” Jared replied, voice rough.
We fell into silence, this time a comfortable one, until we pulled up outside the farmhouse. I glanced at the Range Rover I’d borrowed from Ardnoch. “I really need to return that and get my own.”
“We can go car shopping whenever you want,” he offered as he got out.
“You’ll come with me?” I followed him.
Jared frowned. “Of course. Salesmen will just try to rip the piss out of you if you go alone.”
I laughed. “Isn’t that a little old-fashioned?”
“It’s prehistoric. But a fact.”
“Okay. We could go this weekend.”
“Done. I’ll get Georgie to look after the farm.” He let us into the house, and I was just enjoying the way his T-shirt clung to his broad back when my cell blared from my rear pocket.
The screen told me it was Aria. “I gotta take this.”
Jared shrugged. “I’ll get lunch ready.”
