Hallie set her with a strange look. “Really didn’t look like you were just friends at the bonfire.”
“Well, we are.”
Her friend let out an exaggerated sigh. “Whatever. Don’t tell me. Just…” She squinted for a moment. “Be careful, okay? I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Wendy brushed off her friend’s concerns. “I’m good.”
“Wendy? Fancy seeing you here.”
They both turned to find Tripp standing beside his brother. Hallie scowled at Tripp for a second before she waved a hand through the air. “And that’s my cue.”
Wendy didn’t have a chance to argue before Hallie rushed up the steps and disappeared inside. She faced Tripp with a nervous smile.
How was it that Tripp could make her feel this way with one look? Or maybe it was simply his proximity.
“Me too,” Brent grumbled. “See you later.” Brent headed toward another house, leaving the two alone with each other.
Tripp prowled toward her and her heart stumbled. She dug her nails into her palms and forced a smile if only to cover the fact that he was making her more nervous than she should reasonably be. “Please tell me you’re not here just to hang out with Hallie.” He reached for her hand and traced his thumb over her knuckles before lifting it to his lips.
“And if I was?” she whispered.
He lifted his eyes to meet hers. “You’d be breaking my heart.”
The old Wendy would have snorted at him and thrown a snarky comment in his face. But this Wendy? She was changed. Tripp’s words didn’t seem cheesy. They didn’t seem like a line to win her over.
Those words felt real.
“I guess you’re lucky, then,” she murmured, bringing her hand up to his hair. She feathered her fingers through the strands near his temple, and he closed his eyes as if her touch was enough to make him fall to his knees. That was a different kind of power and she had to admit she craved it. “I was rather hoping that you’d take me for a horse ride.”
He arched a brow. “A ride, huh?”
She pulled her lips between her teeth and nodded.
“I know the perfect place.”
The temperature was just rightfor an early evening ride. Tripp kept looking in her direction as they plodded along as if he was worried something would happen to her. It was endearing, really. Wendy hadn’t felt more cherished, and Tripp barely had to make any effort.
“You smell that?”
Wendy glanced at him. “What?”
“Lavender.”
She blinked. “Really?” Taking in a deep breath apparently wasn’t enough because Tripp shook his head.
“Close your eyes.”
She did as she was told. Cutting out her sense of sight only enhanced the sounds and smells surrounding them. Wind whistled through the pine boughs off to the side of their trail.The scent of their needles mingled with something more floral. The two smells tantalized her olfactory nerves.
It was heavenly.
Wendy sensed Tripp’s gaze the longer she kept her eyes shut but he didn’t rush her. She couldn’t remember a time when she was more at ease than in this moment.
When her eyes opened, she turned to him. “It really is magical out here, isn’t it?”
He nodded. “I’ve always liked it.”
“I don’t know why you don’t just live out here all day every day.”
