When we pull apart, he clears his throat.
“So…” He tips his head toward the tree. “Wanna pick some apples?”
Chapter Eighteen
Vaughn
“You’re never going to reach it like that,” I say as Lacey climbs onto the top board of the fence and raises one arm over her head.
“I’m so close.” She pushes onto her toes and stretches higher. The movement makes her shirt lift, exposing smooth, toned skin. She’s already abandoned her coat because she claimed it was getting in the way. I’m having a hard time keeping focused on the activity and not her.
When I brought her out here, I was a little nervous she was going to think it was a dumb idea. Sure, it was on her list, but picking apples at some farm with her friends is different from sneaking away from the party and going out into the woods with me to climb a rickety fence to swipe some from the neighbor’s trees.
With a dozen apples in a pile on top of her coat, I think she’s warmed to the idea. I have no idea how we’re going to get them out of here, but that’s a problem for later.
Right now, my gaze keeps dropping to her ass. In caseshe falls, of course. Not because it looks damn good in a pair of black jeans.
She groans as her fingertips brush the bottom of the apple. The old fence protests at the same time, and I get one arm around her middle as the board gives away. See? Safety. Good thing I was prepared.
“I almost had it,” she protests, looking up at me with a shy but frustrated scowl. “Sorry.”
I set her on the ground, a bit reluctantly since I don’t have an excuse to touch her again.
“I guess that’s enough.” Her tone is wistful as she looks longingly up at the apple she was trying to get. It’s not even that big of an apple or that ripe looking.
“I have an idea.” I squat down in front of her and beckon with one hand. “Get on my shoulders.”
Lacey hesitates only for a second, pulling the corner of her bottom lip between her teeth, then grinning and hurrying forward. I hold up one hand for her to steady herself, but she barely uses it as she makes herself comfortable and stable on my shoulders.
“Should have known a cheerleader wouldn’t need any help with this move,” I say as I stand.
Her laughter fills the night around us. “You’re a little taller than my usual spotter.”
I move toward the tree, getting right up to the fence line so she can reach. She plucks off one, then two more.
“Hold these.” She passes two down.
“What am I supposed to do with them?” I take them. My arms are hooked around her legs, but I don’t love the idea of not having my hands free in case I need to catch her again.
“Put them down your shirt or something.”
“Down my shirt?”
“Put them down your pants for all I care, Collins.” She’s already waiting with two more to pass off to me. “I need you to focus up.”
A rough chuckle leaves me. Got it. My problem.
She must pick at least ten more before she stops and says, “Okay. I think that’s enough.”
“You’re sure?” I ask dryly. I didn’t put them down my pants, but my sweatshirt is packed full.
“No, but now that I know where to come and how sturdy your shoulders are, I know who to ask.”
I squat back down, and she climbs off as nimbly as she got on. She’s smiling big now, holding an arm full of apples.
My mouth has a mind of its own, mirroring her expression. “What are you going to do with all those?”
“Make a pie.” She still has that huge, giddy look on her face as she puts all the apples in a stack, then sits on the ground next to them. Lacey can barely take her eyes off them. It’s cute.
