I take a step toward her and hold myself still. If I walk away now, our worlds will remain as they always have been.
Instead, I slowly move my mouth toward hers, waiting for a protest—any sign from her to stop me. My lips brush overhers, light, tentative, as if the gentleness could make it less potent. As soon as her skin meets mine, all thought of where we are, who we are, and who might see us disappears. I pull away, but only enough to put inches between us. That can’t be all. The brush of her lips against mine was a taste of heaven after a lifetime of wanting her—too brief to satisfy either of us. She releases a sigh. Her eyes are shut and she tips her head up, seeking me. I return for more. One more. I’d give anything to linger.
The sound of a truck door slamming shut outside the barn snaps both of us back into reality. Carli jumps back, tucking her hair behind her ears, dropping to her knees in front of the nursing litter.
“Sorry,” I mutter. Though, I’m not—not really. I nearly fall to my knees next to her, but I pocket my hands and stay put.
I stare at her, my breath ragged, skin too hot. She’s still Carli—beautiful, familiar, unaware of how easily she undoes me. But nothing about the air between us feels the same.
“It’s fine,” she says, not meeting my gaze.
I want to say more—so much more—but Jace’s boots clunk on the concrete floor, heading our way.
“She okay?” Jace asks, and for a beat I wonder if he’s referring to his sister.
“She’s doing great,” Carli says, looking over her shoulder at Jace, her eyes catching mine before returning to the piglets.
“I’d better get going,” I say. “Unless you need me to hang around.”
“Thanks for coming,” Jace says. “I don’t know what we would have done if you hadn’t.”
I nod. “Well, I’ll see you two later.”
“See you,” Carli says without looking at me.
“Later, Chuck,” I say softly.
Then I turn and walk out of the barn.
Chapter 11
Carli
The best mirror is an old friend.
~ George Herbert
He kissed me.
Cody kissed me.
My pulse thrums just under the surface of my skin.
If my mouth weren’t still softly buzzing, I’d wonder if I dreamt that kiss.
I lift my fingers to my lips and immediately regret the movement because I taste and smell like pig.
Great.
The day my dream of kissing Cody Lawson comes true, I’m covered in muck and smell like a sty.
His lips gently brushed against mine—the caress of a satin pillow. Twice. He glided past and returned for more. A second pass that might have become more—if Jace hadn’t barged back into the barn, breaking the moment. I smile, humming softly to the mother and piglets nursing in front of me.
The chaos of this morning’s delivery has quieted. I’m lingering in the warmth of the barn, indulging in the memory of Cody’s kiss.
The alarm on my phone sounds, reminding me of my appointment. I’m expected at the inspector office for orientation in less than two hours.
With one more check on the sow and piglets, I stand to search for Chet. He’s outside the barn, talking with Jace when I approach.
