Great.
I drag in a slow breath, calming myself with familiar things. The scent of hay, the warmth of the barn, the rustle of horses shifting in their stalls just beyond the wall. My heart beat steadies.
Until I look at her again.
She’s wearing a dress.
Not the green one from girls’ night, my brain barely survived that, but a soft, deep blue thing that ties at the waist and moves when she walks. Just fitted enough to remind me she’s all curves, soft enough to make her appear like comfort in human form.
And she’s glowing.
Not figuratively… literally glowing. Someone must’ve hung the lanterns too close, because every time she passes one, her skin catches the gold like she’s walked straight out of a dream.
Which is probably why, when Silas elbows me and murmurs, “Go talk to her,” I don’t tell him to leave me alone.
I just swallow.
Get it together,I tell myself. She’s your friend. Your colleague. Your… something. Not sure what, exactly, but important. And you could screw this up if you take one wrong step.
But she turns then, laughing at something Ivy says, and her eyes find mine.
She smiles.
My stomach flips.
Damn it.
I take a drink from the bottle in my hand, more to calm myself than anything, and finally start walking toward her.
“Caleb!” Sadie hollers as she sees me headed in her direction, before launching herself off the bench and tackling my leg in what might be an attempt to take me down.
“Hey, Sadie.” I pat her head gently. “Slow down or you’re gonna vibrate into another dimension.”
“I hadthreecookies,” she announces proudly.
“I can tell.”
Delaney snorts under her breath, trying to hide her smile. She’s not successful.
“Hi,” she says softly when I reach her.
It’s one word.
One syllable.
But it hits me. A warm hand on the sternum.
“Hi,” I echo.
I should say more. I should say something smooth or charming. Silas would. Boone could if he chose to. Me? My brain seems determined to offer me a grand total of zero usable sentences.
She brushes a strand of hair behind her ear. A shy gesture. Nervous, maybe.
“You having fun?”
“I’m… here.”
She laughs, and damn if that sound doesn’t ripple straight through me, loosening my chest.
