She huffs. “You don’t know me. I’m a very hard worker, and I’m stubborn.”
I cough out a laugh. “That sounds about right.”
She nudges me with her knee, and I smile as I drop my head back beside hers. The ground is cold, but something about it also feels good. I relax for a second and stare up at the moon again, giving her a second to breathe and get used to my presence.
Yes, I’m angry that Tally didn’t listen to me. But she was right earlier, I never told her my plan.
“Can I be honest?” Tally’s soft voice breaks through the quiet night.
I turn my head toward hers and smirk. “Since when have you not been?”
She laughs, but I can tell she’s still sad. From this position, I can see the glittering swirls of gold in her eyes from her tears. My smile dies as I stare into them. A man could get lost in those eyes. Hell, I probably will if I look at her any longer.
“I didn’t want it to be true,” she whispers as she rolls her teeth over her bottom lip and my mouth goes dry. “I didn’t want you to be trying to steal my farm. To destroy my family’s business. I’m glad Penny and I were wrong. I’m sorry I screwed everything up. I just don’t know how to be here now that he’s not. I think Penny and I are struggling with how everything keeps moving forward when we’re still stuck. And you’re doing things so differently …” Her voice shakes and her head lolls to the sky again. “I miss him so much, and I don’t know how to do this. I’m sorry.”
Without thinking, I reach for her and pull her body against my chest, hugging her to me. I shiver at how right she feels in my arms. “I was probably an ass and haven’t made any of it easier.”
She laughs against my chest, though it’s mixed with a sob. “Yeah, you are definitely an ass.”
I chuckle and run my hands through her soft hair.
“Did you guys figure out what to do about the weddings at the end of the season?”
I continue stroking her head. I can’t stop touching her. “No. But we’ll figure it out. We may just have to contact the brides and let them know the situation.”
“I can do it.” She looks up at me, those golden eyes pleading with me. “I’ll follow whatever script you want. I know I screwed up. Like I said, I thought you were messing with my daddy’s farm. Thought you were keeping a secret, trying to steal our business.” My chest clangs because she’s not wrong. I am keeping secrets, and one of those is that Darling Daffodils Farm is not her daddy’s anymore. “But I was wrong,” she says earnestly. She licks her lips, and my gaze follows the track of her tongue. “I’m sorry. I know you’re only trying to help my mother. She trusts you. I should have, too.”
Guilt claws at me. My sister’s warning to just tell her the truth beats a steady rhythm, but it’s not my secret to tell.
“Do you forgive me?” she asks softly.
I look down at her, and my eyes roam over her lips, which taunt me with false promises. That she’ll ease this ache. That touching her isn’t wrong. That all of this would be so much damn easier if we worked together.
“You were just trying to help.” I repeat my sister’s words and trace a finger down Tally’s jawline.
Her eyes light up. “I swear I was.”
Her skin is so smooth beneath my fingers. Just one breath closer and I’d be able to taste it. To feel the warmth of it on my lips. I’d devour her, and maybe it’d all feel better—just for a little bit.
A car door slams in the distance, probably at the brewery, and I pull my hand away. I have no business touching this woman. “Come on, it’s getting late.”
Tally blinks like maybe she was in the same daze as I was and sits up quickly. The second she tries to stand, however, a pained sound flies from her throat.
“You hurt?”
She bites her bottom lip. “I think I might have twisted my ankle when I went down.”
Of course she did. I stand up and scoop her into my arms.
Tally squeals. “What are you doing?!”
“Carrying you.”
“Okay, Captain Obvious. I mean you don’t have to carry me. Just give me a hand.”
I grunt, ignoring her. Like I’m going to allow her to limp back to the house. Besides, for the moment I have an excuse to hold her, even though I’m not going to think too long on why I like having her in my arms so much. Instead, I quietly lumber back toward the house and enjoy the feeling of heragainst my chest. Her heart pounding an unsteady rhythm as mine gallops.
As soon as we reach the porch and the lighting is better, I can see the dirt that coats both of our clothes from lying on the ground. “You should probably shower before bed,” I say as I pull open the door and then kick it shut behind us.
