Tally’s eyes dance with mischief and then she snags the cleaning towel right out of my hand and starts running toward the fields. “Guess you’ll have to catch me to find out.”
I take off after her, my cock already half hard knowing it’s about to get some attention. The early morning sun lights Tally’s golden hair, giving her an almost ethereal look as she runs straight toward the wildflower meadow. The harbor glitters in the distance, a pastel pink shimmer coating the still waters, and a gull squawks overhead just as I hear the telltale sign of a car coming round the bend. Dammit.
I hasten my steps, and when I’m finally right behind her, I wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her tight against my chest. My fingers skim the smooth skin of her stomach, and my palm flattens against her side. I move my mouth to her ear as I hold her against my pounding heart. “Caught you.”
She’s breathless and her head falls back against my chest. “Damn.”
I chuckle as I press kisses against her shoulder, then her neck, and when she grinds her hips against my dick, I smile. Maybe Tally is going to give me a little attention this morning after all. I twist her so she’s facing me and take her lipsin mine. Our tongues tangle as my hands explore her body, kneading her ass before lifting her up into my arms. I drop us to the ground, and she grinds over me, her lips never leaving mine. “You going to fuck me right here, Wildflower?”
Her golden eyes are lust filled, and the space between her thighs is warm. Something comes over me, this need to possess her, to claim her, right here in the field she loves so much. Right out in the open.
And from the look in her eyes, it feels like she’s on the same page. Like maybe she hates the sneaking around as much as I do. Like maybe she’s ready to say fuck it like I want to.
Just as I’m about to skim my fingers across her tits and pull down that yellow fabric, a car door slams and raucous laughter fills the air. Tally’s eyes widen, and she lets out a loud groan. “Sounds like they’re here.”
“Stay with me,” I beg, holding her hips to mine.
Tally’s eyes soften as she grins and presses a quick kiss to my lips. “We can’t. You’ll get us caught, Cowboy.” Then she rolls off me and points toward the fields. “Give me a five-minute head start. I’ll tell everyone I was out for a run.”
My eyes close so I don’t have to watch her walk away. It’s a sight I’m pretty used to by now. But that doesn’t mean I’m not getting awfully tired of it.
—
It’s lunchtime before I get even a glimpse of Tally again. She’s carrying a tray of food and setting it on the picnic tables right as I’m finishing up staining the last of the bed frames. The Liberty Ladies showed up this morning with quilts and new bedding. Rayna insists she bought too many sheets—claimsshe’s got an obsession with testing out every one she finds and forgot she ordered an extra fifteen pairs. I can see right through her lies, but I appreciate it nonetheless. We can use all the donations we can get at this point so I can avoid taking any more money from Frank’s loan.
Gail follows behind Tally with two jugs of homemade iced tea. There are fresh tangerines floating in the tea, which Tally told me is her secret ingredient to make it the perfect sweetness. Babs, Rayna, and Penny set out plates, and the guys from the fire department appear instantly, as if they can smell the food, despite the fact that it’s only sandwiches and cookies.
I’m just heading over to grab a sandwich myself and hopefully get a minute sitting beside Tally when Babs pats the spot beside her. “Have you given any more thought to the bakery?” Babs asks Tally.
Penny rolls her eyes with a smile on her face. “Please, she’s probably got a countdown on her phone for how many days she has left in Hope Harbor, right Tal?”
Tally almost stumbles and drops the second plate of sandwiches. “Um, what?”
My eyes narrow and I reach for the plate, setting it down for her.
“Yeah, Tally has big plans this summer,” Gail says. “Like her daddy always said—”
The entire group of them finish her sentence: “You can’t keep a wildflower in one place.”
The words are said with a smile, but I see the hurt flash in Tally’s eyes. The rest of the town doesn’t see how much she’s been trying to open up since arriving home. She’s been working day in and day out for this farm, and still they don’t seeher. I’m angry for her, but when I go to open my mouth and defend her, she scowls at me.
“Don’t,” she mouths with a shake of her head.
It’s a reminder that we’re not even dating, and it stings. So I grab my sandwich and head toward the cottages to eat alone.
CHAPTER 36
Tally
“Breathe, just breathe.” My father’s voice calls to me right as I start to spiral at the anger vibrating from Walker’s every pore.
I inhale a deep breath as he storms away from the group. I should stop him. I should reach for his hand to reassure him. And yet somehow I can’t give in to him when everyone is around.
It’s only been a week since we said fuck it and started playing. I’ve never had more sex in my life and yet I’m constantly hungry for him. Constantly finding ways to taunt him into being just short of reckless. There is this thrill of almost being caught that I can’t help but chase.
But right now it doesn’t feel hot. It feels damn complicated, and I don’t know how to handle this. It doesn’t matter how much people love my cupcakes or my scones; I don’t have the experience to make a name for myself yet, and eventually everyone will realize that. Hell, my mother and Penny already know it.
And Walker will tire of me at some point, too. Nobody has ever wanted me long-term.
