RIVER
“You’re kidding.”
River shook her head. “I’m not.”
“That’s just… Well, I mean… Whoa.”
River cut Emerson a look from beneath her lashes. She was leaning far over the edge of her truck, reaching for an annoying bolt. It was times like this that she hated her height. She grunted and lunged forward again. “Yeah, and I think I just made it worse.”
“Which part? That you took him on a date that turned into bailing your foster sister out of jail? That he paid the bail when you came up short and conveniently distracted you so you wouldn’t try to pay him back? That he then took you out for dinner afterward?” Emerson’s tone was way too amused for her liking. “Or the fact that you didn’t even thank him?”
River’s jaw tightened. “I never said I didn’t show gratitude.”
“Oh?” Emerson leaned against the fender. “It wasn’t in the story. You said he confessed to taking off work, and according to Rose, henevertakes off work.”
River paused and pressed the heel of her hand to her forehead, wrench dangling at her side in her other hand. “I know. Stop reminding me.”
Emerson laughed. “So youdidthank him. How’d that go? What do you even say when someone admits they changed their work habits because you’ve got a wayward sibling and a crisis of the week?”
Straightening, River fixed him with a look. She set the wrench on the edge of the truck a little harder than necessary. “I told you to stop making this something it isn’t.”
“Is there something you’re not telling me?”
Heat rushed up her neck—fast, traitorous, and completely unhelpful. Her pale skin was probably as red as the bandana tied around her head.
Emerson’s mouth dropped open. His eyes flicked away, like he was trying—and failing—to pretend he hadn’t noticed how red she’d turned. Then he leaned forward and nudged the wrench aside so it wouldn’t topple. “Oh, now Ihaveto hear this.”
Groaning, River reached for the rag tucked into her back pocket. At this point, wiping her hands was less about grease and more about nerves. She squinted at Emerson and tilted her head, trying for nonchalant but the high pitch of her voice said otherwise. “I might have kissed him?”
Emerson held it together for exactly one second before he laughed. He actually laughed, which only made the heat in her cheeks burn hotter.
“Stop it,” she said, wanting to melt into the floor with embarrassment. “It wasn’t that bad.”
“I agree,” a low voice said behind her, and River went stock-still. For one humiliating heartbeat, everything inside her dropped—then rushed back in a wave.
She shot Emerson a look that could’ve welded metal and mouthed,not funny.
Emerson only grinned and backed away from the truck. “I think George said he needed some help with that baler today. I’d better get going.”
“Emerson,” River warned under her breath, but it didn’t do any good. He left with a low chuckle.
River could feel Mathew at her back. Close. Too close. The hair on her arms lifted like she’d brushed a live wire.
When his voice came right beside her ear, she startled. “One of the best kisses of my life.”
Oh goodness gracious. That timbre of his voice.
Why did the sound of him make her want to melt on the spot? Why couldn’t she find the courage to turn around and face him?
Because he was right.
That kiss had been… magic.
It had sparked something in her she’d honestly thought was non-existent.
She couldn’t explain it. Maybe it was how adorable he was when she pushed his buttons just right. Maybe it was the fact that he’d come with her to bail Skye out of county lockup—and paid the bail without blinking. Or the cherry on top: he’d taken off work to spend time with her.
No one had ever done that for her. Not like that.
