“It’s a lovely night,” she told him. “Thank goodness the weather is cool.”
Adam nodded. “Especially since we’re all worked up over dancing.” He paused and looked at her. “But I don’t think you’re as worked up over dancing as you are over Jesse Slade.”
She stopped and faced him with hands on her hips. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means,” he said as he moved closer and gently grasped her elbows, relaxing her stance, “the dance you shared with that man has left you very upset.”
“It doesn’t matter what I do with Jesse, I’m always left extremely irritable.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “Why is that, I wonder?”
“Ever since I was a young girl, he has made me upset. As adults, it’s only gotten worse. And now I worry about my sister being miserable when they are married.”
“But I still don’t understand why you care so much.”
She frowned. “Because I love my sister, and I want to see her happy.”
They walked a little farther but still stayed where she could see the barn. Feeling the cool air on her face calmed her temper, but it also made her think clearly. Was she upset with Jesse for not loving her sister the way he should, or was she mad at herself for caring about him so much?
“I heard,” Adam said after a few moments of silence, “ that Deputy Slade is very close to your family.”
“Yes. Both Jesse and his brother have helped my pa for years.”
“So, is Jesse like your brother?”
Before she could stop it, she snorted a laugh. “A brother?” Then she noticed the look on Adam’s face. Was he jealous of Jesse? She realized she had better fix this situation before Adam suspected her true feelings—those she needed to get rid of quickly.
She shook her head as an ache formed in her chest. “I don’t know what it is, but every time I get around that man, it doesn’t matter how hard I try to be nice, he always rubs me the wrong way.”
Adam stopped them under a tree and faced her as he circled his arms around her waist, pulling her close. “Lucky man.”
His comment took her by surprise, and she arched an eyebrow. She tried to read his expression but couldn’t. “Why do you think he’s lucky?”
He grinned. “Because he can rub you, and I can’t.”
“Oh, Adam, you’re very humorous tonight. How many cups of Mr. Hansen’s brew did you drink?”
“What’s so funny about wanting to rub you?”
His eyes scanned her face, down her neck and chest. Although she should feel anxious right now in hopes of a kiss following, she couldn’t. In fact, she felt almost disgusted because of the way he ogled her.
“I’ll admit,” Adam continued, “that you are a very lovely woman, and I’m sure other men think as I do.”
His words were so improper. Yet, they would be married soon, so why couldn’t she feel giddy over his confession?
Heat rushed to her cheeks as embarrassment consumed her. “Adam, really. You shouldn’t say such things.”
His arms tightened. “I’m sorry I shocked you, but it’s the truth.”
“Are you saying I’m the kind of womanyoudream about?”
He wagged his eyebrows. “Let’s just say I never thought a woman as refined and lovely as you would answer my newspaper ad about a mail-order bride.”
She enjoyed his compliments, but the jittery feeling inside her was one she didn’t know how to handle. Perhaps tonight shouldn’t be when they shared their first kiss—not until she knew him better.
She placed her hands on his chest and was surprised by his muscular build as her fingers absently played with the string-tie hanging from his neck. “Well, since we’re confessing secrets right now, I’ll have to admit that you are the kind of man most girls dream about. I consider myself lucky that you are such a gentleman.”
He rubbed his hands up and down her back. “A gentleman? Is that what women want in a man?”
