His gaze jumped up and met with hers. “I’m happy for you.”
“You are?”
He nodded. “I’ll be happy that you’re happy.”
His nonchalant attitude made her want to cry, so she quickly turned and stepped toward the door before he noticed her threatening tears. “We better go. We shouldn’t keep Ma waiting any longer.”
He grabbed hold of her arm, stopping her. Heated tingles shot through her body from his touch.
“Summer, wait.”
He stepped in front of her, and for the first time, she noticed sadness in his ocean-blue eyes. Her heart broke a little more.
“Summer? What do you want from me?”
She breathed deeply, mainly to control her tears. “I don’t want anything from you.”
“Then why—” He paused, staring deeply into her eyes.
“Why what?”
He gently caressed the fabric on her sleeve, then ran his knuckles up and down her arms. “I keep gettin’ mixed signals from you, and I’m very confused.”
“I’m not sending you signals, Jesse.”
“Then why do your beautiful eyes light up when you look at me?” He moved his hand and softly stroked the side of her face. “Sometimes I catch you studyin’ me, and the emotion written on your face is so tender I can feel it clear to my soul.” His tongue wet his lips. “And why does your body shiver every time I touch it?”
Her body responded to his comment, making the rhythm of her heartbeat increase. The conversation was getting out of hand, and her control would break any minute.
“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” she whispered, afraid her voice would crack.
She took a step back, but once again, he grabbed both of her shoulders, pulling her body up against his. When that familiar spark ignited in her bosom, she gasped.
“Yes, Summer. I think you know exactly what I mean. Just like now. You can feel it. I can see it in your eyes and hear it in your voice.”
She couldn’t deny it, but yet what good would it do to admit her true feelings when she was marrying another man tomorrow?
“Does it matter? Does it really matter, Jesse?” Her voice broke. After moistening her dry throat, she started again. “Fine, if you want to know the truth, I’ll tell you, but I promise you it won’t solve a thing.”
Gathering all the courage she could find, she took a deep breath and prepared her confession, but just as she opened her mouth to speak, the clip-clop of a horse’s hooves in the yard broke her concentration. Jesse cursed before he stepped to the front door and pulled it open.
Cal stopped his horse and looked toward his brother. “What’s wrong?”
“Summer is here.”
A teasing grin pulled on the corners of Cal’s mouth. “Do you need me to leave you two alone?”
Summer quickly stepped past Jesse and ran to her horse. “No, Cal.” She pulled herself up on the horse. “I just came to let Jesse know that Ma needs him at the house immediately.”
Before hearing another word, she grabbed the reins and pushed the horse forward, struggling with her tears and praying Jesse wouldn’t see.
