“Put me down,” she squeals. Caleb eventually lets her go and then moves to swing Anne around.
“Glad you made it this time,” he tells her, and I turn my gaze to Sem, who is watching me intently.
“Where’s Magnus?” he asks, and I arch an eyebrow at him.
“Why would he be here?”
He shrugs just as Caleb calls over to me. “Hey, babe! Anne’s going to paint us. Nude. For a wedding present.”
I flush crimson at that, and he just beams happily at my discomfort. I swear he does this on purpose.
“Don’t want to think of you two naked together. Seeing that once was enough,” Luke chimes in as Caleb moves toward me and rests a chin on my shoulder.
Aunt Del moves up to me and squeezes me against her once more. “Alright, Whit. Let’s get started on those pies, then you boys can head out for some wheelin’.”
“I’m not letting you drive me around in that truck,” I tell Caleb sternly.
He presses a sloppy kiss to my lips and waggles his eyebrows. “Nah, babe.You’regoing to driveme.”
I sputter and then gasp when he slaps my ass in front of everyone.
“Better get in and make those pies. We’ve got shit to do.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“This is not working,” I mutter, feeling frustration well up inside of me. Caleb’s truck is ancient, and the stick shift keeps catching. It has nothing to do with my skill. I am very good with long, hard things, I assure you.
I wince when I hear the loud grind of the gears before the entire thing suddenly lurches forward, sputters, and dies.
Caleb laughs at the mishap and covers my hand with his, squeezing it softly.
“You got this, babe. Don’t get discouraged. Betsy just needs a little coaxing.”
“I hate Betsy.”
He pats the dashboard affectionately. “Betsy, don’t listen to him. He’s just a grump who hates not being perfect at something.”
I grumble under my breath, push the clutch in, and start the truck once more. Shifting it into gear, I release the pedal, and we jerk forward. Thankfully, it doesn’t die this time, so I’m able to drive the truck forward, even if the engine whines the entire time.
“You gotta shift, babe.”
“No. I don’t think I do.”
He grins at me and then leans over, nuzzling into my neck.
“Gotta. Put the clutch down. I’ll shift your stick for you.”
I peer over at him and do as he says, moving us into second gear. And then we’re moving a little faster, not much, but more than before.
“You got this,” he says encouragingly.
“I don’t think I do,” I mutter as I stare at the large hills looming in the distance.
“Up this one,” he says, pointing to a large mound with wheel tracks carved into the dirt. It looks like something struggled to make it to the top.
Not enticing at all.
“No way.”
