Page 49 of Save a Wish

And yet, she was still the most beautiful sight in the world.

Chapter Seventeen

Sadie

Beckett and I stared at each other while his warm, solid body rested atop me. At that moment, I didn’t care that I was lying in mud, that my backside was quickly becoming soaked, that mud dripped from Beckett’s hair onto my neck. The only sensation that garnered my attention was a stirring in my core—a stirring that had everything to do with the feel of Beckett’s leg resting between my legs. The press of his thigh against me set off celebratory fireworks inside me.

I wanted more. So much more.

I lifted a hand and raked my fingers into Beckett’s hair, slicking back the wet, muddy strands. Even covered in dirt, he was incredibly handsome.

His head lowered, his gaze fixed on my mouth.

I was more than agreeable to being kissed and kissing him back right now.

But Dasha had apparently gotten free again. The Husky leaped over Beckett and me, her underside swiping me across the forehead like a paintbrush.

Amelia ran over, her normally wild hair matted down with mud.

“Uncle Beckett!” she squealed. “Help us catch Dasha!”

“Duty calls.” Beckett used his arms to push off me then popped up to his feet. He extended a hand down and pulled me up. His gaze scanned my face then he leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to just below my left ear. “That’s the only clean spot,” he whispered before jogging off with Amelia to round up Dasha.

Beckett scooped up Amelia, the sound of the girl’s giggles so joyous I couldn’t resist smiling though I was caked in mud and beginning to feel a little cold.

“You really never know what will happen at a Hartley family gathering.” Vanessa stood beside me. “I’ll bet you’ve never been this dirty in your entire life.”

My whole outfit was brown, my hands were creased with mud, and my braid was a long, dirty rope. Immediately, a vision of me in royal dress at one of my father’s fancy galas came into my mind. I was certainly a long way from that version of myself.

“You’re right. I have never been this dirty before,” I said with a chuckle. “But I’ve also never had this much fun before either.”

Vanessa smiled as she took a towel Ashley handed her and wiped at Little Ben.

“He’s not upset by being covered in mud,” I said.

“This kid is definitely a Hartley.” Vanessa kissed the top of his head after she’d created a clean spot there. “My brothers were always dirty like this as kids and it never bothered them either. It bothered my mother though. Especially when they galloped into the house like that and left a dirty wake.”

“At least they can all go off to their own houses now that they’re adults and give your poor mother a break,” I said.

Vanessa took a small step back and looked me over. “And Beckett’s a neat freak so if he lets you into his house with that much dirt on you, he’s definitely into you.” She gave my arm a quick squeeze then walked over to Spencer and Hunter. The four of them followed Mrs. Hartley and Jimmy to the farmhouse, no doubt to clean up before leaving because they didn’t live on the property.

With the dogs properly under control, Beckett’s brothers and their partners paired up and wandered over to paths that led to their houses. No one climbed into a car for fear of ruining the interior.

“I hope you don’t mind a little walk,” Beckett said when he came over to me. “I’ll never get my SUV clean if we sit in it.”

“I don’t mind a walk,” I said, though I now wondered if he wouldn’t let me in his house either. Perhaps Beckett wasn’t as into me as I’d hoped.

Beckett took my hand, tugging me past his SUV and the other cars parked in front of the farmhouse. Fortunately, despite being covered in mud, the night wasn’t too chilly and the walk was pleasant.

But the fluttering in my stomach grew in intensity as I walked beside Beckett toward his home.

Toward what would happen next.

I wanted what would happen next. Desperately wanted it. But I was also nervous I wouldn’t be what Beckett wanted. My intimate experiences thus far had been limited to the conquering Cian thought equaled lovemaking. I hadn’t done much to participate in that. Lying there and letting Cian do what he wanted had become my strategy. It had just been easier, but I realized now how unfair that had been to me—how it made me exactly into the object Cian believed I was. A thing to be used for his own needs.

What would being with Beckett be like?

He certainly didn’t behave like Cian did. Beckett had been respectful and considerate, but would all that change once we did more than kiss? Was everything about to be ruined between us?