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I look up at him, but he only stares harder ahead.
“You running out of space on your side?” I ask.
“Yeah, it just got really tight over here all of a sudden. Weird.”
“So weird.”
“I can try to scoot over more. Give you more room.” He looks at me for an answer.
I really should tell him to move. But the heat pulsing between us stops me from saying a word. It’s like every beat of his heart sends warmth rushing over me, my own blood racing at his proximity.
I haven’t ever felt this intense of a physical reaction to anyone I’ve ever dated. With Blake, there was zero chemistry. Kissing him was worse than how I imagine kissing a frog would be. Too smooth, slippery, and wet.
My mind naturally concocts an image of kissing Archer next, but I swiftly bat it aside.
“Or I can stay here,” Archer continues as I remain silent.
I draw a settling breath. “You may as well stay. Wouldn’t want you falling off your side of the wagon to leave me leading these Per-chons myself.”
“Percherons,” he corrects with a grin.
“On second thought, you can scoot over.”
He chuckles but remains where he is. “I think I’ll stay right here. Then you’ll have something to chat with Landrie about when you call her later on.”
He gives me a knowing side eye, and this time, I don’t bother hiding my smile. What’s the point? He’ll bring it out anyway. He always does.
My leg is numb by the time we arrive back at Main. I climb down from the wagon as he remains in his seat, his hands still holding onto the reins as the wagon is unloaded and loaded again.
“Thanks for the ride,” I say with a wince against the sun.
“No problem.” He pauses. “You ready for our date yet?”
“Have you won my dad’s approval yet?”
“I’m concocting a plan on how to do just that.”
“It’s not taking him on a romantic hayride is it?”
“Nope. Just be ready for it. Because it’s coming.”
He tips his hat to me, then clicks his tongue for the horses to move forward. I stare at his departing figure, my heart leaping from my chest to chase after his broad shoulders working together to lead the team down the road.
I don’t have much hope that Dad will change his mind about Archer, but for the first time, I’m afraid it won’t happen.
Because unfortunately, after that hayride, Adult Juliet now wants Archer in her life as badly as Teenage Juliet wanted it.
Juliet
Tuesday is Family Fun Day. With school out for Fall Break, the place is overrun with kids of all ages, and with the sunshine out in full force, most of the activities are held outside. I move between the carnival games and the kids’ crafting stations, making sure everyone has all they need to pull off each activity without a hitch.
Rosie’s running around here somewhere, no doubt sending her brother to solve more tech issues while she jumps from event to event without solving anything completely, but I have to hand it to her—the festival has been a hit so far.
As I make my rounds near the corn husk doll crafting station—tables set up with dried husks, swaths of plaid fabric, calico ribbon, and twine—my eyes once more wander to where Archer mans the pony rides.
A few teenagers help him as they lead the horses around the makeshift fenced area. He talks to the little boy he leads around the circle, then pauses near the fenceline for the mother to take a photo of her child. When the few rounds are completed, he helps the boy dismount, then squats down to his level to offer him a high five.
My heart might just burst.
