SNEAK PEEK AT BOOK FIVE IN THE LOVE BURNS SERIES
Giddy Up
R iley actually gulped . What on earth was Wade Evans doing here? Outside her staff-issued trailer, flashing those goddamn dimples at her and turning her mind to mush.
Like it wasn’t mush before he showed up?
Okay. Fine. So it was plenty mushy already. It had been ever since yesterday afternoon when she’d been strong-armed into attending Zach’s wedding. Zach was the oldest of the four Evans brothers. But he didn’t work on the ranch like the others. Wade did though. He also just so happened to be the second oldest brother and the man in charge around here. And Riley’s brand spanking new boss.
Where the hell is Bella?
That was a good fucking question. Bella was the woman Riley had met yesterday and was responsible for the forementioned strong-arming. Where was she? She hadn’t signed up to be harassed by dimples.
“Did you hear me, darlin’?” Wade drawled, this time tipping up his cream Stetson with one finger. “Bella’s running late, so you’re gonna have to make do with me as your escort.”
Oh, she’d heard him alright. Hence the near catastrophic throb in her ears. This was the problem with social anxiety, how was she supposed to tell people she had it if her mouth was too dry to make sounds? It also didn’t help that Wade of all people was stood there. Staring. It was difficult enough to talk to regular people, but put a six-foot two, hard-bodied, blue-eyed cowboy in front of her and there was a strong possibility she may never speak again.
“Riley?” He prompted.
Say something. Anything.
“B-But ...”
Jesus Christ.
This didn’t bode well for the rest of the day.
Her head shook and her eyes hit the ground. This was embarrassing. Stupidly, she’d thought she could do this. She’d even got dressed up. And swapped her glasses for contact lenses.
Idiot.
“Hey,” Wade’s hand shot out, and the next thing she knew, a cautious finger was under her chin and lifting her gaze to his. “You okay?”
Nope. Absolutely not.
Another gulp. Her instincts were telling her to run and hide. She couldn’t though. Not just because there was nowhere to run to. But because Wade was her boss. And she really needed this job. Which meant, she couldn’t just shut the door, she’d have to use actual words to try and get out of this.
Frigging marvellous.
“I, uh, maybe –” Come on. She cleared her throat and tried again. “Maybe it’s uh, maybe I-I should give it a miss.”
There. Done. Now she could return to her book and pretend this whole day had never happened.
Just as she was about to take a step back, their gazes collided. And all of a sudden everything went quiet. Even her usual, slightly bitchy, inner commentary was silenced. Wade’s head dipped and she watched in fascination as his gaze traveled down the length of her. When his eyes dragged back up, her belly clenched. But it didn’t feel like her usual anxious stomach ache. No. This felt different. Warmer. No, not warm, hot. Really, really hot.
Something that she didn’t recognize flashed in his eyes. “And waste this pretty little dress of yours? I don’t think so, petal.”
Petal?
His hand was out now, in front of her, palm facing up. It was as if he expected her to hold it.
Surely not? That would be madness.
“Come on, the best man can’t be late.”
He didn’t wait for her to comply; he simply took her hand and ushered her away from the safety of her doorway. Her heart was beating so fast, she was worried for her rib cage. Maybe that was why she followed him. Her body took the lead while her brain was distracted by a possible medical emergency.