23. Jaxon #2
I laugh. “Why am I not surprised?”
She lifts a shoulder. “I can’t stand to lose to you.” She smiles up at me, and I have the strongest urge to run my thumb over her cheekbone, just to see if her skin’s as soft as it looks. She has no idea that I’m the one who’s already lost this fight.
“All I know is you didn’t look happy with him,” I murmur. “That was enough for me to step in.”
Her eyes find mine, uncertain, as the breeze catches a tendril of hair, brushing it against her cheek. I reach up slowly, giving her every chance to stop me, and tuck the strand behind her ear. “You look pretty tonight. With your hair down.”
She smooths her hand over it. “I don’t wear it down much. Not practical for farm work.”
“Well, I like it,” I say. “You should wear it down more often.”
She tilts her head. “You don’t have to say that just because we’re dancing.”
“I want to,” I reply, before I can stop myself. “You’re the most beautiful woman here, Summer.”
Her lips part, and she stares at me for a moment, not moving. “Jaxon, are you feeling all right?”
“Never better, why?”
“Because you’re not acting like yourself,” she says, studying me. “You know, you’re usually more…”
“Pigheaded?” I offer.
“I was going to say the most stubborn and infuriating man I know…”
“Okay, okay, I get the point,” I say with a laugh.
She smiles as my thumb strokes her back. “I guess I can be hard to live with. When I’m at the farm, I’m focused on all the problems. I know that can turn me into someone who’s not always easy to be around.”
She blinks. “Is Jaxon Chance admitting he has a weakness?”
“Okay, Wildflower, I’m trying to apologize here, so I’m going to let that comment go.”
“And you just stopped yourself from arguing with me too?”
“Yes,” I admit. “Don’t rub it in.”
She looks me over. “Did you fall on your head, maybe get a concussion? This is very out of character for you.”
I open my mouth to fire something back, then take one look at her, and forget what I was going to say. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry for what I said that day about Blaine’s email. It wasn’t my place. Even if I do have strong feelings about Blaine Callahan.”
Her gaze drops to the ground. “Well, you’re not the only one who can be stubborn. I came in swinging when you returned to Lucky Chance. Didn’t give you much grace after everything you’ve been through.”
“I noticed,” I say dryly. “You didn’t take it easy on me from day one.”
“Okay, wise guy,” she says, poking me in the chest. “That was my attempt at an apology.”
“Well, I guess I’ll take it,” I tease back. “But I’m not sorry for stealing you from Blaine Callahan. If you want him gone tonight, just say the word.”
She lifts an eyebrow. “You’re offering to bury his body?”
“Just find me a shovel, Wildflower.”
She tips her head back and laughs, not holding back, and the sound is like a dopamine hit.
“Actually,” she says. “I was wondering if you might help me get out of here so I can avoid another dance with him.”
I glance toward the edge of the dance floor where Blaine is standing with his arms crossed, waiting for his chance.
“You want me to sneak you out? How do you propose I do that?”
“I don’t know.” She bites her lip. “Unless you want to pretend to be my date…just for tonight.”
I lift a brow. “Are you asking me out, Summer?”
She scoffs. “Absolutely not.”
“Sure sounds like you are,” I say, a slow grin curving my lips. “And I’m going to remember that.”
“A Southern girl doesn’t ask a man out,” she says firmly. “A gentleman does the asking. Properly, I might add.”
My hands tighten around her, as our bodies press close, and I notice she doesn’t resist. “Is that right? But I’m not allowed to comment on your dating life?”
“You’re allowed to weigh in…” Her lips twitch. “But only when I ask.”
“Seems like a double standard.”
“Probably is,” she admits, then tips her chin up. “So, are you going to help me or not?”
She looks at me like she’s daring me to say yes, and I have never once in my life been able to walk away from a dare, especially from her.
“Guess that means I need to ask you properly.” I stop dancing, clear my throat, and take both of her hands in my own. “Miss Summer Daniels,” I drawl, attempting to sound like a gentleman. “Would you do me the honor of being my date for the rest of this evening?”
She bites back a smile. “That’s your attempt at asking me out?”
I shrug. “Best I’ve got on short notice.”
The question hangs between us as she looks at me shyly. “Then Miss Summer Daniels accepts your invitation,” she says, then smirks. “But don’t expect a kiss at the end of the night.”
The thought of kissing Summer makes heat rip through my body. I take a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. “Wouldn’t dream of it, Wildflower.”
Even though I already am. That image feels like a red-hot brand that just rearranged my brain.
She gives me a relieved smile. “So what’s the plan? If we’re officially on the run, I need to know what happens next.”
“Well,” I say, scrambling to come up with anything coherent after she casually dumped the suggestion of kissing on me.
“I say we keep dancing until the music is over or Callahan loses interest. Then we disappear into the crowd until you’re ready to go home.
Not that I’m in a hurry to leave this,” I clarify.
Dancing with this woman is a pleasure. I could hold her all night.
“Only one thing you need to know.” I pause, taking in her wide, doe eyes. “While you’re with me, I treat you the way you actually deserve to be treated. Got that?”
She gives me a smile that says she’s not fighting me on this one. “Deal, cowboy.”