Wilde Horses. Jannine Gallant

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СКАЧАТЬ you’re sweet. I could kiss you all day.”

      She let out a breath. “Kissing comes easy for you. It’s kind of your job.”

      He laughed out loud. “Now that you mention it, you have a point. Still, kissing you here,”—he waved a hand—“all alone with no cameras in sight, is a hell of a lot better than making out on cue with someone I don’t even like much.”

      She put a few inches of space between them. “For me, any degree of intimacy means something. I can possibly justify a make-out session for a good reason…like to get Zane off my back. However, that’s an exception, not the rule.”

      “You don’t kiss just for fun?”

      “Not in a while.”

      He shook his head. “That’s sad, Eden. Life’s short. Today made that point crystal clear. You should enjoy every minute while you have the chance.”

      “Even if kissing you will only blur the lines between fantasy and reality?”

      “As long as we’re both having a good time, where’s the harm?”

      She couldn’t come up with a solid argument, so instead, leaned forward to plant one on his smiling lips. “Fine, I’ll live dangerously.”

      “That’s the spirit.” His grin broadened. “From what I’ve seen, you’re certainly not afraid of a challenge.”

      “No, I’m not, but my risks are calculated, not foolish.”

      “Don’t overthink everything.” With one finger, he tucked a lock of hair that had come loose from her braid behind her ear. “This has been an emotional day. You’re a beautiful woman. Kissing you just feels…right.”

      She hesitated as uneasiness slid through her. “Uh, about tonight…”

      “No pressure.” He punctuated his words with another kiss, this one a feather-light brush of his lips. Completely nonthreatening. “We’re going to enjoy the evening together. I plan to celebrate life by having a great time at the concert—I know Josie would approve. But I certainly have no expectations of taking this any further.”

      Some of her tension slipped away. “Okay.”

      His gaze searched her face, and he gave a nod, apparently reassured by whatever he saw in her eyes. “As much as I’d like to stay right here, I promised to meet my buddies for a game of pool. You’ll like them. They’re both good guys.”

      “I think I’ll pass. Maybe I’ll take a drive while you’re catching up with your friends.”

      His eyes clouded. “You’re sure?”

      “Yep. You can have some male bonding time without me there to make things awkward, and I’ll check out the area.”

      “Fine, as long as you come with me to see Pris. If you don’t, she’ll make it nearly impossible for me to leave.”

      “Got it.” She slid off the rock and followed him back down the trail. When they reached the rental car, she held out her hand. “Keys.”

      He grinned and handed them over. “Can you drive a stick shift?”

      She rolled her eyes. “Tractors don’t come in automatic, and I learned to drive ours when I was about ten.”

      “Show-off. You know where the Watering Hole is?”

      Eden slid onto the driver’s seat and shut the door. When he joined her, she started the engine. “We drove past it earlier. Kind of hard to get lost in a town the size of Blue Valley.”

      “True.” He pushed the seat back then settled in for the short ride.

      Controlling the powerful convertible was intoxicating as the breeze whipped strands of hair around her face. Eden was tempted to stomp on the gas just to see how fast the car could go. She squashed the urge as they sent up a cloud of dust behind them on the dirt road then slowed to turn onto the paved route. “When do you want me to pick you up?”

      “Give me an hour, and then we’ll head over to Pris’s place. Since we skipped lunch, I’m definitely down with eating before we leave.”

      “There was food on the jet. You devoured at least three muffins and a pound of strawberries.”

      “That was hours ago.” He smiled as she turned into the gravel lot in front of the only bar in town. “I need sustenance.”

      “I’m sure Pris will be happy to feed you. How old is she, by the way?”

      “Twenty-seven. She’s three years younger than Josie was.” He cocked an eyebrow. “Why?”

      Eden shrugged. “Just curious. We’re the same age, but she seems a lot younger.”

      “She hasn’t had much life experience.” He climbed out of the car and slammed the door. “You’re sure you won’t join me?”

      “Positive.”

      “Okay. I’ll see you in a while, then.”

      “Have fun.” When he stepped back, she accelerated out of the parking lot. An odd day all the way around. Eden didn’t mind having a little time to herself to decompress. Those kisses… She gave her head a shake. Probably best not to think about how they’d made her feel. She didn’t need that kind of stress.

      She drove with no real destination in mind. When she approached an old pickup pulled over to the side of the road, she slowed. Something about the scrawny figure standing beside the raised hood looked familiar. Pris’s father. She braked harder and stopped.

      “Need some help?”

      “My truck overheated. I have a slow leak in the radiator.” He ran a hand over his thinning brown hair and let out a breath. “I could use a ride back to the gas station to pick up a gallon of fluid, but it looks like you’re going in the opposite direction.”

      “I’m just driving around, killing time.” Eden gave him a hesitant smile, wondering if she was an idiot to offer a ride to a stranger. Still, it felt wrong to leave the man stuck on the road the day he’d buried his daughter. “Hop in.”

      “If you’re certain…”

      “I’m sure. It’ll only take a few minutes to get back to town.”

      Hazel eyes identical to his daughter’s held a hint of relief as he nodded then opened the door. “I appreciate the ride. Thank you.”

      “No problem.” Eden executed a three-point-turn on the deserted road and headed back the way she’d come. “Are you on your way home?”

      “If you can call it that. I live in Salem. I hope my truck makes it that far.” He was quiet for a moment. “You were at the service earlier. Did you know my daughter when she was young? I’m afraid I don’t recognize many of her old friends.”

      “No, I didn’t. I came with Blake Benedict. But from what he’s said about Josie, she sounds like she was a lovely girl.”

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