Page 84 of Fall With Me (Sugarland Creek)

“Oh, I lost that battle the moment we kissed.”

My cheeks heat at how dirty it felt to rub against his cowboy hat in the front seat of his truck. Anyone could’ve driven by and had a free show. But it felt so good, I didn’t want to stop. His mouth on me, kissing down my neck and encouraging me to shatter with him underneath me is the most erotic thing I’ve ever done.

And damn if I don’t wanna do it again.

“Okay, what’s left on the list?” I ask once we pull apart.

“Over here…” He leads us into the freezer section and pulls out a bag.

“Fish sticks?” I wrinkle my nose.

“Hey, I thought this was a judgment-free zone.”

“Since when?” I muse.

“Since I learned you don’t eat soup.”

I roll my eyes. “Chicken tenders I could respect, but these? Very questionable tastes…”

“In the air fryer they get nice and crispy, then I eat ’em with mayo and ketchup.” He presses three fingers to his puckered lips. “Delicious little snack.”

“The more I get to know you, the more past Ellie might’ve had a point…”

He pokes my side, making a bursting squeal come out of my mouth, and then he does it again to my other side when I twist around trying to escape him.

“You’re ticklish? This is great information to have.”

“I’m not! No, get away from me!” I giggle as I try to escape his stupidly long arms.

“Ellie? Hey.”

A male voice halts my laughter, and I come face to face with a man I don’t recognize.

He has shaggy blond hair and every two seconds whips it out of his eyes. He opens his arms as if he wants to hug me.

But I’ve never seen this man in my life.

At least I don’t think so.

“Do I know you?” Alarm bells go off in my head as I step backward and away from him.

He ignores my hint at wanting space and comes closer, quickly eyeing Landen before focusing on me. “I’m Gage. We met a few weeks ago at one of your races. I work with your dad. We hung out at the rodeo…”

I tilt my head, studying him for any resemblance. “Sorry, I don’t remember you.”

“We talked about your horse, Ranger…”

Anyone who knows about my career could easily look up my horse’s name, so I’m still not convinced I’ve actually met this man before.

“I had an accident a couple weeks ago and got a concussion.” I point to my head bandage. “My memory is very hit-and-miss right now.”

“I bought you a churro. You complimented my boots,” he continues, then shows them off.

They literally look like any other brown cowboy boots.

“I-I’m sorry…I?—”

His face reddens as his hands ball into fists. “That’s bullshit! Stop actin’ like you don’t know who I am!”

---