Page 16 of Won’t Let You Get Away

“I might not be an expert when it comes to women or pregnancies, but I’m pretty sure you can’t get pregnant just from being in the same state as a man. Meeting a hot guy doesn’t automatically make him the father of your unborn child,” Tucker replies with a raised eyebrow.

“You think Noah is hot?” I can’t resist teasing him.

Tucker gives me an unamused look before answering, “You know damn well that’s not the point here.”

“Are you and my parents close with the Dawson brother’s?” I steer the conversation back on track.

“We get along, occasionally hang out for a beer in town. Ma and Pa used to be good friends with Noah’s dad. They helped them out a lot when he got sick,” Tucker explains.

I nod, a thought crossing my mind. “Were they both around for Christmas?”

Tucker’s shoulders drop and parks in front of the cabin. “Sort of. Connor was dealing with family stuff but Noah went on a trip his dad set up.”

“A trip?” I prompt, wondering if Tucker will make the connection on his own.

“Yeah, some Caribbean resort or something,” Tucker answers, eyes widening as he slaps a hand onto the center console.

“Shut up,” he gasps, sounding like he just heard the juiciest gossip of his life. I can’t help but laugh at his reaction.

“Why don’t you come inside and let me change into some comfortable clothes? Then I’ll tell you how I actually know the farmer next door.”

NOAH

It’s been forty-eight excruciating hours since I saw her again. The agony of knowing that the woman who haunts my dreams now lives near me has been unbearable. Every passing moment feels like an eternity in hell.

Stepping into the Jones’s kitchen, I almost convinced myself that I was hallucinating, a brain tumor playing tricks on my mind. But it was real. Briishere.

My gaze clung to her all night, fearing a blink might make her disappear. She was even more stunning than I remembered. Her casual leggings and off-the-shoulder sweater couldn’t hide her perfect figure. It took all of my willpower not to think about how she felt pressed against me.

Memories of our vacation flooded my mind as relief washed over me at the sight of her. Words failed me the entire night. So many questions swirled in my head, overwhelming me. Why didn’t she call? How did we never run into each other in town while growing up? How old is she? She said she loved the city, so why is she moving back here?

With every new question came ten more, weighing me down like an anchor.

I grunt as the last bag of chicken feed from my truck hits the ground. Originally, this task was for our farm hands, but I quickly changed my mind. Not because I distrusted them with unloading the feed, but because keeping busy kept me from riding one of our horses over to Bri’s house and pounding on her door.

At some point, we’ll need to acknowledge that we do know each other. The only reason I didn’t bring it up the other night was because I didn’t want an audience for such a personal conversation.

Yesterday, working around the farm served as a distraction while I waited for her to show up. But she never did.

This morning while I finished running errands in town, I debated whether I should be the one to reach out to her. But if she didn’t call me, why should I force her to talk to me now?

“Can I help you, pretty lady?” Mack calls out, his drawl heavier than usual.

He’s been inspecting the fence supplies delivered this morning near the front entrance of the barn for the past hour. Since I was unloading at the back doors, it was easy to forget he was even in here.

Jumping down from my truck, I move the dolly closer to the chicken feed and almost drop a bag on my foot when I hear the response to Mack.

“Who’s in charge here?”

Setting down the bag, I head towards the front of the barn.

“If you want someone in charge, I’ll gladly be your boss,” Mack quips.

“Mack,” I seethe, ready to lay into him, but Bri cuts me off with a dark chuckle.

“It’s funny, because if I’ve learned anything, it’s that when someone uses being in charge as a pick-up line, they’re typically overcompensating for something they’re lacking.”

A laugh escapes me, barely covered by a cough. Mack straightens and steps toward Bri.

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