Page 6 of Crimson Born

“Back like this...thenbring it forward and release.”

Goosebumps broke out all over my body, and my belly swooped. I was so unnerved by his nearness, my grip loosened right then and there, and the horseshoe thudded to the ground inches behind us.

Jumping away from him, I blurted, “I have to go to the porta potty.”

Taking off at a near run, I headed for the bonfire then veered off toward the parking area where three portable bathrooms had been set up.

I didn’t actually need to go. Ididneed to get a grip on myself.

Real cool there Abigail.He probably thinks you have gas.

Well, it didn’t matter anyway. I was never going to see him again after tonight.

Better to stop this... this... whatever was happeningnowbefore it went any further. He was probably only toying with me anyway.

Nothing more amusing than teasing the Amish virgin, right?

3

Destiny

Iheld my breath and stayed in the bathroom as long as I could stand it then exited, making up my mind to go and drag Hannah and Aaron from the barn if necessary.

As eager as I’d been to get away from home tonight, I was ready to go back now.

Back to the people and the life I understood. Back to my upstairs bedroom where I would consign this evening and my strange encounter with Reece to my journal.

And maybe my dreams.

The parking area was well-lit, with strings of white globe-lights hung from the surrounding trees. They made a safe path toward the barn, and I walked that way, scanning the crowd nearby for my friends. And yes, for Reece.

“You okay?” A now familiar voice came from my right. “I was worried about you. You ran off like a scalded cat.”

I turned to see him leaning back on the hood of a red sports car in a half-sit, half-stand. He had his arms folded across his chest and one bootheel propped on the front bumper.

“Hellion,” his license plate read. In the glow of the string lights, smiling like he was, Reece certainly looked like one.

Big, dark-haired, and wearing a grin so full of wicked charm I literally felt my knees go weak.

Another thing I’d thought only happened in books.

I stopped in place, holding his gaze but not answering, as there wasn’t sufficient air in my lungs to produce speech.

In the dark of the lakefront, I had thought Reece attractive, simply based on his impressive size and the sound of his deep voice. But now... here in the light, I could really see him.

I wasn’t sure there were enough pages in my journal.

“Your shoe’s untied. You’re gonna trip and fall,” he said. “Come here. I’ll tie it for you.”

“I can tie my own shoe,” I protested, but my feet moved toward him of their own accord.

“Yeah, but why bother when you have a willing volunteer here to do it for you.”

Seeing my hesitation, he added, “I’m not gonna bite, Abbi.”

“It’s Abigail.”

Reece patted the shiny red hood just beside his left hip. “Pop that foot up here, Abigail. We’ll fix you right up. You’ll be two-stepping and doing a tango in no time.Zerotripping, guaranteed.”

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