Page 39 of Raised On It

The conversation has gone silent, and even out here in the vastness of the farm, you would have to sledgehammer through the layers of lust hovering between us.

He contains himself much better than I do, but I see it in his eyes. He’s determined to prove himself to me. I find this makes him even more attractive.

Dammit!

Checking his watch, he slides off the tailgate and begins to gather the remnants of our lunch. “As much as I hate to cut this short, I have a meeting with my parents soon, so I best be getting you home, City Mouse.”

I shouldn’t, but I love the stupid nickname he’s given me.

A sucker. That’s what I am. I’m letting him charm me. Knowingly. And I don’t care. There’s a sincerity to him that I want so desperately to be true.

“No problem. I’ve taken up enough of your day.”

“Nonsense, this will have been the best part of my day, and if I had my way, you would take up the rest of it too, but duty calls.”

Without warning, his hands land on my waist, and he lifts me off the tailgate to place me on my feet. It takes everything I have not to wrap my legs around his waist and never let go.

As much as it pains me to admit, even if only to myself, he’s going about our time together in all the right ways. If it weren’t for the lingering stares, sweet words, and obvious gestures, I’d think he just wants us to be friends, but unless I’m completely delusional, I find that hard to believe.

Once we’re packed up, and Lou is in the back seat, we drive back through the property, and I can’t stop the endless questions in my head from falling out of my mouth. In fact, my questions and our conversation don’t end until we pull up in front of Katie’s house.

I’m busy saying goodbye to his sweet pup in the back seat when Miles opens my door for me, but he doesn’t step aside so I can get out. He stands right there, inches away looking me right in the eye, like he always does. Never shying away from me.

“I hope you got some good pictures today?”

Struggling for breath anytime we’re this close is becoming a common occurrence.

Answering a simple question is taking a much higher level of concentration than it should.

Not letting myself get consumed by whatever it is that makes Miles, well, Miles is quite the task, but I manage to pull myself together.

“I’m sure I did. I can’t wait to get on my computer and check them out.”

Taking my hand and stepping to the side, he says, “Well, don’t let me slow you down. I’ll walk you to the door.”

Crap! He thinks I’m trying to get rid of him.

Nice job, Mason.

I’ve unlocked the front door and can’t think of anything to prolong our time together, so reluctantly, I turn to say goodbye.

“City Mouse, I hope you’ve got a bunch of empty pages in that journal of yours because I’m going to show you the Eastlyn I was raised on. I hope you’re ready?” His soft lips lightly brush my cheek before he rushes back to his truck and drives away with a wave.

Am I ready to see his Eastlyn?

Just as I’ve done since the fourth grade, I open my journal as soon as I’ve made my way inside and spend the next hour detailing my day and all the feelings that came along with it.

I probably shouldn’t have mentioned my journal when Miles asked me to tell him about all my closest friends because let’s face it, I tell her everything.

CHAPTER 10

Mason

Dear Journal,

Today,Miles began what he’s calling his “Raised On It” tour of Eastlyn.

We started a lot later today, and he only had about three hours to spend with me, but it was great. Not sure anything could match our sunrise from yesterday, but every minute spent with him somehow seems better than the last.

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