Page 7 of Cozy Girl Fall
“Good first day?”
Penny nodded. “It was, actually. I’m beat now, though, I forgot how hard the harvest is.”
Angie hummed, her eyes already back on the ledger spread open in front of her. “It’s good to have you here, helping out.”
Penny swallowed, picking up a pen from the counter and fiddling with it nervously. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here before.”
Her mom rescued the pen from Penny’s tight grip and patted her hand. “You’re here now, that’s what matters. Go on home, I’ve got a little more to do before I leave.”
“Are you sure? I can help—”
Angie was already shaking her head before Penny could finish her words. “I’ll see you at home, honey.”
Penny nodded, pressing a quick kiss to her mom’s warm cheek before turning for the door. A hot meal and a bath sounded like heaven at that moment. She’d probably fall asleep by eight at this rate.
She slipped her keys out of her pocket as she exited the small shop and her bug chirped cheerfully as it unlocked. The sound was loud in the quiet air and she smirked again at the enormous vehicle to her left when she walked past it.
The horses in the next field over were barely audible, and she’d nearly made it to the driver’s-side door when footsteps sounded and Ethan Blake rounded the corner from behind the building.
Her eyes flew wide, mouth running dry, suddenly she was feeling alotmore awake. He hadn’t seen her yet and she took the opportunity to drink him in, familiar and yet not. His hair was the same dark blonde it had always been, but longer, and he was tall now—even more so than he’d been when they were teens. Ethan had had a good few inches on her back then, and he had a hell of a lot more than that now. The stubble on his jaw looked surprisingly good, covering the strong angles of his face and highlighting the softness of his mouth.
There was a confidence in the way he moved, in the lines of his body, that made her shiver as she wondered what else had changed since she’d seen him last. Back then, he’d only been a boy, more cocky than confident. But now? He was all man.
He glanced up and she didn’t think, just dropped down into a crouch as her pulse raced. Worse than how good her ex looked was the fact that his sister’s words were whirling round and round inside Penny’s head as she stayed stooped by her car door, waiting for Ethan to leave.
You already broke his heart once.You already broke his heart once.You already broke his heart once.You already broke his heart once.You already broke his heart once.
Penny huffed out an irritated breath and then fell completely still when she caught movement out of the corner of her eye.
Brown boots, sturdy and well worn. Denim-clad calves leading to thighs thicker than both of her legs put together. Navy Henley, flannel shirt, and full lips curled in amusement as Ethan Blake looked down at where she crouched on the ground.
“Here they are!” Her voice was pitchy, too high and squeaky, as she lifted her keys triumphantly like she’d been looking for them rather than hiding from him. “Oh, hi, Ethan. I didn’t see you there. What are you doing at the orchard?”
His cool eyes ran over her and she could have sworn she heard a chuckle before he stepped closer, the pleasant smell of sandalwood drifting over her. Her chin lifted, head craning back slightly so she could look up at him.
“I work here.”
Her mouth dropped open, mind flashing back as she remembered what her dad had said the previous evening.Pretty sure the last time you were at the orchard you dragged along that boyfriend of yours. It’ll be just like old times. Cursing herself, she wondered how she hadn’t put two and two together. She had failed to realize that he’d meant she’d be working alongside Ethannow, too.
Standing in front of him, there was a definite edge of panic to her thoughts. Her past and present were colliding, this new version of Ethan re-writing the image of the one she’d held in her brain all these years. Her heart raced too fast to be comfortable and her mouthwas too dry. At the same time, her palms were sweaty, a riot of butterflies were taking off in her stomach, and the combination of it all made her feel dizzy.
“Do you mind?” he said, and there was definite amusement in his voice that transformed into a lazy grin when she balked.
He was standing close, too close to be casual, and she opened and shut her mouth incredulously as he leant in. Surely … he didn’t think they were going to pick right up where they’d left off?
Another step closer. Ethan’s tongue wet his bottom lip as he raised a brow at her and a mixture of irritation and desire made her suck in a sharp breath. A lot had changed, but those eyes on hers were the same. It was like she was a teenager all over again.
The air crackled between them and Penny pinched her thigh to snap herself out of whatever this was. “Yes, actually, Idomind. Even if your sister wouldn’t have my head over it, why would you think you could just waltz right up to me and—and look at me likethat.It’s been ten years! I don’t know you any more, certainly not well enough to kiss you and—”
A large hand fell over her mouth and she snapped her jaw shut before she could taste Ethan’s skin, his sweet scent overwhelming her senses.
He slowly let go and her lips tingled at his brief touch. God, it had been a long time since she’d got laid. Enough that, for a second, she reconsidered her words. Maybe shedidwant him to kiss her? But beforeshe could say anything more, Ethan reached out and grabbed her by the shoulders, lifting her up and—
Moving her to one side?
She blinked, more than a little taken aback as Ethan smirked at her and opened the door to the large truck parked next to her. The door she’d been blocking with her body.
Oh God.
