Page 33 of Forever with the Farmer's Daughter
Memories of seeing Cameron driving through town all those years ago roll through my mind and when I turn my attention back to him, he grins. “Are you ready to go?”
“Um, yes. I just need to get the banana pudding and we can go.”
Cameron opens the screen door and follows me inside. “Are your parents out tonight?”
I open the refrigerator, take out the prepared dessert and kick the door closed. “Yeah, Aubrey invited them tonight too, but they had a meeting to finalize all the fair plans.”
“Do you need me to check the barn?”
I love how he’s willing to help around the farm. “No, Daddy took care of it before they left.”
Cameron walks across the kitchen, takes the dessert from my hands, and sets it on the counter. “Okay. So do you want to tell me why you looked so disappointed earlier?”
“I didn’t…”
He stops my protest with a raise of his brow. “Soldier, remember?”
I sigh in resignation, dang the Army for honing his observation skills. “Fine. I guess I’m a little confused. We’ve been seeing each other for a while now and we haven’t…I mean, you haven’t…” I take a deep breath and blurt out my question. “Why haven’t you kissed me?”
His gaze locked on mine; Cameron takes a step closer. “You want to know why I haven’t kissed you?”
I shrug. “Well, yeah. I mean if you don’t want to it’s fine, but I’d like to know why.”
Cameron takes a step back as if I’ve slapped him. “Is that what you think? That I don’t want to kiss you?”
I look down at my fidgeting hands. “Honestly, Cameron, I don’t know what to think.”
This time it’s Cameron’s turn to sigh. “Oh, Samantha, don’t you know? Since the day I arrived back in Blossom Creek, all I’ve thought about is kissing you. It’s not that I don’t want to kiss you, it’s just once I do, I don’t think I’ll be able to stop.”
My eyes search his and it’s the first time I see something other than pity. Instead, I see something I haven’t seen in a long time. Desire. “Is that such a bad thing?”
Cameron smiles. “No, but I won’t push you into something you aren’t ready for to fulfill my own selfish desires.” His hand cups my cheek. “So, sweet Samantha, when you’re ready I’ll be more than happy to oblige.”
His touch warms me and fills me with a boldness I’ve never had before. “What if I’m ready now?”
Cameron chuckles as he pulls me into his arms. “Aubrey is expecting us, so you’ll have to wait a bit longer.”
I rest my chin on his chest as I look up at him. “Are you sure? I know Aubrey, and I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if we were late.”
The grin he gives me makes me weak in the knees and I’m suddenly even more thankful he has me in his arms. “You make a good point, but yeah, I’m sure. Now, let’s get going before Aubrey sends out a search party.”
* * *
“It’sabout time you two showed up.” Aubrey chastises as we approach, hands on her hips and playful glint in her eye.
Cameron squeezes me to his side as he chuckles and kisses my temple. “I’m going to hang with the guys.”
“Chicken,” I mutter as we separate, making him laugh again.
Aubrey opens her arms and I step into her embrace. “You don’t look nearly as disheveled as I was hoping for.”
“Aubrey!” I exclaim and lightly smack her shoulder as I step out of her arms.
She waves a dismissive hand before heading up the stairs to the door leading to the kitchen. “Don’t Aubrey me or try to tell me you haven’t been thinking about it. Besides, I’ve seen the way you two look at each other, remember?”
We step into the kitchen, and Aubrey pulls open the refrigerator and hands me a bowl of potato salad before turning to take the banana pudding from me and placing it on the now empty shelf. She hands me a couple of potholders. “Can you check on the baked bean? This little one makes it hard to bend over to see into the oven.”
“Sure.” I pull the pan out of the oven and place it on top of the stove. “Aubrey these look delicious. You shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble.”
