I chuckle and nod, motioning for him to follow me.
“Yeah, her name’s Minx,” I say, locking the door and heading toward where she’s parked.
“Cool ride,” he says, giving her a once-over. “But I drove here. Is it okay if I follow you?”
I smirk. “Try to keep up, Hotshot.”
He laughs, and just before I start the engine, I hear him call out, “You’re trouble.”
I grin as I wait for him to get to his car.
I’m not sure if I’m trouble, or if he is.
Either way, I can’t wait to find out.
Chapter 7
Xander
The drive to Rain’s orchard takes about twelve minutes. Instead of using the main entrance—marked by a sign that reads MacAllister’s—she takes the backroads.
I wonder if she doesn’t want to be seen with me, or if this was just the best way to get here. If her family is as close as I think they are, I bet her siblings would’ve been calling her the moment we drove past the house.
I park on a hill that has a great view of the orchard, right behind her van. Rows upon rows of apple treesstretch below us. The sun’s almost gone, the light is dim—but it looks like a great place to set up camp.
I’m infinitely intrigued by her, and by why on God’s green earth she chose to live in a van. Only someone with a deep sense of wonder and adventure would go for that kind of life.
Meanwhile, I’ve been so consumed by my career, I can’t even remember the last time I went on a real date. Just the occasional hook-up.
Well, I’m not sure thisisa date.
But itfeelslike one.
And I don’t want it to end.
I wait for Rain to get out of her van before I step out of my car. I don’t want to seem too eager to spend time with her, even though I am.
When she doesn’t appear, I climb out of my Land Rover and go to investigate.
She’s not in the driver’s seat, but the lights are on. I peek through one of the tiny windows and spot her in the kitchenette, setting something up.
I knock gently on the glass. She glances over, smiles, and motions for me to come around.
I jog to the other side, and she slides the door open.
“Hey there, stranger. Fancy meeting you here. Why don’t you help me set up these chairs while I get a few things ready?”
She nods toward a couple of folding chairs to my right as she searches for something in one of the cabinets.
I’m surprised how spacious the van is. She was able to fit a queen-size bed. And suddenly, I’m thinking about how both of us could easily fit.
Calm down, tiger.
She said she’s not interested. Not even a hook-up.
Besides, I came here to heal. Not to find love, like Granny predicted.
I shake my head, trying to chase the thought away.