Page 55 of Take Me Home

Darcy’s eyes snapped open. She flung herself out of my grip, scampering away.

“Yeah,” Darcy called down to Becca, her voice cracking. “I need to go get changed. Can you help Jake finish unloading the hay?”

She stood up, crossing her arms over her chest and chewing her lip, then offering me a hand to help me up. It was the most uncomfortable I’d ever seen her. My hat had fallen off when we fell, so I picked it up and stood slowly, stepping aside from Darcy and shaking some of the hay off myself.

“You sure you’re okay? You must have hit your head pretty hard,” she murmured so only I could hear it. She was already starting the process of freaking out and running away, my Bambi. Every cell in my body screamed after her, needing her back.

I nodded. “I’m fine.”

Darcy’s breathing sounded like she was on the verge of a panic attack. This was exactly what I’d been afraid of. I was going to lose her again. I’d be another mistake to her, an error in judgment.

“Just put the rest of the hay to the side and load up the market stuff,” she suggested. “I don’t want to put your body through much more today.” What the fuck was that supposed to mean? Like physical labor, or like making me feel more turned on than I’d ever been in my life, then scurrying away?

“Yeah. Sure,” I said slowly. I pulled at the crotch of my jeans, trying to will my raging erection to go back down. “I’ll be down in a second.”

She gave me a sad little smile before turning for the stairs. I couldn’t quite read her expression. Did she regret kissing me? Was she mad at herself for giving in again? Embarrassed?

“Darcy, wait,” I said, walking towards her, arm outstretched to hopefully touch her.

“I have to go,” she said quickly, gesturing to the stairs. I didn’t want to let her go just yet. I caught her by the wrist, looking down into her eyes.

“Thank you. For saving me. That could have been really bad.”

“Of course,” she said, breathless. I ran my thumb over the inside of her wrist, feeling how fast her pulse was. “I’m sorry about your dad.”

“Don’t go,” I said sternly. Becca’s boots sounded on the stairs leading up to where we were. Darcy’s eyes cut in the direction of the sound, my little deer assessing the danger. “I don’t care if Becca hears.”

My hand left her wrist, placing both of them on her waist. Not hard, not forcefully holding her there, but keeping her looking at me.

“Be my date on Saturday.” Becca’s footsteps stopped, and I knew she was eavesdropping. I sincerely did not care. “Dance with me, and let me treat you nice, and let me get close to you. Not as friends. Give me a chance to show you how much I care, Darcy.”

Darcy’s breathing was shaky, her eyes wide and locked on mine.

“Someone has made you feel like you deserve less than having the fucking ground you walk on worshipped. You deserve everything good, Darcy. Let me be the one to give it to you.”

Darcy took three short breaths. I know, because I counted. In, out. In, out. In, out.

“Okay,” she squeaked out. I honestly expected more pushback. My eyebrows went up in surprise.

“Okay?” I smiled, but didn’t want to make it seem like I was laughing at her.

“Okay. I’ll go with you.” Her smile was soft, like she was a little mystified. Her eyes sparkled.

I bent to give her a quick, hot kiss, grabbing the side of her face. She did a short moan before I pulled away. “Good.” I was so geeked out excited that I pecked her cheek and hugged her tight, making her giggle. “We’d better get back to work.”

We turned to head down the stairs, finding Becca rushing away with a giddy expression. Darcy jogged up the path to the farmhouse. I was delighted that she looked back at me with a flushed grin. Maybe she was done running from me. Maybe my words would finally keep her in my arms.

“Holy shit, you’re a romantic, Jacob Marie!” Becca squealed when Darcy was out of view. “That was hot as hell! Where’d you come up with words so slick?”

I grinned, but her words also grated me. “Telling her how I feel? Also, my middle name isn’t Marie?”

Becca shrugged that off. “Marie sounded good. And anyway, guys don’t really say how they feel very often. So, it’s romantic. I wish Cody would say shit like that to me. You’ll have to teach him your ways.”

Later, I went to town to have dinner before Little League practice and to call my family. I sent a text to Becca and Caleb.

I’m going to need your help for Saturday. I’ve got a date ??

Becca

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