Page 7 of Stalked By the Farmer

She lets me buy the tickets and lead her onto the ride. We climb into one of the cars, our thighs pressed close on the narrow seat. Misty grips the safety bar as the wheel lurches into motion.

"Just look at that view," she murmurs, her voice tinged with awe.

Misty peeks at me from the corner of her eye and relaxes into my side.

My breath catches in my throat. Heart pounding, I wrap an arm around her shoulders and pull her close. She goes willingly, nestling against me with a contented sigh.

We climb higher and higher, the fairground stretching out below us in a sea of dazzling lights. The sun has dipped below the horizon, staining the sky with vibrant shades of coral and rose.

"It's beautiful," Misty whispers. She tilts her head back to meet my gaze, eyes shining. "Thank you for coming with me."

I brush a stray curl behind her ear, fingertips lingering against her soft skin. "Anything for you."

Misty smiles, slow and sweet, igniting a fire in my veins. My hand slides to cup the back of her neck, drawing her nearer. The distance between us shrinks, her breath mingling with mine—

And then the most incredible thing happens...

Our lips meet in a feather-light kiss, tentative yet electric. Misty's eyes flutter shut as she sighs into my mouth, her hands creeping up to clutch at my shirt.

Holy fuck. I'mfinallykissing my best friend.

I deepen the kiss, drunk on the taste of her, the feel of her in my arms. She kisses me back with equal fervor, nails digging into my chest. I groan, clutching her tighter, wanting nothing more than to lose myself in her embrace.

We break apart, chests heaving, gazing at each other with a mix of shock, desire, and something more—something deeper that sets my heart aflutter.

Misty bites her lip, a flush staining her cheeks. "I didn't expect that."

"I'm sorry," I instantly apologize.

Misty's face colors, and her chest heaves up and down. "I don't want this to ruin our friendship, Conner."

"It won't." I reassure her. "I don't know what came over me."

"It's okay," she says, but she won't look at me.

Fuck. I deflate. I've fucked everything up.

The silence between us is heavy as we depart the Ferris wheel.

And then she asks me to take her home. She still won't barely look at me, and I don't know what to say.

I don't know how to fix this.

The single best moment of my life could end up being the one that ruins it.

CHAPTERFOUR

Misty

The drive home is a blur.An awkward silence hangs between us. All I can think about is that kiss, the feel of Conner's lips on mine and the ache inside when he pulled away.

When he pulls into my parents' driveway, he throws his truck into gear and gets out, looking sheepish.

Mortification floods me as he apologizes again for kissing me. My cheeks burn, and I stare at the ground, unable to meet his gaze.

"I'm really sorry, Misty. I shouldn't have done that."

His words rip into me, sharp as knives. I want to tell him to stop apologizing, that I'd wanted the kiss as much as he did, but the words stick in my throat.

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