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He pulls me against his chest and wraps his arms around me. He kisses my forehead, not caring that there are people around us.
“So you are admitting that I won you over,” he teases, his fingers stroking my arm.
I chuckle, my body tingling from his gentle touch as I lean my head against him. "Well, maybe a little bit. I suppose if every birthday was like this, I could learn to like them a little more," I confess, my heart fluttering as I steal a glance at him.
He raises an eyebrow, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "Oh, really? I’ll have to keep that in mind for next year.”
I meet his gaze, the fading sunlight reflecting in his warm brown eyes. Next year. Does that mean what I think it does? Is he really planning on staying in my life?
"This would be hard to top.” I gesture between us, taking a risk. “A beautiful day at the farm, I’m not sure how you’ll beat that."
Sean smiles, a soft and genuine expression that makes my heart skip a beat. "Well, then, I guess it is a good thing I have another year to plan," he says, his thumb tracing small circles on the back of my hand. “I can’t let you down.”
My stomach flips and my face heats. I don’t know why, after the heated moments we’ve shared, this casual mention of the future is what makes me nervous.
“Do you uh, do you want to go on the hayride?” I rock back and forth on my toes, not sure what else to say and too afraid that I’ll blurt out my true thoughts.
“I would love to.” He laces our fingers together and leads the way.
My birthday really does feel special. There is no line, another stroke of luck on this already seemingly perfect day. Sean helps me up the steps, taking a seat along the back row so that we can fully take in the scenery, unobstructed.
And secluded.
The only other people choose front row seats, giving us a breadth of privacy.
It’s perfect. The tractor moves slowly across the grounds, leisurely taking the path around cornfields and pumpkin patches.
A bump justles me into his side, and I gladly stay there. He puts his arm around me and tucks me into his side. It’s nice, creating a cocoon of warmth that I never want to leave. All I can see, or feel, is Sean. The gentle hum of conversations from the family in the front becoming a soothing part of the background as I settle in against him, overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude.
The hayride seems to end too fast, letting us off beside the pumpkin patch where people search row by row for the biggest, most orange pumpkin. Sean takes me by the hand, leading me past several people, weaving in and out of rows with determination, making me laugh.
“What? Did you spot one you like?” I jog a little bit to keep up with his long strides.
“Benefit of being tall.” He stops at the end of a middle row, bending at the knees and scooping up a large, bright, blemish free pumpkin.
My mouth pops open. “It’s like a pumpkin spice model.”
Sean holds it out for me to take and I hug it against me. “It’s perfect,” I say, looking up at him in awe. “This is the best pumpkin I’ve ever seen.”
Sean laughs, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “Aren’t you glad you have me?” He leads us towards the exit.
The chill in the air is the only reason I don’t protest when it is time to leave. Truly, I could spend all day here. But the sun is starting to slip behind the tree line, and I shiver.
“Here, let me hold that.” Sean takes the pumpkin in one arm, holding it against his side, and holding my hand with the other. The cool autumn breeze carries the scent of woodsmoke from the bonfires as we move in comfortable silence. The sky turns from pink to orange, the setting sun casting a warm glow over everything it touches.
Sean squeezes my hand gently. The space between us warm and silent, the only sound the crunch of leaves and gravel beneath our feet.
Everything is perfect.
Happy tears start to swell again as I turn to Sean. My throat bobs as I look up at him, and he sets our pumpkin in the backseat of the car. This is what I’ve always wanted. The realization is a bit overwhelming. “I had a really good time?—"
He pushes my back into the car and claims my mouth. He pins my body still with his own, pressing into me as he deepens the kiss. The warmth from his body envelops me.
“You deserve to feel special, especially on your birthday.” He strokes my cheek one last time before helping me in the car.
CHAPTER 15
SEAN
