Page 108 of One Wild Chance

When Jess asks her to describe a wedding in the barn, she lays out her entire vision for the place, down to the chalkboard sign listing couples’ names and the flowers she’d use to decorate for every season. Wyatt looks over at me with raised eyebrows, thoroughly impressed.

And then comes the easy part: Jess takes shots of us in the barn. My brothers have been through promotional photos with their professional teams and major magazines, so a small-town newspaper is nothing in comparison.

“Now,” she says, looking over at Summer and me, “since you’re the ones running Wildflower Weddings, I’d love a shot of you two together.” Jess moves her finger between us. “The farm owner and the venue director. People will love that angle.” She gives us a sly smile. “Plus, a source tells me that you’re dating. Is that correct?”

Summer blinks, then looks over at me frantically. If the entire town doesn’t know after that dance we shared at the concert, they will now.

I lift a brow and give Summer a look. Are you okay with this?

She gives me a shy smile back. Why not?

“Yes, that’s correct,” I reply. “The best thing about coming home to Golden Springs was falling for Summer Daniels.”

The smile on Jess’s face says that getting this scoop probably made her entire year. We have nothing to hide, even if it means we’ll be the subject of every conversation at Minnie’s Diner for the next month.

“Wonderful,” she says, clapping her hands. “Why don’t we pose the two of you outside the barn?”

We walk just outside the barn doors, and Jess positions us, Summer’s back to my front. The afternoon’s cooler than yesterday, and when I brush Summer’s shoulder by accident, I notice the goose bumps on her skin.

“You’re cold?” I ask near her ear.

“I’m okay for a few pictures,” she responds, glancing at me.

I don’t want her to be uncomfortable. I shrug off my jacket and slide it over her shoulders, my arms coming around her from behind to pull it closed before settling her back against my chest.

“That’s great…stay right there!” Jess commands, holding up her camera.

Click, click.

I feel Summer’s body stiffen as soon as Jess starts taking pictures. I guess I hadn’t realized until now how nervous she was. I rub a hand over her arm to warm her up. “If you don’t want to do this,” I whisper, “I’ll tell her we’re done.”

“No,” she murmurs. “I just wish I were as natural at this as you and your brothers are.”

“Don’t assume I’m comfortable though. Or better at it.”

“Of course I think you’re better at it,” she says. “Look at you.”

“What?”

“You look incredible. You’re amazing at all things PR-related, while I’m just…”

“Beautiful?” I finish against her ear. “Intelligent? Capable of running this farm better than the four of us brothers combined?”

Her breath catches, and she looks at the ground. “You’re making it hard to concentrate, Chance.”

“Good,” I say. “I want to distract you. I told you before, I could never see you as average, Summer Daniels.”

I pull her back against me, wrapping my arms around her waist securely.

“What are you doing, Jaxon Chance?” she asks with a playful smile over her shoulder at me.

Click.

“Hugging you,” I say. “Didn’t you know a hug reduces stress hormones? And the longer the hug, the bigger the impact.”

“So, you’re doing this for science, then?”

I can’t see her face, but judging by her tone, she’s fighting a smile right now. “Well, no,” I say. “I’m doing it because you’re cold.”