Page 91 of One Wild Chance

These feelings aren’t going to go away overnight. At this rate, they might never go away, and I don’t even know if Jaxon is staying after his required time on the farm is up.

My feelings for Jaxon are impossible to avoid now, but this is new territory for us, one I don’t know how to navigate.

I’m quiet on the drive home, and when he pulls up to my house, I throw out a quick “thanks for tonight” and let myself out of the truck. I can’t assume that our kiss means anything more to him.

Jaxon gets out of the truck to follow me to the door anyway.

I whirl around to face him. “You don’t have to walk me up.”

“I do,” he insists. “I promised to be a gentleman, and I need to make sure you get home safe.”

“In Golden Springs?” I say around a laugh. “Jaxon, I can take care of myself.”

His eyes search my face, like he can see right through my facade. “Why can’t you just let someone do something for you?”

I shift on my feet. “I’ve never really had anyone who wanted to.”

A lesson learned the hard way with my father. No man has ever been steady enough to depend on—until Jaxon showed up.

He steps toward me and sweeps his hand up to my face. “Then let me be the first.” His thumb strokes my cheek before he heads to his truck.

I stand at the door, watching him leave. Something changed tonight when I hate-kissed Jaxon Chance. And now I don’t know how to stop wanting him.

Chapter 26

Jaxon

The next morning I’m at Summer’s house before the sun is up, ready to take her into town for market day. Her coffee is ready in a travel mug, and I loaded her flowers into the bed of my truck while the stars were still out. She would’ve been there by five thirty doing it herself, so this is one less thing for her to worry about today.

I want this woman more than anything, especially after last night’s kiss. But I need to prove to her that I’m worth trusting first, and that’s going to be my hardest job of all.

She hurries out the door when I arrive, takes one look at the truck bed, and stops. “You took care of the flowers?”

“Of course I did,” I say, handing her coffee.

Her gaze drops to the travel mug. She didn’t even realize it was for her. “Is this what I think it is?”

“Try it and see,” I reply.

She takes a drink. “You even added oat milk.”

“I know what you like.” I shoot her a pleased look. “Just don’t tell anyone down at the diner—they think ruining your coffee with something that didn’t come from a cow is sacrilegious.”

She smiles as I open her door. “Now you can set up your booth for the farmers market without rushing. When you’re done, your truck’s still parked in town from the concert last night.”

I climb in on the driver’s side as she gapes at me.

“How early did you get up?”

“Early enough to get here on time.” I give her a look before pulling out onto the road.

“Wow,” she says, wrapping her hands around the mug. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Thank you is good enough.” I know she’s already thinking of ways she can repay me. “This isn’t a competition, Summer.”

She dips her chin. “I know that. And I’m grateful.” She looks out the window as the fields roll by, barely lit by the gray light.

I keep waiting for her to say something about last night. Does she think the kiss was a mistake? Does she wish she’d never agreed to that dance?