“Zach?” I ask, looking around.

I walk forward a little. As soon as I see him, he grabs me.

“Get in here.” Zach’s voice is strained as his hands grip my waist. “You,” he says with a groan.

“What?” I ask, confused about what has him so upset.

His eyes travel down my neck slowly. I watch his chest heave as he continues to the deep scoop of my neckline. Zach drinks me in, and the rate of my breathing increases. I can feel his eyes, the heat from his body, and the grip of his fingers on my back. Everything else around me dissipates.

“Do you know how beautiful you are? How much I want you right now?”

Zach has been extremely patient. It’s been a very slow moving train. One that he hasn’t even tried to make go faster.

“Cowboy,” I murmur. His eyes flash to mine, and I grin.

That’s all it takes.

He looks back quickly as his hands tangle in my hair. Then his lips are on mine. My hat flies off my head from the force of the kiss. My legs wrap around his waist as he carries me back deeper out of view. I grab his neck and my hair veils us, making me feel like only we exist. I kiss him hard. He kisses me harder. When we reach the back of the stall, he uses the wall to keep me up as his hands roam my body.

I never want this to stop.

His rough fingers graze my bare skin and I fight back a moan. His hand grips both of mine, pinning them above my head. I grip harder around his hips but for a different reason now. I want more.

Zach takes his kiss away, and I whimper. “Tell me when you want me to stop, Presley.”

I look in his eyes and shake my head. Right now, the answer is never.

I don’t know if it’s the heat in the air or the heat between us, but I’m burning.

He keeps my hands above my head with one hand as his tongue slinks down my neck. I struggle to breathe as he goes lower. His other hand cups my breast, and my head falls back against the wood.

Zach steps back, causing me to stand on shaky legs. His knee slides between my legs, and I use it for leverage. He doesn’t say a word, just gazes into my eyes as he squeezes and kneads my breast.

“This is okay?” he asks while releasing my hands.

“Yes.”

“Can I touch you more?”

“Yes,” I say without pause.

He slides the strap of my shirt and bra off my shoulder. “You’re so beautiful. You’ve always been, but it’s like seeing you with new eyes.”

Good. God.

He drifts to the other side down but doesn’t expose me. His hands frame my neck and he pulls my lips back to his. We kiss as he barely touches my skin. I’m close to begging, but his mouth is what I want right now.

“Pres?” Wyatt’s voice stops us both.

Zach lifts my straps back into place and puts his finger to my lips.

“Presley?” he calls again. “Where the hell did she go?”

I’m going to get caught making out with Zach in the barn. This is déjà vu all over again. Zach grins, caging me in with his arms. I want to kiss him again. I can’t seem to look at him without craving it.

I hear Wyatt’s footsteps get closer. I close my eyes and wait for him to say something.

Instead, he retreats.

As soon as it sounds like the coast is clear, I breathe a sigh of relief. “That was close.”

“I’m pretty sure he knows.”

“It could’ve been Cooper.”

Zach presses his lips to mine, effectively quieting me. He leans back and runs his fingers through my tresses. “I’ll see you tonight.”

“I’ll be there.”

“Zach.” I smack his chest as we sit tangled in the blanket. He keeps telling me about the tricks he and Trent are playing on the new trainer at his ranch. “You’re so mean. You and Trent need a hobby.”

“I think I’ve found a new one.” He kisses the side of my cheek and tugs me closer.

“I’m a hobby?”

“More like a sport.”

I lean back with my mouth agape. “A sport?”

“Maybe a marathon. But it’s okay, darlin’. I like all the practice time we’re getting.”

I let out a soft giggle and lean back into him. “I might have to make you sit the bench.”

Zach’s lips graze my ear, and I shiver. “I’m not sure you really want that.”

He’s right. I don’t. Each day that we spend together, I fight my feelings for him. When I’m in his arms, it’s impossible to not give in. It’s like falling back where we left off as kids—the good part. I feel the desire pulse through me when we touch, and it scares me. It would be so easy to lose myself to him. Allow the passion to take hold, but that would be a mistake. One that would leave me even more messed up over him. So, for now, we’re taking things slow.

“Watch it,” I warn as his arms tighten.

We’ve met the last eight nights like this. Under the stars, at the creek that separates our properties. I try to remember that we’re not sixteen, but it’s so easy to forget the world when Zach is here.

“Today at the barn was fun,” he reminds me.

The yearning I squashed is back.

“Yeah.” I let out a small laugh and jab him with my elbow. “It was fun. Maybe we’ll do it again sometime.”

Zach groans. “Maybe?”

“You never know.”

We both fall quiet as he holds me close. I want to move things forward with him. At the same time, I’m enjoying the pace we’re at.

“Sun’s coming up. We should get you back home,” he says against my ear. “Don’t want you to turn into a pumpkin.”

“I need to get some sleep too. I’m exhausted.” Mostly because I don’t want to dream and also because I’m staying up all night to meet Zach.

“Me too,” he confesses. “Felicia was asking yesterday why I looked like shit.”

Just her name causes my mood to shift. “Did you tell her it’s because I’m keeping you up all night?” I say half joking, yet half serious.

Zach pulls back a little. I can tell he’s trying to gauge how to answer this. He told me last night how she’s trying to convince him to try again. He’s also not allowed to say we’re together, so he’s backed into a corner. I hate her. I also know she’s relentless. If she wants him back, there’s not a trick she won’t resort to.

“Pres,” he says with an exasperated breath. “I’m doing what you want.”

“I know.” And I do. He is respecting my wishes. It’s way too soon. Right now things are fun, but what happens when we come back down to earth?

Eventually, I’m going to have to face the unresolved issues between us.

And I don’t know where that will leave us.

“Trust me.” He takes my hand. “I would much rather tell everyone, but you’ve made it pretty clear you’re not ready for that.”

I look away, conflicted. I feel like every single thing in my life is some big secret. It’s maddening. The secrets I keep are better left in the dark. When they come to light, they’ll overshadow everything else. I need more time. “Not yet. I hope you understand, but for now, I want to enjoy this. We have a town waiting in the balance, and what if this goes south?”