Gone Country (Rough Riders #14)(19)

They kept walking and she began to feel self-conscious, blathering on about trees. “You sure you’re interested in this? Or are you just being polite?”


He stopped and grabbed her hand. “I’m very interested.”


“Why?”


“Because I’ve never known anyone who makes a living off the land the way you do. I mean, yes, the McKays do, but in a different way. I’ve watched you nurturing your garden, slaving to harvest, exhausted but exhilarated. It’s something to behold. I don’t think I could do it year in, year out, being at the whim of nature and the weather.”


Rielle stood close enough to him to let his eyes draw her in. That vivid blue, the same blue all the McKays had, but his eyes seemed…brighter somehow. Truer. Something about Gavin said trust me. This was the first time she’d ever had that gut reaction. Because she didn’t trust easily, that made her attraction to him all the more acute.


“I like seeing you this way,” he said in his rough and compelling voice.


“How’s that?”


“In your element.”


“Meaning covered in dirt?”


“You being dirty suits me just fine, Rielle.”


Oh. My. God. Had he really meant it that way? Yes, if the heat in his eyes was a sign.


“I don’t even know what to say to that, Gavin.”


He just smiled. He dropped her hand and pointed to the last two trees. “What about those? Magic Mediterranean figs that taste like ambrosia and earn you a hundred bucks a pop?”


In that moment the sexual tension vanished and everything went back to normal between them. She was glad for it, even when she had a pang of regret for being tongue-tied when he always came up with such sexy off-the-cuff comments. “Those are just plain old red delicious apples.”


“But from sixty-year-old trees.”


“Yep. I don’t sell many of those. I sacrifice them to the deer, hoping they’ll gorge themselves on these first two trees and leave my other trees the hell alone.”


“Logical. But I see you’ve erected some netting as extra insurance.”


“That’s mostly to keep the birds away. That’s also why I’ve let the chokecherry bushes get overgrown. It’s a natural deterrent and a critter barrier.” She ducked under the netting and beckoned to him. “Come into my secret garden, tycoon.”


A smiling Gavin followed her without question.


At the base of the plum tree, she pointed to a branch directly above his head. “I can’t reach that high, so I want you to pick that plum closest to the trunk.”


“Seriously? You’re letting me try a six dollar piece of fruit?” His eyes took on a strange twinkle. “I’ll warn you, I don’t have any bills smaller than a twenty on me.”


“I oughta charge you double for that crack. Go on. Pick it.”


Curling his fingers around it, he tugged and promptly handed the fruit to her as if it was a bomb. “It’s so small. And warm.”


“That’s what makes it so luscious.” Rielle held the fruit between her thumb and forefinger. “I’ll take the first bite so you can see how juicy and tender the pink flesh is.” Keeping her eyes on his, she brought it to her mouth, using the very edges of her teeth to sink down through the skin. The instant the sweet juice hit her tongue she closed her eyes and moaned. Normally she limited herself to the damaged or near rotten fruit, not the perfect ones such as this.


When Rielle opened her eyes, Gavin was right there. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from her mouth. Her voice dropped to a sultry whisper. “See how the juice coats the pink flesh when it’s soft and warm?”


“Goddamn, I want a taste,” he said, his voice a deep rasp. “A full taste.”


“Of this fruit?”


His hot blue gaze locked to hers, broadcasting that he wasn’t thinking about the plum. “Oh, I’d take a full taste of that too.” Holding her hand in place, he bent forward and sucked the other half from her fingers. “Mmm.” After he removed the pit from his mouth, he nipped her fingertips. “I’m thinking I need another taste.”


“Gavin.”


“You know what I want to do right now? Lick every bit of juice off your lips. Then I want to suck it off your tongue. So when I kiss you the first time? I’ll know the sweetness and heat is all you.”


Her mouth had gone desert dry, but she eked out a soft, “Do it.”


Just as Gavin started to close the distance, the bushes behind them rattled. They both jumped back and a deer bounded past.


Cheeks burning, Rielle retreated, ducking out of the netting.


Gavin caught her hand and spun her to face him. “Rielle. Stop. Don’t run from me.”


“I’m not running.”


He quirked a brow. “Did you suddenly remember you left muffins burning in the oven or something?”


“Okay. Maybe I was running.”


“Why? Are you upset by what just happened?”


“Nothing happened,” she said quickly.