Kiss Me Hard Before You Go (21 page)

“I don’t know about that,” Evie said.

“What do I know? I’m just a dumb ole’ farmer. Seems to me that he’s real sweet on you, though.”

Evie stayed silent.

“You seem sweet on him too?” Gray probed.

She turned three shades of red. “Daddy!” she whined. “I just went on a date with him. We’re not getting married.”

“All marriages began with a first date,” he said.

Chapter 19

Finch immediately read the look of concern on Evie’s face and noticed her stooped shoulders. She wasn’t her usual self, and he was desperate to know what was wrong. “What is it?” he asked.

“We lost a calf today,” she said with a downturned expression.

“I’m sorry,” he said. He wanted to fix it, just like he fixed everything else, but he didn’t know the first thing about cattle.

“We think there was mold in the hay,” she said. “Daddy had Tom, our vet, come out, and he says the others should be fine, but I still worry we’re going to lose more and that could cost us. A lot.”

“If the vet says they’ll be okay, I’m sure they will,” he said. “Try not to worry too much.” He moved his hand to her shoulder.

She bit on her lip and sighed. “We’re so behind as it is. We need these heifers to birth the calves so they’ll lactate. If they don’t, we don’t get our money, and we can’t pay our bills.”

“It’s going to be okay, Evie. The vet said that they’ll be fine. Worrying isn’t going to solve the problem,” he said.

He pulled her into him and hugged her. Tight. She felt the urge to pull away, after all, hugging wasn’t her thing, but he was like a magnet and she couldn’t let go. She just let him hold her and gave into it, pressing her face against his chest and wrapping her arms around him. It felt nice being held by him, like a part of a chain link fence, connected together.

She finally let go and looked up at him, hopeful and thankful.
When will he kiss me
, she wondered?
What is he waiting for
, she thought.

“We better go check on Katie,” he said, and Evie felt a wave of disappointment cross over her.

She nodded, feeling the tug of his hand on hers, and the more she thought about it, the more frustrated she became. She stopped walking and let go of his hand. “When are you going to kiss me?” she asked with irritation.

“What?” he said, truly surprised by her question. He’d never been asked that question by a woman before. Never in his twenty-two years of life.

“You keep giving me hints that you want to kiss me but you never do, and it’s driving me crazy!”

“I,” he began, bumfuzzled with his words. She could shock the hell out of him, and he absolutely adored that about her, but man could she irritate him.

She tapped her foot against the grass and folded her arms to her chest, waiting, for something. A response. An action. Something to tell her she wasn’t a buffoon for what she just said. Because it was out there in the open now and she couldn’t take those words back. She had made it known that she wanted his lips on hers.

He threw his hands up in the air, mumbled under his breath and started walking. She ran to catch up with him.

“Where are you going?” she shouted, and he ignored her. “Hey, I’m talking to you!”

He spun on his heels and gave her a frustrated look. “I heard you, but I don’t respond well to demands.”

“I didn’t demand anything,” she said defensively. “I asked a simple question.”

“You all but demanded that I kiss you, and I want to Evie, but I want to do it when the time is right. Kissing you right after you told me about your calf dying and you’re worried about money isn’t very romantic or considerate, is it?” He let out a groan. “You frustrate me so much! You know that I’m aching for you.” He gave her a pained expression.

She stared at him with her mouth wide open, at a loss for words.

He pulled her to him, and she didn’t fight it. She was ready to surrender into him. He held onto her tight and leaned down, kissing the freckle on her ear lobe, the one he’d been eyeing since the day they had met. She shivered, feeling the touch of his lips and the warmth of his breath against her skin. He pushed her hair to the side and lightly grazed the nape of her neck with his lips, creating a trail of kisses up to her partially open lips. She felt intoxicated and couldn’t move. He was taking her breath away with each and every kiss.

She titled her head to the side and pressed her palms against his back, feeling the heat from his skin. She was lost in him. So incredibly lost.

His lips finally met hers, and their tongues joined together, swirling in motion. She tasted him, the warmth and pleasance of him, and he closed his eyes, enjoying the absolute beauty of that moment.

He finally let go of her and stared deep into her eyes, thinking that he could do that again and again. She brought her hand up to his cheek, gently rubbing it with the tip of her thumb. She stood on her tip toes and cupped his face, kissing him on both sides of his cheeks, then his forehead, and finally the dimple in his chin.

She was flushed, and so was he. It was a simple kiss, but the aftershock still lingered. His heart was beating ferociously, and hers was pitter pattering at the same pace. She steadied herself. Her knees wobbled, and he wiped his hands against his denim jeans before he took a hold of her hand.

“That was...” He couldn’t say “nice” because that was a trite description. It was more than that. It was the best kiss of his life, and he knew anytime he closed his eyes he’d see her and he’d replay that moment.

“Wonderful,” she finished his sentence. But “wonderful” didn’t evoke her feelings. It was more than that. Amazing. Breathtaking. So much more. Her lips still burned, and she licked them, tasting the saltiness of him on her.

***

Katie knew. It was written all over their faces. “Y’all have been kissing,” she pointed out without reserve.

“Katie, geez,” Evie snapped and shot her a dirty look.

Katie laughed. “It’s about time,” she said.

Even Finch was speechless. Since when did he get so shy, he wondered. He kissed her, big deal. He had kissed many before her. But this wasn’t the same. He never wanted to hold Evie so bad after kissing her, and when she kissed him on his cheeks and his chin, he nearly lost it. The frightening prospect that she could persuade him to do anything, that she could ask him for anything and he’d give in with no questions asked, scared the hell out of him.

Katie glanced at Finch and then Evie. “Good Lord! That must have been some kiss. The look on y’all’s faces is priceless. I wish I had my Polaroid.” She laughed to herself.

Finch turned his chair around and straddled it, facing Katie. “I’ve been thinking about your situation,” he said seriously, and Katie quit laughing. Evie sat beside her, facing her, and urged Finch to continue. “You could stay at my place in Florida. I won’t be back until the end of October, and by that time, I’m sure we can find you another place to stay in Gibsonton.”

Finch had mentioned the idea to Evie, who figured it was worth a shot. It wasn’t long-term, and it wasn’t a solution, but it would get Katie out of harm’s way – out of Nate McDaniels’ reach.

“I can’t impose,” Katie said.

“It’s not imposing. Rolf, my landlord, he won’t mind the company,” he said and read Katie’s expression. “Don’t worry, he’s not a creep. Just an old carny who talks too much. He’ll talk your ears off.” Finch laughed, thinking of Rolf’s motor mouth. “I’m thinking there are plenty of carnies like Rolf that’ll take you in. Worse comes to worst, I could move in with him when I get back and you could stay in my place.”

“It’s the best way for you to get away from your dad,” Evie added.

“I can’t keep taking so much from everyone. I’ll never be able to pay you back, and what will I do once I have the baby?” she said.

“There’s plenty of work down there. Besides, you aren’t taking if we’re offering. Most carnies understand what it means to be down on your luck. Rolf, he helped my mom out when she was your age. He’d want to help you out,” Finch said confidently.

“I don’t have any money. I can’t take advantage,” she said.

“Don’t worry about the money, and like I said, you’re not taking advantage,” Finch interrupted. He and Evie had figured they could come up with enough cash to get her on a bus down to Gibsonton. Todd had thrown his money at her, but Evie couldn’t take it, and she knew that Katie never would.

That money was mailed to him with a nasty letter attached, the day after he threw it at her near the rink. The note contained more than a few expletives, and anyone who saw it would be shocked that Evie knew so many foul ways to describe someone.

“I don’t feel right about this,” Katie said.

“Too bad,” Evie said. “We’re doing this, whether you like it or not.”

“I guess what she’s trying to say is we want to do it,” Finch added, trying to soften the mood.

“How can I ever repay y’all?” Katie said, tears streamed down her face.

“I’ll call Rolf tomorrow,” he said. “He’ll say yes, so we’ll just need to get that bus ticket.” He gave her a reassuring smile.

“I can do that,” Evie said.

“Eves, you don’t have the money,” Katie said.

“Sure I do,” she lied. She had gotten some graduation money from her great-aunt. It wasn’t much but it’d be a contribution to the money Finch was donating.

“And you,” Katie said to Finch. “You don’t even know me. You don’t have to do this.”

“You’re Evie’s best friend,” he said and sighed. “I’m just repaying the favor someone did for my mom, and maybe one day you can do the same.”

***

They stood far enough away from the house in case Gray woke up. Evie was going to miss these late night walks. Would they continue once Katie moved to Florida, she wondered, and then a feeling of sadness filled her. Her best friend was moving, and Finch would be gone at another carnival soon. Change was a part of life, but this wasn’t what she had in mind. Pining for a guy and losing her best friend at the same time?

“You’re a good man, Finch Mills,” she said.

“I wouldn’t say that,” he said with an air of humility. “You’re the one with the big heart, Evie.”

“Once you talk to Rolf, I’ll go buy the bus ticket. I’ll have to go to Chester to get it,” she said.

“I can go with you,” he said. “Kip won’t notice if I’m gone for a couple of hours.”

“No. I don’t want you risking your job,” she said.

“Evie, I’m the only one who can fix the rides. You think he’s going to fire me? He knows he can’t,” Finch said. “Besides, I wanna take care of the ticket, and I know if you go alone, you’ll pitch-in your money.”

“You can’t buy the whole ticket,” she argued. “I won’t let you.”

“It won’t cost much, and I’ve got enough saved up anyhow,” he said. He tilted his head down and brought her closer to him. His lips almost touched hers. “Quit fighting me,” he said, and kissed her before she had time for a comeback.

Chapter 20

Evie and Gray sat at the breakfast table. Gray sipped on a cup of black coffee while Evie thought about everything but the farm. Normally it all but consumed her, but it was the furthest thing from her mind at that moment. Gray noted the distant look on her face, the lack of conversation. They weren’t the types to sit around and chit chat. Gray wasn’t known for being a conversationalist, but normally Evie would try and make an effort, or vice versa.

“You okay, Punkin?” he asked.

“Sure,” she answered with a lilt.

“Tom says the heifers are going to be fine,” he said.

Sadly, she wasn’t even thinking about the heifers. She should have been. She knew that. After all, they would be her bank or bust. “That’s good.” She looked up at him and gave him a half-smile.

“I was thinking once these calves are born maybe you and I can go on a trip together.”

“Who will take care of the calves?”

“Cooper. He sold all but a few of his beef cows, and he owes me a couple of favors anyhow,” he said. “You’ve always wanted to go to Florida. We could go to the beach.” A glint of hope shone in his sky blue eyes. “Ain’t that far from here, you know?”

The mention of Florida reminded her of Katie, of Finch, of everything that had happened so far that summer. “We should save the money.”

“Don’t you worry about the cost,” he said. “We’ve never gone on a real trip together. I’ve done made up my mind about this so there’s no use in arguing with me.”

Evie and Gray had never been on a real family vacation—the kind with snapshots filling a photo album.

She twirled her hair in deep thought. “It sounds nice,” she finally said. A trip did sound nice, but the idea of it seemed unreachable.

“It’s just what we both need,” he said with certainty.

***

Finch called Rolf, who said yes once Finch explained the situation. At one time, Rolf was a knife thrower for Kips’ carnival, and one of the best in the nation. He took Finch’s mom under his wing and taught her everything he knew. He was the only true father-figure she ever had, and Finch thought of the old man as his replacement grandfather. Finch rarely asked him for anything, and anytime he did, Rolf gave in without question.

The closest bus station was in Chester. Evie picked up Finch once all the calves were bottle fed and the heifers were taken care of. She didn’t bother to shower, and the grime and grit of a day of farming out in the sun still lingered on her.

Her wet hair was pulled up into a pony tail, and the soles of her work boots were encased in mud. The two of them were a pair, Finch thought. His hands were covered in grease, and she was a hot mess of mother nature.

She met him outside the gate that they locked up together that one night. The truck was idling, and he hopped the fence to join her.

“Show off,” she said when he plopped down beside her.

He wiggled his brows. “You know you’re impressed,” he said and leaned over to kiss her on the cheek. He inhaled and said, “You smell pleasant.”

She shot him a dirty look and then smiled. “Same goes for you.”

***