Page 101 of Up in Smoke

“Mr. Farrow, the floor is yours,” a member of the band cuts in over the sound system. “Let’s hear it for the father-daughter dance.”

Mesa’s head turns slowly to the right. She fakes a smile at first, but I don’t miss the strain in her eyes. Something hits me that I think I already knew, but didn’t quite understand, until just now.

We’re both drowning in a violent current of things that we hate about our lives sometimes. They appear in unexpected ways, just to remind us that we have a reason to be sad or scared. I tried to erase mine, but they’ll never go away. Not entirely.

For the first time in my life, that doesn’t worry me. Those things will never pull me all the way under again. Not if I have her. If she leans on me, too, we can stay afloat together.

“Want me to pull the fire alarm?”

She gifts me with the laugh I was hoping for and shifts her attention back to me. “There are no fire alarms in barns, are there? And anyway, they’re enjoying their special moment. Don’t ruin it.”

I nod, trying hard not to lean in and kiss her for being such a perfect and rare combination of soft, sweet, and wild.

“I’ll take a drink, though.” She squints like she’s contemplating something. “And it’s a little loud in here, don’t you think?”

34

MESA

The heelof his boot kicks the back door closed behind us, and Tripp picks up speed to run through the kitchen. Tonight could have gone a million different ways. Getting carried out of the reception—bare feet and ass in the air—was not one that I had prepared for.

“I’m gonna die,” I squeal over his shoulder. “You’re gonna drop me, and I’ll crack my damn head open, Tripp Lathan!”

“Hush. I ain’t dropping you.”

He slows down to a walk when we’re finally in his room. After locking the door, he sets the bottle of champagne on the nightstand and my shoes in the closet. I’m still slapping his backside to let me down, and he chuckles while finally leaning forward and lowering me to the ground.

With a huff, I smooth my hair back and out of my face. Damn, these hay-throwing, handsy country boys. They think they can just lift and carry anything in sight, grown women included. I’ve seen every one of them but Heston do it at least once today.

Annoyed and turned on are such closely related emotions, I now realize.

Being in his room is an instant relief. It’s neat and clean, which I wasn’t expecting since I think both the bridesmaids and groomsmen got ready for the wedding in the bunkhouse today. He even kept his plants alive.

The part of me that’s been off-kilter for a week almost feels back to normal just by breathing the familiar air in here again.

“We got some looks running out of there like that, you wacko. Have you considered that I’m perfectly capable of walking?”

“No. Have you considered being my girlfriend?”

My lips part, and he unbuttons his jacket. I still haven’t answered him by the time it’s off and thrown over his dresser. I’m not shocked that this is something he wants. Not after what he said to me at the reception.

It’s the straightforwardness that catches me off guard. We’ve had our fair share of fun and games since day one. Friends here, bedroom benefits there. Admit we like each other, and break things off soon after.

Straight-up is a new strategy. He took that approach at the reception, and he’s taking it again now. I don’t hate it one bit.

Just for fun, I cock an eyebrow. “Are you going to crash out if I don’t say yes?”

We have all the time in the world for this pointless debate. Tripp is already mine, and he knows it. But he deserves a little edging after taking his jacket off and making me drool in slow motion like that. This is just a little payback.

His jaw clenches, but his eyes remain calm. “No. I’ll just go back to the drawing board again. If you don’t trust me again yet, then I’ll do what it takes to earn it back.”

“So basically, if I say no, you’ll ask me again tomorrow.”

“Pretty much,” he laughs.

Is that so? Tempting, because I’ve always wanted to see him on his knees.

I cross my arms with a smirk. “I wasn’t going to say no.”

---