Page 64 of That One Night
But she didn’t ask him to slow down. Didn’t ask him to do anything. Just matched his speed as he made his way to the gate that led to the field at the back of the house, pushing it open with a creak, before stepping aside to let her in first.
“Where are you going to take the first sample?” she asked him, looking out at the expanse of tilled soil.
“Here.” He nodded at the first corner and handed her the bucket. He hunkered down, using the tip of the trowel to dent the dry soil, digging down to what felt like around half a foot, then scooped up a trowel full of the earth, turning to put it in the bucket she was holding out.
Their eyes caught and he could see the emotion in her gaze. Like she was trying to bring herself to say something.
“If this is about last night,” he murmured. “I should apologize. For taking advantage of you.”
Emery’s brows furrowed. “You’re sorry? For kissing me?”
“I put you in a bad position. And I shouldn’t have. It won’t happen again.”
Her mouth parted as though she was going to say something. Then she let out a sigh and shook her head.
“You didn’t put me in any position. Not one I didn’t want to be in.”
“Emery…”
She put her hand up. “Please, just let me say what I need to say. It’s really hard and I’ve been worrying about it all day and I need to get it out.”
It was his turn to let out a long breath. God, he hated this. It felt almost painful, knowing she regretted last night.
That she wished he hadn’t kissed her.
“Okay.” He nodded. “Go ahead.”
She put the bucket down on the dirt, looking up at the sky as though the clouds held inspiration. Then she looked back at him, her eyes shining. And then her lips parted, words spilling out of them like she couldn’t keep them in anymore.
“I’ve been lying to you. I’ve been lying to everybody. I’m not engaged to Trenton anymore.”
Chapter
Eighteen
He couldn’t have looked moreshocked if he’d tried. His brows were pulled tight, like he was trying to take in the words.
His lack of response was killing her.
“Did you hear what I said?” she asked him.
He nodded. “Yes, Emery, I heard what you said.” Hendrix laid the shovel on the ground and stood up, like he’d forgotten all about the soil testing. Then he shoved his hands in his pockets like he needed something to do with them, before bringing his gaze to hers.
“What’s going on?” he murmured to her.
She took a deep breath. She wasn’t ready for this. But then she probably never would be. “Trenton and I broke up before I came back to Hartson’s Creek.”
Hendrix’s expression didn’t change. “So why are you pretending you’re still engaged?”
Her legs felt weak. “Can we sit down?” she asked him, afraid she might fall if she didn’t.
He nodded, watching as she pretty much collapsed onto the dry earth. He followed suit, being sure to leave a gap betweenthem. For a second all she could think about was last night, the way her body felt pressed between his and the ground. The sureness of his touch as he trailed his hands over her thighs.
When she looked up, his gaze was locked on her face. Like he was thinking the same thing.
“My life is a mess,” she whispered, trying not to cry, because this was excruciating. He watched her silently, his jaw tight. As she tried to explain the tangled web she’d managed to get caught in.
Her chest was so tight as she talked to him, telling him about the last few months of her relationship with Trenton, their split, his suggestion that they kept the end of their engagement quiet until his parents returned. Then his jaw went hard when she told him about the lien on the farm. Trenton’s refusal to sign off on it until he’d been able to tell his parents about their split face to face.
