Page 80 of A Vine Mess
After applying a filter to my favorite picture, I shared it to my Instagram with the caption:Gonna miss this place, but at least we get to take on our next adventure together.
Liam chuckled when I showed him, then kissed me lightly. “You’re cute.”
I beamed. “I know.”
The chuckle turned to all out laughter as he pinched my ass and said, “C’mon, cutie. Get your fine ass in the car so we can head out.”
I didn’t need any further encouragement. As amazing as this leg of the trip had been, I was even more excited for our next stop.
I threw myself into the passenger seat and buckled up before Liam could even open his door, grinning somewhat maniacally at him as he settled behind the wheel.
“Eager, aren’t we?”
“Come on, Wills,” I said, sliding my shades on. “You can’t tell me you’re not excited.”
“Oh, I am. I’ve never ridden a horse before, and pictures I’ve seen of the ranch look stunning.”
“I, for one, can’t wait to see you in a cowboy hat.”
He cut his eyes to me, and I giggled. “Don’t press your luck, Wildflower.”
“I think you’ll change your tune when you hear the rule.”
“What rule?” he asked as he turned the engine over and put the van in drive.
“There’s this cowboy rule.Wear the hat, ride the cowboy. So what do you think? Will you wear a cowboy hat if only so I can take it from you?”
“Baby, you don’t need some silly cowboy rule to ride me. All you have to do is ask.”
I folded my arms over my chest and pouted. “You ruin all my fun.”
His brow raised, and his eyes darted my way. “You’re really into that shit?”
I shrugged noncommittally. “It always sounds super hot in books. Think about it: we’re in some smokey, low-lit bar. You’re at a table with the guys, drinking beer and shooting the shit, and I’m on the dance floor. Some cowboy comes up to me and wants to dance. You get all jealous, stomp over and slam your hat on my head, shoot the guy and death glare and say, ‘Mine.’”
Liam’s hand shot out, gripping my thigh and sliding higher, his voice lowering as he asked, “Then what happens?”
I laced my fingers through his and brought our hands to my mouth, pressing a kiss to the rose tattooed on the back of his. “There’s only one way to find out.”
His answering groan was a low rumble that sent shivers across my body. “Wicked woman.”
I didn’t respond as he navigated us out of the mountains and onto the main road, which would connect us to the highway leading straight to our next destination.
“Dusk Valley, here we come.”
“Liam!” I yelped as my eyes popped open. I was only half-awake, but we were speeding down a two-lane road with wide open fields spreading out along the sides. For some reason, my mind instantly jumped to the packets of seeds in my bag, and how this would be the perfect place to sprinkle a few of them.
“What?” he asked, the wheel jerking to the side as he jumped. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just pull over!”
“What? Why?”
“Because I asked you to!”
He frowned but pressed the brake, turning his blinker on to indicate to the people behind us that we were pulling off to the side. A moment later we were parked, the flashers on, and I got out of the van.
Liam’s door opened and slammed closed a moment later, his footfalls heavy as he met me at the back, where I was already rifling through my stuff, trying to locate the bundles of wildflower seeds.
