Page 43 of If It's You

“But the tractor is little and blue.”

“Exactly.”

“I’ve never hated you more,” Maizie said loud enough to be heard over the noise, and Christian’s smile got even bigger. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t wanted to do this at first.

“The feeling is mutual, princess.”

Twelve

Maizie ignored Christian’s outstretched hand and helped herself down from the tractor from hell. Not only did the old thing only go twenty miles per hour but Christian also sucked at driving, so she’d fallen into him over and over again. She’d asked him no less than fifty times if she could just take over. But he insisted on being chivalrous.

Like there was any way to be chivalrous on a tractor.

And of course, he wouldn’t park it a block away like she’d begged him to. No, he parked it right outside the freaking gymnasium doors in the vacant handicapped-accessible spots. So when they’d pulled up, everyone had come out to witness the cause of the noise. She’d lived on a farm for eighteen years and had never been so humiliated.

It was all thanks to that man. That evil man who looked like a hotter version of Shawn Mendes all dressed up. Her plan for tonight had been to flirt with him, make him think she really liked him, and then, bam. She’d drop it on his face like a brick that he’d never be with her. But then he had to go and bring her to the dance in a freaking tractor.

“Uh oh, you have some stuff right there,” Christian said, pointing to her backside.

“What?” She twisted as far as she could, and sure enough, there was some hay stuck to the sequins of her dress. Hopefully that’s all it was.

“Want me to get it?”

“Touch me and die,” Maizie said through tight lips as she swatted off her butt. What had she done so wrong in life to be plagued by this numbskull?

Christian gave her an amused smile.

Maizie turned away, took a deep breath, and squared her shoulders. Christian had his plan, but she had her own. One that was going to hurt a lot worse.

“All right let’s go.” Maizie pasted a fake smile on her face and grabbed hold of Christian’s arm. Her fingers tingled, and she gripped his hand tighter as a reflex. That was not supposed to happen. She would not catch feelings for Christian. He would catch feelings for her, though, right before she pulled that rug out from under him.

“Okay, now I know you’re up to something.” Christian’s breath tickled her bare neck.

“What do you mean?” Maizie batted her eyelashes at him and opened the door for him.Oops, maybe I should tone it down.

“You hated me ten minutes ago, and now you’re looking at me like something’s stuck in your eye, and I’m the only one who can get it out.”

He pointed to her eye, and she did her best to hold back her eye roll, but it still came. “Maybe this has nothing to do with you, and I just want to enjoy my last high school dance. Is that okay with you?”

His eyes narrowed as he studied her face, and she did her best to remain focused.

“I’m not convinced you’re not up to something, but it doesn’t really matter. I don’t like you anyway.”

She’d heard it and said it multiple times herself, but this time, it struck a different chord. She could be strong on the farm, and on the stage when all the lights were on her. But right now, she was just like any other girl. She wasn’t anything special.

“Great,” she said through pursed lips. “I need a restroom. That tractor was too bumpy,” she said and left him still standing on the outside of the dance floor.

It only took Maizie five minutes to freshen up and come back to her senses. Christian needed to go down and go home at all costs. He wasn’t fooling anyone with his city boy ways.

Just everyone in school, apparently. Christian wasn’t on the side of the gym like he should have been, but in the middle, talking to everyone. Likeeveryone. Even the teachers were practically swooning over him. Was no one but her immune to his charm?

You can do this.Maizie stomped over to him and drove her nails in, laying claim to something she didn’t want.

“I’m ready for that dance now.” Maizie flashed him a megawatt smile. She didn’t give him time to answer before she pulled him out of the throng and laced her arms around his neck.

“Wow, if I didn’t know better, I’d say you were jealous.” Christian whistled, pulling her in so close not even a breath could get between them.

Maizie bit back a snide remark and took her time looking up at him from under her eyelashes. “So what if I am?”