Page 22

When she placed her hand in his, that now-familiar shock of recognition shot up her arm. And when she looked into his eyes, she knew he felt it, too.

But there was something more in his eyes. Something deeper.

A secret.

One he longed to share.

Chapter Seven – Philip

The afternoon had passed in a haze of steady work. They had hauled the irrigation pipes into place and made a list of everything else they would need to make use of the spring.

He’d enjoyed the work. Seeing a plan come together had always given him a thrill. But the real thrill had come from seeing Elsbeth so darn happy.

Her smile makes me smile. Her laughter makes me laugh.His bear chuckled.

I know exactly what you mean,Philip said as he packed up the last of the tools into the back of his truck.

And now it’s time to go,his bear said forlornly.

Philip sighed as he shut the truck. But then he had an idea and turned to Elsbeth with a glint in his eye.

“You know what this calls for?” he asked.

Elsbeth lifted an eyebrow. “A nap?”

He chuckled. “Close. A reward.”

“A reward?” she repeated, her eyes narrowing.

He nodded seriously. “Yep. Hard work deserves celebration.”

“And what exactly did you have in mind?”

Philip just grinned and jerked his thumb toward the passenger seat of his truck. “Trust me.”

Elsbeth hesitated, and for a moment he thought she was going to say no.

“All right,” she said, casting him a sidelong look. “I’m trusting you. But you had better not let me down.”

“Never.” Philip’s grin widened, lighting up his whole face. “I promise you won’t regret it.”

He ran around to the driver’s side of the truck and climbed in. A moment later, they were driving away from the Old Larson place and heading toward town.

But as they drove, Philip’s excitement waned, leaving him feeling jittery.

Not nervous, exactly.

More...uneasy. Restless in his own skin.

The reason for that nervous energy threading through his veins sat beside him in the passenger seat. Elsbeth.

So close, all he had to do was reach out, and he’d touch her.

No wonder you are restless,his bear said, feeling that same jitteriness.

As she sat there with her hands loosely folded in her lap, gazing out at the passing landscape, she was so close and yet still so far.

Until he told her about their connection, about the bond they shared, she would never be close enough. Never know how deeply he felt about her. How the sight of her smile made his chest ache with longing.