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Sawyer knows something’s going on between us. He knows we slip off to the pond and the reservoir, and we make breakfast together every morning and sit up talking at night. He knows Taron’s taking me to the ball tonight, but I don’t know what he’d say if he knew we were sleeping together. I don’t want to fight with my brother before he leaves the country.

So I’ve been being careful, secretive, but I couldn’t stop Taron last night. He got in my small bed and curled around me like a koala. This morning, he taught me his signature hoecake recipe, which he says he got off the Food channel on TV. We had ice cream, and we rode the three-wheeler down to the pond once more. Now I’m waiting for him to come to the house to “pick me up.”

Leon is taking Betsy, and he left about thirty minutes ago. As part of the growers association, Sawyer took off after lunch to help set up or tear down or basically just be a presence. Mindy Facetimed me wanting to see my dress, which she helped me pick out the day I told her I was going with Taron.

“Oh my gosh, it’s gorgeous!”

“You think?” Turning side to side, I look at the short black dress only held up by thin straps crossing my back.

I want tonight to be perfect. I want everything to go just right.

I need everything to go just right. It’s a memory I’ll hold for a long time…

My dark hair is styled over one shoulder, and I put on waterproof mascara. God, I don’t want to cry, but I’m afraid I might.

“Now I’m wishing I was going.” My friend is in her bed in bright red pajamas eating popcorn from a big green bowl.

Her curly dark hair is in a bun right on top of her head, and any other day, I’d be right there with her.

“What are you doing tonight?”

“Binging Pretty Little Liars for the third time.”

“Is it bad that I think Alexander Skarsgård is so hot in that?”

“Alexander Skarsgård is an actor.” Mindy adopts a clinical tone. “You can appreciate his hotness even when he plays a horrible character.”

“Noel?” Taron’s voice in the kitchen makes my stomach jump.

“Gotta run!”

“Have fun tonight! I want to hear all about it!” She blows me a kiss, and I hit the end button.

Giving myself one last look in the mirror, I grab my special lotion and rub a quick pump on my hands and shoulders before opening the door.

Taron takes my breath away. He’s standing in the hall in his boots, dark jeans, and a navy button-down shirt with a tan blazer on top.

“Damn.” He exhales the word on a hot breath.

His blue-green eyes glow with desire. They travel like a caress from my hair to my shoulders and down my legs.

“You like it?” My voice is small, quiet, and he closes the space between us, pulling me into his arms.

For a moment, we hold each other. My arms are around his waist, and his are around my shoulders. I’m completely engulfed in his rich scent of clean soap and cedar. Our breath rises and falls together. Don’t let go…

I think of the words we’ve never said. The words our bodies have spoken so many times—every time we’ve touched each other, teased each other, kissed each other or made love… The words echo in my head and in my aching heart.

Akela’s nails click on the wood floors as she trots into the room and sits beside us, waiting, as if she knows this is our last night as well.

Taron’s arms relax, and he clears his throat. “We’d better take off if we’re going.”

His chin drops and he wipes a hand across his mouth. He almost seems like he wants to say more. I want to say more… So much hangs in the air between us.

“Wait a minute!” I dig in my purse and pull out my phone. “My arms aren’t long enough.”

He takes it from me and holds it up. I do my best to help him get us head to toe beside each other. It’s a crooked shot, but we’re smiling, our cheeks are together, and all those feelings glow in our eyes. He gives it back to me, and I take one more selfie of just our faces before slipping it back in my tiny handbag.

“Now?” Lacing our fingers, Taron guides me through the kitchen and out the back door to the old Chevy truck.