Chapter 2: Building Tension
I tore through the sprawling, verdant field, my laughter puncturing the midsummer warmth as my long curls whipped against my bare shoulders and neck. The scent of the hay teased my nostrils, and I inhaled deeply, my lungs filling with its lingering sweetness.
A shadow fell to my right, and I turned my gaze toward Caden, his strong jaw working as he tried to suppress a smile. The warm, evening sunlight haloed his dark hair, and it glinted amber in his deep-brown eyes.
His chest heaved under the worn softness of a plaid shirt, faded and thin from years of hard work, and his forearms bulged with the strength that only comes from lifting and hauling.
April swallowed hard, her lips parting ever so slightly, and her gaze lingered on him for a moment before flicking to his hands. They were roughened by blisters and callouses, and she thought about all the things those hands could do, what they would feel like against her body.
She tore her gaze away from his calloused fingers and met his deep-brown eyes, heat flaring in her cheeks.
Caden's eyes widened, and then, a slow, knowing smile tugged at his lips. "April," he murmured, his voice cracking slightly, and it sent a shiver down her spine. It was the first time he addressed her by her name - somehow it felt more intimate than the playful banter they shared up to this point. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she rose on her knees, feeling suddenly bold.