Her breath came in short gasps. Panic rolled through her like a bowling ball heading toward the king pin.
She closed her eyes tight, until it was only Wyatt’s solid, comforting warmth pressing into her and the deafening noise all around. He cradled her and bent over slightly. The tangy, heavy stench of diesel exhaust filled the air around them, burning Harper’s nose.
Eventually the engine noise faded away and, although the train was still loud, the cars passing had a more rhythmic feel. Loud clack-clack, then fading out before coming back combined with the occasional earsplitting screech of metal on metal.
Wyatt’s stubble rubbed her cheek. She closed her eyes and moved her cheek back over his. Her chest tingled. She froze and her eyes snapped open. This was Wyatt. Her best friend. She would not allow their friendship to be ruined because she all of a sudden had some wild ribbon of desire winding through her. No matter how delicious it was.
His breath warmed her ear as he said, “Now we know there’s no air suction.”
“I’m going to poison the next meal I make you,” she hissed into his neck, only half-joking.
“I’ve heard that before.” His heart beat steady and strong against her. The dratted man wasn’t even scared.
The last of the cars went by. The noise faded.
She loosened her arms from around his head. She didn’t know what she was trying to protect him from anyway.
It was probably time to remember she was a grown-up. A professor up for tenure vote at the end of the summer. But Wyatt’s warmth and strength were alluring. She didn’t want to pull away from the hardness of his chest or lose the comfort of his touch. But she couldn’t let him stand here holding her forever.
“Okay, put me down.” She lifted her head and smacked his shoulder lightly, pretending she hadn’t been clutching him like two oxygen atoms on a hydrogen, and praying her knees wouldn’t buckle when he complied.
She wiggled to prompt him to move, but a new sound echoed in the darkness and she froze. A hiss. Followed by a rattle.
“Holy crap.” Her arms tightened around Wyatt’s neck. “Is that what I think it is?”
“Yeah. Someone’s practicing the maracas.” She could feel his head tilt in the darkness. “They’re pretty good.”
Her teeth rattled together, but she snorted a laugh. “That’s a rattlesnake. It sounds close.”
“I don’t think we need to worry. I thought it was a stick when I first stepped on it, but sticks don’t typically wrap themselves around your leg.”
Chills raced up Harper’s spine. Her mouth opened, but it took a minute to make her voice work. “You’re standing on the snake?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The sound like stones shaking in a tin can echoed throughout the tunnel again.
She ignored the note of sarcasm in his voice. “What are we going to do?”
“You’re the one with the doctorate. How about I keep standing on the snake while you think?”
Her throat slammed shut. She struggled to swallow. “I study nutrition. In a lab. That’s what the doctorate is for. Food.”
“Branch out a little.”
Despite Harper’s all-encompassing fear, she smiled. “Okay.” She took a deep breath. If he wasn’t worried, if he thought it was funny, well, she could do humor, too. “I’m thinking about white sandy beaches, relaxing waves, warm sun…”
“Try again.”
She grinned—still petrified, but Wyatt exuded calm. “Hey, that was helping.”
He snorted.
Ideas were not exactly filling her mind. Her brain had diverted all her blood flow to the areas that made her want to pee and run at the same time. She went with the only plan she could think of. “How about I grab your cell phone out of your pocket. I’ll shine the flashlight down at your feet…”
“Um, close your eyes while you do it, just in case…”
Harper twisted gingerly in his arms and felt for the phone attached to his belt, not wanting to make him lose his balance, although he seemed rock solid. Funny, because she still pictured Wyatt as a gangly teen instead of the unflappable man holding her in his arms and not even breathing hard. “Just in case what?”
Silence.
“Wyatt. Is there something you’re not telling me?”
“Not really.”
Not really? That meant there was something. What could be worse than a rattle snake? “If there was a bear in this hidey hole, I’d have figured it out by now.”
“I’m sure you would have, Pickles.” He shifted ever so slightly. “Would you just shine the light down?”
She paused with the phone in her shaking hand. “What does ‘not really’ mean? You’re standing on the snake, right?”
“One of them.”
“Holy crap. Holy crap. Holy crap.”
He gave her the password to his phone. She pulled up the flashlight app with shaking fingers. Something caught her eye in a crack in the stone behind Wyatt’s head. Her racing heart jumped. She squinted to see more clearly. She’d forgotten the reason they were in the tunnel in the first place.
“Harper? Tell me you’re not playing Candy Crush.”
“Uh. No. Of course not.” She juggled the phone to her other hand. Once they got the snake figured out, she could examine the crack more closely. There was definitely something there. Faded blue fabric, maybe?
She shone the light at the ground, keeping her eyes trained on the wall. Now that she knew something was there, she could see the shadow that marked the spot.
Wyatt shuddered. “Eh, I was wrong.”
“Thank God.” Cool relief flooded her. Her fingers lifted and skimmed the smooth surface of the stone.
“There’s three.”
She tensed.
Then yelped.
She dropped his phone.
Wyatt jerked.
With her free hand, she slapped at the wall. A small object landed in her palm.
Find book one of the Sweet Haven Farm series with BETTER TOGETHER and join Jessie Gussman’s Reader Group at: tinyurl.com/JessieReaders
He wants her to notice him.
She has to pretend she doesn’t.
* * *
World Champion snowboarder, Wyatt Fernandez, should be starting his job as a ski instructor in the Andes. But an emergency means he has to spend the summer on his step-family’s tree farm with his step-cousin and best friend, Harper. She’s too busy with her books and getting tenure to notice he has wanted more than friendship for a long time.
* * *
Homebody and nutritionist, Dr. Harper Bright, must give up her summer research position so she can help on the family tree farm...with Wyatt. He might push her out of her comfort zone, but he has always “gotten” her. She doesn’t want to scare off the best friend she’s ever had just because Wyatt is suddenly far more interesting than the nutritional benefits of broccoli. In order to keep their friendship intact, Harper has to pretend she is not infatuated with her best friend.
* * *
When Wyatt names Harper as his fiancé to appease his father and prevent returning to Chile early, he never dreams Harper might actually have to play the part. Wyatt wants more than a reluctant fake fiancé. And he has one last summer to convince Harper that they’re better together.
* * *
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Acknowledgments
A huge thank-you to my critique partners. Carlyn Jones, this was all your idea. Emily Camp, I've learned so much from you.
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To my beta readers: Jolyn Safron, Carolyn Kilcup and Rod Baker, your feedback was invaluable.
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All the folks at City Owl have been good to me. Thank you.
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My deepest appreciation goes to my family. You're the best.
About the Author
Jessie Gussman is an award-winning author who writes sweet, contemporary romance from her home in central Pennsylvania. She is a member of RWA and ACFW and is contracted with City Owl Press and Pelican Book Group. Jessie and her husband own and run several businesses from their rural farm. Find her on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter, and join her Reader Group at: tinyurl.com/JessieReaders
Website: www.jessiegussman.com
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Facebook: www.facebook.com/JessieGussmanWrites/
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Twitter: www.twitter.com/jessiegussman/
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Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/jessiegussman/
About the Publisher
City Owl Press is a cutting edge indie publishing company, bringing the world of romance and speculative fiction to discerning readers.
www.cityowlpress.com
Additional Titles
BETTER TOGETHER
By: Jessie Gussman
He wants her to notice him. She has to pretend she doesn’t.
* * *
ALL I EVER WANTED
By: Katrina Mills
Second Chance, Summer Romance.
* * *
BLACKBIRD SUMMER
By: Em Shotwell
When the world fears you, being Gifted is a curse.
* * *
FORGET ME NOT
By: Em Shotwell
Maybe dating the good guy isn’t so bad.
* * *
BOHERMORE
By: Jennifer Rose McMahon
When your dreams become reality, being cursed can be a real nightmare.
* * *
INISH CLARE
By: Jennifer Rose McMahon
When your dreams become reality, hidden secrets come to light.
* * *
CRAZY ON YOU
By: Nicole Terry
Romantic suspense meets comic relief with this amazing, car chasing adventure romance!
* * *
FINDING KATE
By: Maryanne Fantalis
A delightful re-imagining of “The Taming of the Shrew,” sure to enchant longtime Shakespeare fans and newcomers alike.
* * *
FORBIDDEN BY FAITH
By: Negeen Papehn
Sara knows her life would be easier if she married a man of her faith, but when has love ever been easy?
* * *
LOVE IN HIDING
By: Diane Holiday
Running from danger, caught by love.
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THE 12 DARES OF CHRISTMAS
By: Leigh W. Stuart
‘Tis the Season to Be Daring...
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THE FIX
By: Kristin Rouse
Sometimes the fix is worth the fall.
* * *
THE LAIRD OF DUNCAIRN
By: Craig Comer
The year is 1882 Scotland, and the auld alliance betwixt king and fey has long been forgotten.
* * *
OAK SEER
By: Craig Comer
With heinous cults and unruly mobs all around, Effie must become more lest Scotland fall into devastation.
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