Free Under the Dusty Sky (Holloway Farms) by Allie Brennan Page B

want to know. Why he won’t go home, why he talks about money and cars like it’s no big deal at all. Why he’s so neutral. That’s really the only word I can think of. Indifferent maybe, but mostly neutral.
    “ See, isn’t this fun?” Ben tosses a wrench to me, and I catch it.
    “ Isn’t what fun?” I look from him to the tool in my hand.
    “ This.” He gestures widely. “Being outside, working with our hands, bonding over the engine of a car. Look how much we know about each other already.”
    “ So are you going to kiss me now?” I cross my arms.
    “ Actually, I kinda feel like I should call you bro.”
    I glare at him. I do not want to be ‘bro’.
    He points to something under the hood of the car, and the corner of his mouth twitches. “Tell you what, if you can get that rusted bolt off with that wrench I just gave you, I’ll gladly kiss you.”
    I tap the wrench on my palm a couple times. I can shovel hay for hours straight, but he doesn’t know that.
    “ I’ll accept your challenge,” I say through a smug smile. Stepping up to the engine, he points out which bolt he needs, and I fit the end of the wrench on it. I wiggle it to make sure it’s snug then push back on it just a little.
    “ That’s the wrong way.” He laughs, and I glare at him so fiercely he steps back and puts his hands in the air.
    I pull forward then push back before giving it one final yank forward and the thick caked rust lets loose its hold on the bolt. I spin the bolt off with my fingers and hold it up in the most pompous way I can and smile like a complete jerk.
    “ Don’t mess with a farm girl,” Bentley whispers as he reaches for it, but I clamp my hand around it and shake my head.
    “ This ain’t my first day either. A promise is a promise.” I don’t even care that my accent takes over my voice. He said he’d kiss me and now he has to. I take a deep breath so I don’t get nervous, but it happens anyway. I have to lick my bottom lip to keep it from trembling, my stomach tightens, and my heart beats way too fast for how hot it is outside.
    Bentley steps closer. He pushes a sweaty strand of hair off my face, but I’m too charged to be concerned about it. My eyes close as his fingertips graze my cheek, and he runs his thumbs lightly over my eyelashes. It tickles.
    “ Don’t close your eyes,” he says, so I look at him. Sweaty and sexy just like the first time I met him. He runs his fingers along my hair line down to my jaw. Then he tilts my head to the side. My fist tightens around the bolt in my hand as my whole body tenses.
    Ben kisses my cheek. My eyes are still open. His lips are soft, and his breath warm as he tilts my head further and makes his way along my jaw. He stops just at the corner of my mouth and kisses it lightly. This guy knows what he’s doing. I’ve had some good kisses, but no guy I’ve kissed has been so slow, or confident. Usually it’s rushed, wet, and frantic as they hope to go further.
    Bentley’s mouth is hovering over mine. Why am I thinking about other guys right now?
    I feel him suck in a breath before he pulls back so I can look him in the eyes.
    “ You know what? I think I might have to get to know you a little better still.”
    He steps back, and I throw the bolt to the ground.
    “ Seriously?” I yell, but it’s all out of breath and trembling. “You can’t just back out like that.”
    He turns, and I want to smack the smile off his face.
    “ The deal was I’d kiss you, and I did. You didn’t specify where I had to kiss you.”
    My mouth falls open, and he laughs really loud.
    “ I think you get your way too much, Gracie. It’s time someone made you work a little harder for it. I am not exactly sure what your scheme is for me yet, and I’m sure I should be pissed that you’d think I was that easy to play. But I like you. The real you. It’s her I want to get to know.”

CHAPTER 14
    Bentley
    I’m playing with fire. The look on her face is equal parts