Free Wildfire by Cathie Linz Page A

the cotton of her oxford shirt. Her face grew warm from her struggles.
    “Stop fighting it.” Brady’s suggestion was murmured in her ear, stirring the golden strands of her hair and agitating her even more.
    “Fighting what?” Was that breathless voice really hers?
    “Your sweater. What else?”
    What else indeed?
she thought to herself.
    Brady turned Amanda around to face him. “You look great.”
    “I wasn’t sure what to wear,” she found herself admitting.
    “I can’t imagine your not being sure of anything.” His teasing inflection disguised the fact that he was half serious. “Let’s go.”
    Amanda’s first surprise turned out to be the vintage Mustang parked in the driveway. Despite its age, it was in excellent condition. “Is this yours?”
    “No,” Brady mocked. “I stole it.”
    “Ask a silly question,” she paraphrased under her breath.
    “Talking to yourself again, Mandy? That’s a sure sign that you need a break.”
    Amanda couldn’t resist a smile of anticipation as Brady shunned the expressway in favor of picturesque country roads. Located equidistant between the Mississippi River and Lake Michigan, Deerfield was surrounded by lush and rolling farmland. Their route twisted over ridges and dipped past hollows adorned with brilliant sugar maples and russet oaks. Entire hillsides were ablaze with color—brilliant yellows, golds, and reds, with just enough evergreens for contrast.
    “What are you smiling at?” Brady asked.
    “It’s funny how some people think of Wisconsin as a level cow pasture.”
    Brady flicked a glance at the passing landscape. “Amazing what a few glaciers can do.”
    Brady’s scheduled surprise turned out to be a stop at a roadside stand displaying baskets of ruby, gold, and green apples. Trees laden with fruit lined both sides of the road. The air was, rich with the type of crisp, butter-colored sunlight that was indigenous to fall.
    “How do you fancy a toffee apple for a mid-morning snack?” he asked.
    Bob would have been horrified had he seen the eagerness with which Amanda accepted. He would never have been caught dead munching on such a sticky childhood delight. But the farther away they got from Deerfield, the more relaxed Amanda became. She forgot how she was supposed to act and simply enjoyed herself. She and Brady settled on a picnic table facing the orchard, enjoying the beautiful day and their treat. The sweet, chewy caramel and the crisp, tart fruit created a flavor that was hard to beat.
    “Are you sure you’re not too tired to drive all the way to Milwaukee?” Amanda worried. “You had a long day yesterday, maybe you should’ve stayed in bed.”
    “Is that an offer?”
    “Brady, I’m serious.”
    “I can tell you are. Your forehead is pleated.”
    “Pleated?”
    “Mmm. Like this.” He frowned ferociously.
    “Thanks,” Amanda muttered, suddenly losing her appetite. First he
told her she had a scrunched-up nose and now a pleated forehead. Great. All she needed was a seam around her throat and she could apply to be the bride of Frankenstein.
    “I was only kidding. Can’t you take a joke?”
    Amanda gave him a dose of his own medicine. “It was obvious that you were kidding, your eyes were creased.”
    Brady grinned appreciatively. “I like it when you tease me back, Mandy.”
    “You do, do you?”
    “Mmm.” He reached out a finger to wipe away the trickle of apple juice that moistened her lips. “I also like the way you kiss.”
    Brady jerked his finger back as it was almost included with her next bite of toffee apple. “Hey!”
    “Don’t you know that it’s dangerous to get between a woman and her apple?” she mocked.
    “No, but I’m learning.”
    “Funny, I would’ve said you were a
fast
learner,” Amanda mused.
    “Depends on the topic,” Brady countered. “Certain subjects deserve more intense study.” His eloquent gaze made it clear that he considered her such a subject.
    “Did you always want to be a