Page 15

She smiled. “For a man who says no as often as you do, you’re very particular about the wording.”

“It works for me.”

Caroline backed up a few steps and studied the wagon through her phone. “I want to get a shot from the seat.”

I pushed away from the wheel. “Careful. The step’s loose.”

She tested it with the toe of her boot. It didn’t move. “It feels fine. I’m only going to be up there for a few seconds.”

“And I’m telling you not to use that step.”

She stepped up, and it held. She looked back at me, pretty damn pleased with herself.

I was already moving when the wood gave.

Caroline grabbed for the sideboard, but she was already falling backward. I caught her around the waist before she hit the ground and pulled her against me. Her phone stayed in her hand. Her other palm landed flat on my chest. For a few seconds neither one of us said anything.

Then her fingers curled into my shirt. She was warm and soft against me, and one of my hands had landed low enough on her waist that my thumb rested just above the waistband of her jeans.

Her eyes met mine. “I had it.”

“You were falling.”

Her mouth twitched, but she didn’t pull away. Neither did I.

I could smell the slight hint of coffee mixed with peppermint on her breath and something clean in her hair. She was too close for me to think straight.

Caroline glanced at my mouth. One more second and I was going to do something stupid. My hand tightened at her waist before I stopped myself and set her back on both feet.

“You okay?”

“Yeah.”

She smoothed the front of her jacket. I would have bet the wagon that the color in her cheeks had nothing to do with the cold.

I stepped back and grabbed the loose step, because it gave me something to do with my hands. “Next time I tell you something’s not safe, listen.”

“Next time someone’s coming out here to film your hundred-year-old wagon, maybe fix the step first.”

I looked over at her. “Fair.”

Her eyebrows went up. “Was that you admitting I’m right?”

“Don’t get used to it.”

“I wish I’d recorded that.”

“Good thing your phone was busy.”

She laughed, and the tightness between my shoulders eased.

Caroline checked her footage while I unhitched Hank and Gus and led them back to the rail. I kept my eyes on the horses and off the woman standing a few yards away.

As she slid her phone into her jacket pocket, she came over to where I was hanging up the lines. “I have plenty. I’ll put together a rough cut before anything goes online.”

“Send it to me first.”

“I will.” She didn’t sound irritated. She just met my gaze and waited.