Page 43 of Cherry Tree Ranch

He looks away. “Yeah, of course. Just need to find the right time is all.”

I take a cherry and change the subject. “Do you like it?” The skin is crisp as I bite down. Cash purses his lips and spits his pit at me. It whacks me under the neck and falls down my shirt, landing between my breasts.

“Gross!” I look down my shirt, pull the pit out and throw it back. At the same time, I spit the one in my mouth at him.

He laughs. “Missed me.”

“Shut up. It’s hard to see with the low sun shining in my face.” I take the camera off my neck, pluck another cherry from my pile, and get the pit out faster this time. Cash edges closer, like a cat about to pounce. He puts a hand in front of his face in defence, but grabs my free hand, spinning me round and tapping me in the butt with the side of his foot. I spit the pit out in the opposite direction and twist back round. I haven’t dropped any of the precious Bings, and I’m not about to. I place them on a stool and swing my leg to kick him in the butt.

He seizes my calf and holds me up off the ground by my left leg and hand as I laugh. I’ve become a human-sized rag doll in Cash’s arms.

“OK, you win,” I say. He lets me down gracefully, but doesn’t let go of my hand. His silver cuff bracelet is cool against my hot skin.

“I like that,” I say, pointing at it with my free hand.

“Thanks,” he says. “My tia Maria makes jewellery. She has her own shop in New Mexico.”

I stare at it silently. I contemplate asking him the question that’s been nagging at me since we met. It sits heavy on my mind in the silence. His hand loosens round mine, but doesn’t fully let go.

“Cash?”

“What’s up?”

“I was wondering… Well, I was wondering about your girlfriend.” I look away, holding my breath. I’ve said it and there’s no unsaying it.

A shadow is cast over his face. His eyes widen and he looks up, quickly letting go of my hand.

And then a bolt of lightning and a crack of thunder cry out above us.

Chapter Nineteen

Cash and I cover our heads and scramble to gather our cherry supplies and the camera.

While we speed-walk, holding our cherries tight, the real storm starts and the raindrops become small water balloons. They explode in our faces, and in no time we’re soaked. We run through the open barn door and let out huge sighs as we get inside.

“Whoa!” I say. “That was crazy.”

“Yeah, it came out of nowhere,” he says.

“I don’t remember the last time we’ve had rain on the ranch. Storms always swirl around us and go down the canyon…” The last few words come out slow. My gaze snags on his broad shoulders underneath his now transparent shirt.

“That’s a big smile.” He touches underneath my chin and smiles too. The warm touch of his finger is enough to make me melt.

Then I notice my shirt is just as wet. My light-blue button-up has done absolutely nothing to conceal my hot-pink bra. Cash stares. As I pull my shirt away from my chest, the dye from the pink bra remains on my shirt – I now have two pink circles.

My face turns the same shade as my bra. “Umm.” I turn away and blow at the fabric.

“How’s it going over there? Drying off real quick?” he jokes.

“Not exactly,” I say, turning only my head and laughing. “I have an idea, though. Come here.” I walk him to the side of the barn where Daisy’s saddle sits on the rack. I pull the blanket off and wrap it around Cash’s shoulders. Then I find a lantern and click it on. It creates a soft glow of light around us.

“Hey, this is Peruvian,” he says, looking closely at the embroidery.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” I say, shivering.

He nods. “My dad has a similar one. But you’re freezing – we should go to the house.”

“My mom’s sleeping,” I say, and he pulls the side of the blanket around me.