Page 76 of Autumn Kissed

She turns to her sister with a knowing smirk, but Ari merely shrugs. “Sure.”

Wade and Jaxon exchange glances I can’t read, then Landrie faces me again. “Have you gone on the wagon ride yet, Juliet?”

“No, I don’t really have the time.”

I step back to allow a couple more people onto the wagon. Archer’s moved to the front of the team, rubbing his hand along the forehead of one of the horses as he speaks to them quietly, like he’s sharing some secret with them.

His eyes drift to mine in the same instant.

“What are you doing right now?” Landrie presses, looping her arm through Jaxon’s.

I hold my hand up to shade my eyes from the sunlight as I observe them from below the now-full wagon. “I’ve got...”

Archer finishes whispering to his horses like he’s Viggo Mortensen, then moves to the side of the wagon near where I’m standing. He eyes me unabashedly, like he’s trying to get caught staring.

What was I just saying? I look back to Landrie, who’s essentially sparkling. “Oh, I’ve got to check on the sponsors for tonight.”

“Can’t that wait?” Landrie asks. “Come on the hayride with us. It’ll be good for you to get away from it all for a minute.”

As appealing as being a fifth wheel on their double date sounds, I shake my head. “Thanks, but it looks like it’s all full up.”

I should know Landrie better by now.

“I’m sure we can find some room somewhere.” She glances back and forth, then to Archer as a sly expression crosses her features.

“Archer?” Landrie calls out. “Archer!”

Juliet

Archer reaches up to hoist himself into the wagon’s driver’s seat, his muscles shifting in his forearms as he turns to face us.

He tips his hat to each of us. “How y’all doing?”

“Fine,” Landrie replies. “Just wanted to introduce you to my friend Juliet. Do you know her?”

Little does Landrie know how well Archer does know me now. I definitely should have gotten her up to speed with everything, but she wouldn’t have heard either way.

Archer’s eyes flick to mine with a knowing look I hope only I pick up. “Mayor’s daughter, right?”

I pull in my bottom lip. “That’s right.”

“Juliet,” Landrie continues with a not-so-subtle wink, as if I don’t know Archer either, “Archer here is helping with the wedding, and he’s the B-E-S-T.” She turns to Archer again and speaks over the heads of the others in the wagon. “Okay, so listen, Archer. Juliet’s been crazy busy with the festival, and she needs a break, but there’s no more room back here. Think she could ride up there with you?”

My cheeks overheat. “Oh, no. It’s fine. I don’t have time to anyway.”

Archer can see right through me. “You sure? There’s more than enough room. It’d be nice to have the company.”

“Aw, see, Juliet?” Landrie presses. “You’d be doing him a favor. Jaxon, help. Convince her to ride up there.”

“I mean, she can do whatever...” His words trail off as Landrie’s gaze intensifies. “Uh, Landrie’s right, Juliet. You really should take a break.”

Wade whispers something in Ari’s ear, and she blushes. His mustache makes him appear like an even better-looking Miles Teller.

I can tell my protesting isn’t going to stop Landrie—and I already know how persistent Archer is—so I try a different route. “It’s probably illegal, though, right?”

Archer raises an amused brow. “Illegal? No.”

“Against the rules?” I try next.