They both laughed as Margie brought the car to a stop. She smiled bigger, and I followed her stare. Billy, Raymond, and Garrett were all standing there, talking. Billy waved as Raymond slapped Garrett on the back. Raymond headed toward the car as Billy said something to Garrett before turning and making his way over.

“Two hours, Emma. I’ll give you two hours before we meet back here, and I take you home,” Margie said with a serious look.

I nodded my head and got out of the car. Raymond jumped into the back with Peggy, and they immediately began necking. Billy winked at me as he took my seat, and then he shut the door. I watched as Margie turned the car around and took off down the dirt road. I spun around, only to see Garrett leaning against the tractor. My stomach began doing all kinds of weird flips as he stood there, smiling at me. I let out a sob and ran to him. His smile faded, and he caught me as I jumped into his arms.

“Buttercup, what is going on? Why the secret meeting? And why the tears?”

“Just hold me for a bit, Garrett. Please just hold me.”

Garrett held on to me tighter and whispered, “Emma, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?”

In that instant, I knew what I had to do. I pulled back and looked into his eyes. “Make love to me—right now, right here.”

His face dropped, and he took a step back as he looked at me with a stunned face. “What?”

My heart started pounding. Maybe he doesn’t feel the same way about me? I did the only thing I could think of. I just started spitting everything out, “My parents are moving. I mean, we’re moving. We’re moving to Austin because of my dad. They’re making me leave, Garrett. My father went on and on about how I needed to go to college and that if I stayed here, I’d get nowhere, or I’d end up marrying you and just be a housewife with nothing to show for, um…well, I mean…” I stopped talking the moment I saw the devastation in his eyes.

I closed my eyes and cursed myself for saying what I’d just said. When I opened them, Garrett was running his hand through his brown hair. His blue eyes were filled with so much sadness that I wanted to hit myself for hurting him.

“Garrett, I didn’t mean—”

He held up his hand for me to stop talking as he gave me a weak smile. “You’re moving to Austin? When?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t know. I guess soon, but I didn’t give my parents time to get that far. When I found out, I just kind of ran away. I needed to get to you right away. I don’t want to leave you, Garrett. I…I love you.”

His whole body slumped slightly as he let out a sigh and closed his eyes. He turned away from me and looked out onto the open field. I glanced up and couldn’t help but smile. It was so beautiful out here. The hills took my breath away, and I wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of my life here with Garrett. I walked up to him and wrapped my arms around his waist.

I was just about to start talking when Garrett let out a small chuckle. “This is just my luck, I guess.”

I pulled back when he turned to look at me. “What do you mean?” I asked as I tilted my head.

He smiled, and my stomach did a few twists and turns.

“Nothing. Emma, why did you run away? What were you thinking?”

“Well, I don’t know. At first, I thought I might be able to stay with Margie, but I know my parents wouldn’t allow me to be away from them. So…” I looked down.

Garrett lifted my chin with his finger. “So?”

I swallowed hard and said, “So, I had to see you. I don’t want to leave”—I turned away before looking back into his eyes—“without us being together, Garrett. I don’t want to lose you.”

His smile faded, and the look in his eyes changed. “You think sleeping with me will make me wait for you?”

Darn it. That didn’t come out right. “No. I mean, I don’t know. Do you not want to be with me, Garrett?”

Now, it was his turn to swallow and suck in a breath of air. “Emma, I want to make love to you more than anything, but I don’t want our first time to be me fucking you up against the side of the barn.”

My stomach dropped, and it felt like I had a rush of water hit between my legs. The crude way he’d said that did things to me deep in the pit of my stomach. I was ashamed to even admit to myself that I loved the idea of Garrett doing exactly that to me. I looked his body up and down and licked my lips. What would it feel like? I’d heard the first time would hurt, but I bet Garrett would be so gentle.

“Emma, stop looking at me like that,” he said as he moved closer to me.

“Garrett,” was all I could manage to get out.

I didn’t even have time to think before he was grabbing me and pulling me into the most passionate kiss I’d ever experienced. It was like he was trying to get as much of me as he could. He bit down on my lower lip, and the shock wave riding through my body had me whimpering.

“Please…Garrett, please,” I said as I began trying to take off his T-shirt.

When I finally pulled it off of him, I let out a gasp. I’d known he was built, but his muscles were amazing, his chest—oh my goodness, I think I might have just had my second orgasm—was broad, and his stomach—mother of God, I swear, I can see the definition of every single muscle.

He pressed his lips against mine again, and this time, he kissed me like he was hungry for more of me.

Yes.

I began unbuttoning my shirt as fast as I could as his hand moved up my skirt. The moment he touched my leg, I jerked and let out a whimper. His touch drove me mad with desire, and I wanted nothing more than to be with him, for him to make me his.

I’ll be his for the rest of my life.

“Oh…God…” I whispered as he moved his hand inside my knickers.

I pushed my hips against him to get him to touch me there. I needed to feel his touch.

Then, in an instant, the warmth of his body and his touch was gone. I opened my eyes, only to see him reaching down for his shirt before putting it back on.

I began shaking my head. “No, wait. What are you doing? Garrett, I want you. I need you.”

He turned away from me. “Not like this, Emma. Not when you’re scared and not sure of the future. I won’t do that to you or to me.”

I felt the tears building in my eyes. “You’re rejecting me?”

He quickly spun around and looked me in the eyes. “No! I’m trying to do the honorable thing here, Emma. The only reason you want to do this is because you think you might never see me again. You know, there is a chance you’ll go to college, meet someone else, and never look back.”