“How could she know that? Wait. I mean, she’s sure got it all wrong.”

He gave her a lopsided grin. “I might have added that last part.”

Addison inhaled sharply, trying to clear the unwanted attraction to him out of her head. Reid’s unexpected charm after what had transpired between them hacked away at her anger, but she reminded herself that overlooking bad behavior landed her in the middle of regret over and over. She also reminded herself that she was taking a much-needed break from men, period. But she did need to get out there to take a look at the barn.

“You’re not afraid, are you?”

“Of what?” Her chin came up and she gave him a challenging look. Of letting down her guard? Hell, yeah.

“Of—”

“You?” She thought about poking him in the chest, something she’d never done before until being around him. She also never interrupted and rarely raised her voice. She had certainly never grabbed a guy by the shirt and planted a kiss on him. Addison suddenly thought about Mia’s explanation that when it’s the real deal everything is just . . . more intense. No! Hardheaded, judgmental Reid Greenfield was not the one! “I’m not afraid of being around you. Oh, and about that . . . that grabbing and kissing you thing? That was a lapse of judgment, a moment of total insanity that will not be repeated. Ever.”

“Um, I was merely trying to ask if you’re afraid of riding through the woods on the back of the quad, city girl.”

“Oh.” She felt heat creep into her cheeks and then bristled. “Of course not,” she answered, wishing she were wearing something more rugged and less preppy. “Country boy.”

“Just making sure.”

“Hey, I’ve been skydiving. Bungee jumped off of a bridge. Scuba diving.” She paused, trying to think of something impressive. “Oh, and . . . swam with dolphins.”

“Just dolphins and not sharks?”

Okay, she knew that Reid was having fun with this. “Let’s just say I think I can handle riding on a four-wheeler.” Addison wondered why she needed to prove her bravery to him, anyway.

He raised his eyebrows. “Okay, then,” he said casually, but there was a sudden gleam in his eye that had her swallowing hard.

Addison just might have drawn a line in the sand; judging by his grin, she guessed he’d just used reverse psychology on her. Damn . . . the truth of the matter was that she wasn’t really a very brave person when it came to things like this. Riding on a roller coaster was bad enough and those things she’d boasted about doing had scared her to death. But, really, how scary could riding through the woods on a four-wheeler be? “Let’s get going.” So she was going to have to put her arms around his bare torso. So what?

“I’m going to borrow one of Braden’s shirts. I got grease on mine. I’ll be back in a minute.”

She watched him walk into the house and then sighed. “Oh, thank God . . .” Addison sat down on the top of the front steps to wait for him. Little John followed and lay down next to her. She looked down at the big, friendly mutt and patted his head. “Well, Little John. What did I just get myself into?”

A little while later Reid appeared wearing a clean white T-shirt. “Sorry I took a few minutes. I decided that I needed to do you a favor and take a really quick shower.”

Addison had the sudden image of naked Reid with sudsy water sluicing over his skin.

“Are you ready?”

Since her vocal cords took another vacation she nodded. He offered his hand and she grasped it, trying to ignore the little tingle that happened every time the man barely touched her. He tugged her to a standing position, pulling her way too close for her comfort. He smelled freshly showered with a hint of spicy aftershave. Addison had the urge to run her fingers through his damp hair just to feel the wet silk between her fingertips. That thought had her taking a quick step backward, nearly stepping on Little John.

“Hey.” Reid shoved his fingers through his hair and gave her a serious look. “I want to apologize again for my behavior at your shop. And, look, I know it’s no excuse, but I watched my clients lose thousands of dollars of hard-earned retirement money when the market crashed. My sister was one of them. Finally, the stocks are coming back. The last thing I wanted to happen is for Sara to lose that money again.”

“I told you that we have that covered. The risk will be minimal, Reid.”

“I know, and I should back off.” He blew out a sigh and Addison was surprised when he continued. “I was against my brother Jeff heading to Nashville to pursue singing. I mean, the odds were stacked against him, right? I encouraged Braden to finish school.” He shook his head. “The truth is that Jeff’s a talented musician who deserves to get his chance. Braden loves farming, so college wasn’t where he belonged. I should keep my damned mouth shut and let people pursue their dreams.” He swung his arm in an arc. “I love this place as much as the rest of my family. Even more than I thought after I came back. In truth, fear of losing it was what kept me away for all these years. And I feel guilty . . . about all of it. But mostly about holding my brothers back. Now here I am, attempting to do the same thing with Sara.” He gave her a resigned smile. “So I am officially backing down. If this doesn’t take off”—he shrugged—“that’s part of going after a dream. But Sara deserves her chance too.”

Addison felt her anger toward him melting. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. It’s evident that you care.”

Reid inhaled a deep breath and blew it out. “There’s one more thing I want to confess.” He paused and then gave her a crooked grin. “Part of my jackass behavior stemmed from . . . jealousy.”

“Jealousy?”

“Seeing that picture of you kissing Rick Ruleman.”

Addison’s heart thumped. “Really?” she finally asked softly.

“I know I have no right. You’re getting over a broken engagement and trying to start your own business. I get it that you don’t like or trust men right now. I don’t want to take advantage of you being vulnerable. I was being honest about that even though I know it pissed you off.”

Addison raised her eyebrows. “I hear a great big but in that big speech of yours.”

Reid took a step closer and tucked a finger beneath her chin. “But I can’t get you off of my mind.”

“You can’t charm your way back into my good graces.”

“I’m simply telling the truth.”

“You know what?”

“What?”

Addison fisted her hands, steeling herself against the pull of attraction to him. “Nothing. Let’s get going.” She started walking toward the four-wheeler.

“I want to kiss you.”

Addison stopped in her tracks. “Too bad,” she said casually, but her heart thudded when she heard him approach. He came up behind her.

“I think you’re afraid.”

“Oh, don’t even try playing that card. It won’t work. Besides, why would I be afraid of a kiss? I just don’t want to.”

“Okay.”

“Don’t say okay like that,” she sputtered.

“Like what?” Reid stepped around to face her.

“In that tone like you don’t believe me. It’s infuriating.”

He nodded silently and with raised eyebrows.

“Stop!”

Reid raised his arms akimbo. “What now?”

“That was a silent okay and you damned well know it.”

“If you say so,” he answered airily.

With a little high-pitched, embarrassing growl that she tried to disguise as a sneeze she stomped in her Sperrys over to the four-wheeler. She wanted to shove him. She wanted to smack him! But most of all she wanted to kiss him, and it pissed her off. Royally.

Reid was making her whole “stay away from men” vow go to hell in a handbasket and she had to get her life back on track. Getting involved with him would totally derail everything. No, she would not do it.

“Here. You have to wear this.” He said, and handed her a helmet.

“I need a helmet? What kind of crazy trail is this, anyway?”

“It’s just a precaution,” he said in a tone hinting otherwise.

“How come you’re not wearing one?”

“I have a hard head.”

Addison swallowed. “I . . . I might have a tiny confession to make of my own.”

“What might that be?”

“I’m a big scaredy-cat when it comes to things fast and dangerous.”

“Ah . . .” Reid’s eyes seemed to smolder as he strapped the helmet beneath her chin. “So you prefer slow and easy?”

Addison nodded, waiting for him to reassure her, but he only grinned. “So you’ll go slow, right?”

Reid looped one long leg over the seat and sat down, motioning for her to do the same. “Hell, no. Wrap your arms around me and hold on tight,” he said over his shoulder.

Before she could protest, Reid took off down the middle of the yard, causing dust to fly. Barking, Little John followed them down a well-worn path in between corn fields. Another dog followed, too, but quickly gave up. She didn’t blame him.

Addison squealed when Reid made a sharp turn that took them into the woods. She held on for dear life, but it soon became obvious that he knew the woods like the back of his hand. And maybe it was because he was in such control or because holding on to him was worth the risk, but suddenly instead of being scared Addison laughed and enjoyed the exhilarating ride. When Reid drove through a creek, making water splash up her bare legs, she yelled but then giggled.

“You’re crazy,” she shouted when they seemed to defy gravity, climbing up a steep hill. Reid only laughed in response. Clinging to him, she felt the ripple of muscle and the heat of his skin through his T-shirt. She squeezed her thighs around his hips a bit harder, telling herself it was for safety’s sake. By the time they reached an open field Addison was breathless for more reasons than one. When a weathered barn came into view he did a doughnut that had her begging for mercy and then skidded to a stop.