Five minutes later, I was walking Emma down to the barn. I helped her up onto my buckskin horse, Jack. I loved that damn horse, and if I ever had a son someday, I was going to name him Jack.

“What’s this guy’s name?” Emma asked as she got atop the horse.

“Jack,” I said with a smile as I handed her the quilt.

“Jack. I like that name.”

Yep, I just fell in love with her even more. Wait, am I in love with Emma? We’ve never even been on a date. How in the world could I possibly love her?

I grabbed the basket and tied it onto the back of Jack’s saddle. Then, I led him and Buttercup out of the barn. When I got on Buttercup, she started getting feisty with me.

“Whoa, Buttercup girl. Settle down.”

Emma looked at me with a shocked face. “Your horse’s name is Buttercup?”

I wanted to laugh because I knew she was thinking back to the night of the dance when I’d called her Buttercup. “It sure is. She is feisty but still a lady, stubborn but sweet as hell, and strong but gentle, too. She’s my Buttercup.”

Emma gave me a crooked smile that melted my heart on the spot. There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do to make her smile like that every day for the rest of our lives.

As we made our way to my favorite oak tree in the west pasture, I let Emma do all the talking. She had an amazing sense of humor, and for the first time in weeks, I felt alive and happy.

We rode up to the big oak and Emma let out a gasp. “What a beautiful oak tree.”

I smiled and nodded my head. “I know. This is my favorite place to come. I could sit here for hours and just think.”

“A thinking spot, huh?” Emma said with a giggle.

“Something like that,” I said with a wink.

I helped Emma lay out the quilt she had brought, and then we set out all the food my mother and Mrs. Birk had packed up. I’d never laughed so hard in my life as I listened to Emma tell me about the first time she swam in a river.

“I did. I screamed the whole time. I don’t like swimming in water I can’t see through.”

I chuckled. “Why?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s the fear of not knowing what’s in the water. Oh, and don’t get me started about the snakes.”

“No wonder your friends wouldn’t let you go back with them to the river.” I took a sip of the sweet tea my mother had made.

I watched as Emma drank her tea, and afterward, some of it was still on her lips. She used her tongue to get it off, and my heart dropped to my stomach.

I began praying, God, please give me the strength to take my time with this girl. She means so much to me.

She slowly smiled and began chewing on her lower lip. “Garrett?” she whispered.

I swallowed hard and said, “Yes.”

“I’m still waiting,” she said with a small smile.

I shook my head, confused. “Waiting?”

She nodded her head. “The promise.”

My heart began beating so fast that I was sure she could hear it. I put down my tea and moved closer to her. I’d never been so damn nervous in my life. It wasn’t like I’d never kissed a girl before, but Emma…Emma was different. She slowly began lying back as her beautiful gray eyes locked with mine. I moved my eyes over her body. Her chest was moving up and down so fast.

Don’t mess this up, Mathews.

I looked back into her eyes and whispered, “I want to make all your dreams come true, Em. I want you to take me into your heart, like I’ve taken you into mine. I never want to be apart.”

She smiled and whispered, “Garrett, I’ll be yours till the end of time.”

I leaned down and brushed my lips against hers. I tried my best not to let out a moan. I slowly began kissing her as I moved my tongue along her bottom lip.

Shit. I can taste the sweet tea on her lips.

She reached her hand up and pushed it through my hair. She let out the sweetest sound and opened her mouth more for me to explore it. Our tongues moved slowly at first as we learned each other. It didn’t take long before the kiss turned passionate. I wanted to crawl into her body and stay there forever. Every bad memory of the last month completely vanished the moment I tasted her. I couldn’t try to describe what she tasted like. It was heaven…just pure heaven.

She grabbed a fistful of my hair, causing me to moan.

Then, she pulled her mouth away and gasped for air. “Touch me, Garrett.”

I shook my head and looked at her, confused. “I am touching you, Buttercup.”

She smiled, and the flush that covered her cheeks about killed me on the spot.

“Touch me, Garrett. Please touch me. I need to feel your hands on me. I need you to ease the feeling I get every time you are near me.”

I pulled back and stared at her. “Emma, I…”

I watched as she began pulling up her shirt. I didn’t think my dick would ever be as hard as it was in this moment.

She looked into my eyes and whispered, “I’ve never…I’ve never been touched before. I want you to touch me, Garrett. Please.”

“Emma…are you sure you want to do this?” I asked as my voice cracked.

She took my hand and moved it down her chest, her stomach, and then even lower until she stopped when my hand was on the inside of her thigh. I closed my eyes and prayed to God that I wouldn’t come on myself as soon as I touched her. I moved my hand closer to her knickers, and she held her breath as she closed her eyes. I instantly stopped, and her eyes snapped open.

“Please don’t stop.”

I slowly moved my hand up until I felt her silk knickers.

“Garrett…oh God.”

“Emma, I don’t know if I can…”

She ran her hand through my hair and smiled at me. I slipped my hand inside her knickers and brushed my fingers across her soft lips.

“Emma…” I whispered as she pushed her hips into my hand. I slowly slipped one finger inside her. “God, Em…you’re so…”

“What? I’m so what?” she asked as she panted.

I licked my lips as I looked at her lips. “Wet. You’re so wet, Emma. I should stop.”

She thrashed her head back and forth. “No! God, no…please, Garrett.”

I closed my eyes and gently pushed another finger inside her. She was so tight, and I could practically feel her pulling my fingers in. I leaned down and began kissing her neck.

Then, I moved my lips up next to her ear. “Emma,” I whispered.