My pickup moved down the gravel driveway, the wheels kicking up a cloud of dust as I glanced into the rearview mirror.

I rolled down the driver's side window to let in some fresh air, but the afternoon heat wasn't any cooler than what was already trapped inside. As I drove around the bend, a petite figure in a baby blue sundress came into view up ahead. With every step, her long brown ponytail swayed back and forth.

Addison Monroe. As pretty as a wildflower in the prairie, and the teenage granddaughter of my current boss. Her sandals hugged the edge of the driveway and she didn't bother looking behind her until my truck was on her heels.

"Need a lift?" I asked when her steely gray gaze met mine.

Silence stretched between us, and I could practically see the wheels spinning in her head as she contemplated my innocent offer. "I don't get into cars with strangers," she finally said.

As a look of satisfaction swept across her face, the corner of my lips lifted into a sluggish grin. "Well, I'm not a total stranger. You did offer me a drink this afternoon, remember?" I gave her a full-blown smile, the one that brought out the dimples most girls swooned over. "Thanks again for that, you came along just in the nick of time. It's awfully hot out today."

For a split second, I caught a look in her eyes, the kind that said my irresistible Texas manners had done their job and charmed her just the way I'd planned. But it didn't take long for that expression to morph into something else.

Her shoulders squared and she held my gaze with an impressive stubbornness I wasn't expecting. "You never even introduced yourself," she pointed out.

My eyebrows lifted in surprise. "I'm sorry, ma'am." I added just a touch more southern twang than I considered natural. "My name is Jake Grady, and I am pleased to make your acquaintance." I tipped the brim of my hat in her direction. "May I offer you a ride?"

Her eyes fixed on me, and she studied my every move with such intensity I started to question my appearance. After working all day in the scorching Georgia sun, maybe I wasn't up to my usual standard. The girls back home favored the rugged look, but maybe Addison wasn't like most girls—even if she had grown up on a family farm. But then her chest rose in a hesitant breath and she curved around the front of the truck before opening the passenger door.

As she climbed inside, her gaze roamed over every last inch of the cab. Luckily, I was a stickler for keeping things tidy—even if my pickup was almost as old as the two of us put together. The condition must have earned her seal of approval because when she finished her inspection, she turned to me and smiled. "You know, I really don't need a ride. I just live next door."

Her father, Carl, worked on the farm, too, and he mentioned their close proximity earlier when we were working in the field. But now that she was in my truck, I really hoped I wouldn't have to take her home. At least, not right away.

"I know where you live, Addison." I gave her name a slight enunciation, letting her know I had no intention of calling her Addy. Not ever. That was a name meant for a little girl. "I'm actually in the mood for some ice cream, and I was wondering if you'd be interested in helping the new guy find his way around town?"

Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you asking me out?"

I couldn't help but laugh as she gaped at me like I'd just grown a second head. "I guess I was wondering if you'd like to get some ice cream. I promise, you won't need to clarify when I ask you out."

Somehow, her eyes grew even wider. She shifted to stare out the windshield, her gaze pinned to the driveway ahead. "Sure, I'll show you where to go for ice cream," she said, sneaking a peek at me from the corner of her eye.

As I studied her from behind the wheel, I couldn't help but notice the nervous twinkle in her gaze. It was endearing, really. The way she fidgeted with the fabric of her dress and bit her lower lip. I found myself captivated. Had she ever even been on a date before?

It wasn't a thought born out of judgment or amusement. Addison had me completely intrigued. I wanted to know her story, and her obvious nervousness only made her more appealing.

"Why are you off work so early anyway?" she finally asked. The question pulled me out of my head. "It's not like Gramps to finish up at this hour. It's not even four," she said, glancing at the clock on the dashboard.

As a breeze moved through the window, I removed my cowboy hat and set it on the seat between us. "The tractor I was using took a turn for the worst," I gravely explained. "Your grandpa's working on it now. I offered to stay and help but he insisted I just come back in the morning."

"That doesn't sound like him."

I laughed again. "Who knows; maybe he felt sorry for me."

She gave me a knowing nod. "The guys are giving you a hard time, aren't they?"

"Maybe a little, but it's no big deal. I'm not afraid of proving myself." I turned away from her as we pulled up to the end of the driveway. "Which way?"

"Make a right," she said, pulling the seat belt across her and clicking it into place. "So, why do you want to spend the summer in Lakeside? Don't tell me Texas has no farm work."

I shrugged and tried to make my voice as light and easygoing as possible. Addison doesn't need to know the real reason why I'm here. No one does. Like Mom said, some distance might be refreshing and help me clear my head. "I just needed to get away for a while. School was a real bitch this year." That was putting it mildly.

"Why was it a bitch?"

"Too many reasons to mention." And one reason I definitely wasn't sharing.

"What are you majoring in?" Addison folded her hands in her lap, but I could tell by her posture she was starting to relax.

"Environmental engineering."

"And what do you want to do with that?"

"No clue." I laughed. "Maybe water quality management. I guess it all depends on what's available when I graduate."

"Which is when?" I could tell she really meant it. She wasn't simply asking questions to fill an awkward void; she was curious.

I glanced at her sideways. "I start my final year in the fall."

"So, we're both seniors, then? Cool." Addison cracked her window until the wisps of hair around her face caressed her cheeks in the rush of air. "Do you live on campus or in an apartment?"

"Well... I used to live in a dorm, but now my roommate, Cooper, and I have our own place," I explained, keeping my eyes on the road. "Do I get to ask you questions now?"

"Not yet, but I'm almost done. You're going to turn left up here," she added, pointing at the next street ahead. Rows and rows of young corn stalks spread out around us on either side of the road. "This last one is possibly the most important question you'll be asked in your lifetime. Are you ready?"

I grinned as she grew more comfortable with me. Or maybe endless chatter was how she dealt with new situations? Either way, I was enjoying myself. "Shoot."

Addison gave me a serious look. "Imagine a world where gravity suddenly becomes unreliable, causing people and objects to float around all haphazard-like. How would you adapt?"

As I made the left turn, I pretended to contemplate the question. "I'd become a master of makeshift anchors and harnesses, using ropes and bungee cords to secure myself to stable objects so I wouldn't float away."

"A master, huh?"

"I don't do anything half-assed."

"I see. So, tethering yourself to maintain stability. I like it. But what if there were no stable objects to anchor yourself to?" she asked. "By the way, we're going to pull into the parking lot at the next corner."

I nodded so she knew I heard her. "Simple. I'd embrace the free-floating chaos and learn to maneuver mid-air." When she didn't respond, I glanced over at her. Her face turned whiter than white as I curved into the full parking lot. "What's wrong?"

A visible swallow moved down her throat. "You know, there's another ice cream shop down the street. Why don't we go there instead?"

My eyebrows knitted together. "Why? We're already here, and this seems like a perfectly nice place." I pulled into a parking space and turned off the engine.

Addison exhaled loudly as we hopped out of the truck. Music blared from one of the nearby vehicles and a large group of kids milled around the lot. And that's when it hit me: these people probably all went to school with her school, and in a town like Lakeside, it couldn't possibly be that big.

I should have listened to her and kept driving. But it's too late now. We're already here, and everyone is obviously checking us out.

Pinching the bridge of my nose, we weave through the crowd of onlookers as some of the kids say hello, and I open the door to let Addison in first.

"Such a gentleman," she said, though she was clearly unnerved by the audience.

A waft of cool air swirled around us as I realized one half of her school was outside, while the other half was inside. Laughter filled the tiny shop, but one mocking, male voice stood out from the rest. "Hey there, Addy."

The dude's hungry gaze raked over her body, and I fought back the urge to cover her up.

Addison stopped dead in her tracks, and wrapped herself in a hug as though she had a sudden chilled. "Hey, Brett." She turned to look up at me, her gray eyes pleading. "Are you sure you don't want to go somewhere else? This place is so...crowded."

Before I was able to respond, the group of kids moved in for the kill. "Who's your boyfriend, Addy?" one of the guy's asked.

"Oh my God, I cannot believe you missed the bonfire last weekend! You could have brought your friend with you," another girl said.

"Damn, girl," came yet another observation. "Looks like you've already grown a cup size this summer."

Addison glanced at me sideways and reluctantly made some introductions when a girl with long blonde hair sneaked up from behind and whispered loudly in her ear. "Addy—who the hell is this guy and why haven't you mentioned him to me before?"

Addison glared at the girl and murmured something I couldn't hear. Then she turned back to me. "Jake, this is my best friend, Ruby. Ruby, this is Jake. He's working at my grandparent's farm over the summer."

"How convenient," Ruby added with a coy smile.

"Can't a girl get some ice cream around here without being accused of something seedy?" Addison hissed back at her.

Ruby responded, but whatever she said was kept quiet and I wasn't able to catch it. Then she flashed me a perfect grin before prancing off triumphantly.

Leaving this place now would probably just make matters worse. I pushed the dark hair off my forehead, wanting to distract Addison from the not-so-subtle conversations going on around us. "Do you know what you want?"

But before she could answer, the guy from earlier moved in. "Watcha doin' later, Addy?" He made his way closer, making Addison noticeably uncomfortable. The scent of beer swirled around him. "Wanna hang out? My parents are out of town this week, and we would have the whole place to ourselves."

When Addison looked up at me, I could see the nervousness in her eyes. But why? Was this guy her boyfriend? Was she upset she got caught with me?

She moved in closer to my side. "No thanks, Brett. I'm good."

Okay, he was definitely not her boyfriend.

"Awe, come on," Brett went on. "We can finally finish that date we started a couple months back."

He smiled suggestively and reached for her arm, but Addison squirmed away. "I said no."

But he didn't stop. "You're such a dick tease—"

I stepped in before this guy did something he'd regret. "I think Addison wants you to leave her alone."

Brett's gaze moved over me as if he'd just realized I was there. "And who the hell are you—her boyfriend?"

I shook my head as a palpable tension moved throughout the shop. "I'm not her boyfriend."

"Then, I don't think it's any of your damn business." Brett turned back to his friends and laughed, but no one else joined in.

When he leaned closer to Addison, I stopped him. "Looks like I just made it my business," I said, staring him down.

"Hey!" a short, round man called from behind the counter. "I don't want any trouble in here."

My gaze moved first to Addison and then to the employee. "Sorry, sir. There won't be any," I said, steering Addison toward the door. "Come on, let's get out of here."

The sun glared down as we stepped into the parking lot, where all of the kids outside were still standing around.

Addison shielded her eyes from the brightness. "I'm so sorry. Brett's a jerk."

"It's alright. Don't worry about it." I smiled. "Do you think it will be safe if we go somewhere else for ice cream, or do you suppose you'll have fans there, as well?"

She let out a small chuckle as we made our way to my truck. "We should be good."

"Hey!" a loud voice slurred from behind us. Addison flinched next to me.

I turned around in time to catch Brett swaying on his feet. "Where do you think you're going?"

"Look, we don't want any trouble," I said, taking a step toward him. "We're just—"

The punch caught me off guard. I staggered back, my palm absentmindedly cupping my jaw. The blonde girl, Ruby, who I met inside appeared out of nowhere. She pulled Addison out of the away as the other kids in the parking lot moved closer, smelling a fight.

Fighting wasn't the plan, but no way was I backing down from this little dickhead.

I pushed a hand through my hair, my confidence back on track. "Do all high school guys around here bully teenage girls, or is it just you?"

Brett scowled, his face growing red. Tightening his fist, he lunged toward me but missed, and instead tripped over his own two feet.

My head fell back in a laugh. "Sorry there, big guy. I guess maybe drinking in the middle of the day should be left to the men who can handle their liquor." I smirked down as he laid sprawled across the gravel.

"You, asshole!" Brett pushed himself off the ground, and steadied himself. He lunged once more, but that time I was ready. I zeroed in on the tender spot beneath his jar and clocked him with a swift uppercut. This time, he fell back, unconscious.

The shop door flung open, and the little, round man waddled outside, wiping his hands on a rag. "I'm calling the cops!"

As I scanned the parking lot for Addison, she was standing right next to me, her eyes wide.

"Let's go!" I grabbed her hand and we raced toward my truck, both of us hopping inside. In record time, we were on the road, my tires squealing against the pavement.

"Oh my God. I can't believe that just happened!" Addison pushed the hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ears. She stared at me. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine. It's just a little tender, is all." I touched my fingers to my jaw. "I'm sorry about that. I hope you're not good friends with him." But I knew she couldn't be. Addison didn't strike me as the kind of girl who would hang out with douchebags.

She continued to study me, her gaze filled with an emotion I couldn't place. Then she shook her head. "Not anymore. Brett's changed a lot over this past year. He's a bully now. You're the first person I've ever seen stand up to him like that." She paused and looked away. "Except for me."

Something like fire seared the center of my chest. "You?"

Addison tried to smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Let's just say this wasn't the first time he's been hit in the face in a parking lot."

I wanted to ask more, but I really didn't need to. She'd said enough without saying much at all.

It's like she read my mind. "Maybe I'll tell you someday. But right now, you promised me ice cream." Finally, Addison gave me a genuine grin.

And who was I to argue? "Yes, ma'am. Where to next?"

Over two bowls of frozen custard, both of us sharing with the other, we spent the next hour and a half talking and getting to know each other. I dropped her off at her front doorstep just before dinner. As she climbed the steps to the porch, I sat in my truck and watched her until she turned around and waved goodbye. But there was something about the way she did it, like it meant so much more than goodnight.

I couldn't wait to figure it out. And even though we had just parted ways, I was already counting the minutes until I would see her again.

* * * * *

Hey, friends! This June, I'll be reposting the sequel to Strawberry Wine (I pulled it last month because I had to stop working on it due to family issues and it was stressing me out). It's called And Then Came You, staring the fabulous Ruby! The few chapters that were up have been reworked a little, and new chapters will resume. In the meantime, I thought I'd share a chapter of Strawberry Wine from Jake's POV. Enjoy!