I ran my fingers through my hair, feeling uncharacteristically sheepish. It must seem lacking to Anna, who must have grown used to more fancy accommodations.
“There are some clean sheets and blankets in the linen closet,” I said, clearing my throat. “Also, a couple of new towels. I know it’s not what you’re used to, but the job comes with an allowance to outfit and redecorate any way you want. Please, make it yours.”
She trailed her fingers over the plain round wood table in the kitchen as her gaze swept the room. I wondered what was going through her mind. Was she comparing the sparseness and simplicity to the refined furniture she’d likely had at her old house?
“It’s perfect,” she finally breathed, and the smile she turned on me was unguarded, the first I’d seen since her return.
“Well, I wouldn’t go that far, but it’s yours for as long as you want it.”
“Thank you.” Her voice was soft, almost wistful. “You’re a good man, Chase Allen. Almost too good to be true. You always have been.”
Something inside me twisted. Her smile. The warmth of her eyes. The way she made this room feel less empty simply by being here made me feel things I shouldn’t. Protective. Warm. Grounded.
“I’m just me,” I said at last.
We stood there for I don’t know how long, caught in something unspoken—memories, old feelings, old wounds? I didn’t know. I wondered if she felt it, too.
Fortunately, the sound of an approaching car shook me from the unsettling feelings and pulled me back to reality.
I glanced out the window and saw an SUV marked with the Sheriff’s logo pulling up in front of the main house.
“Is everything all right?” Her worried voice sounded beside me.
I nodded. “That’s Reid. I forgot he was coming.” I looked back at her. “Why don’t you take some time to get settled? Feel free to go up to the main house and use my computer to order whatever you want for here.”
She gave me a puzzled look. “Don’t you want me to run it past you first? For approval?”
“You don’t need to run anything past me. I’m pretty sure you’re not going to do something crazy. I trust you.”
She didn’t respond right away. Just stared at me like she wasn’t sure she believed me, like maybe it was a trick.
I softened my voice. “This is your place now, Anna. Whatever makes you comfortable. If it makes you feel better to run it past me, that’s fine. But I can’t imagine telling you no, anyway. Later, I’ll take you out to the bunkhouse and go over how we do things.”
Some complicated emotion made her eyes seem even more blue, almost purple. But she gave a small nod.
I really itched to pull her into my arms like I had a few days ago. Where she felt so right. Where I could pretend there weren’t unfinished feelings between us. Instead, I turned and left before I did something stupid that I couldn’t take back, like kissing her senseless.
Reid was already outside the vehicle by the time I reached them. The back door swung open, and a boy got out, his lips curled into a frown. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his too-short jeans and stared stubbornly at the ground.
“Afternoon, Chase,” Reid greeted.
“Reid,” I replied, shifting my attention to the boy besidehim. He was tall, but skinny. His features were a little gaunt, but when he finally looked around, I saw a sharpness in his eyes.
Reid nudged the boy gently with his elbow, but other than a fleeting glance, he ignored me. “This is Jordan.”
I gave him a nod. “Jordan. Welcome to Silver Creek Farm.”
Jordan grunted, which earned him another firmer nudge. “Whatever,” he muttered.
This is going to be fun.
Reid sighed, shaking his head before turning back to me. “I’ll be back to pick him up in a couple of hours.” He refocused on Jordan. “Figure you need a little time to get a sense of what’s up around here,” Reid explained. “Starting next week, someone will bring you out here after school for a couple of hours every day until school is out. Then you’ll be here every morning until you’ve paid back what you owe. Got it?”
There was no response from Jordan, other than a shrug.
“Jordan.” Reid’s voice was a little sharper.
A few seconds passed. “Yeah, whatever.”
