Anxiety choked the life out of her glee.
What if he didn’t want company? Poor guy probably had another physical day at work and was no doubt exhausted. Last thing he needed was his grandmother’s neighbor pushing herself on him.
Maybe she’d get home before he arrived and could just slip into her house unnoticed. Leo was more than capable of feeding himself. Yeah. That was what she’d do.
Relief and disappointment mixed when Kaydee parked at her house and noted no truck in Ava’s driveway. She had gotten home before Leo arrived. Getting out of her car, she clung to the relief and used it as a shield to ward off disappointment. She didn’t need any more complications in her life. Work was complex enough.
With that thought in mind, she’d just reached her sidewalk when Leo honked his horn and pulled into Ava’s driveway. Her pulse hiccuped. He got out and headed her way.
So much for getting inside before he arrived.
“Hey, Kaydee,” he said as he crossed the street. Something was up. Something was different. In a good way. His stride was a little more confident than normal. He appeared taller. “Thanks for taking my grandmother.”
“Of course.” She smiled and pretended the heat flooding her cheeks was caused by the evening sun. “I usually take the two of them anyway. You really don’t need to rush up here on Fridays for that.”
Traffic was horrible. She didn’t wish it on anyone.
“Thanks. I appreciate it, but I don’t mind.” He stopped in front of her and his smile and gaze were…well, brighter. Stronger.
She blinked, trying to figure out what was different.
“And forget about going home,” he said. “My grandmother already instructed me to feed you. She apparently has dinner in the Crock-Pot for the both of us.”
Kaydee snickered. Leave it to Ava. “So I’ve been told.”
“Then come on, let’s eat.” He motioned toward his grandmother’s house, that sexy smile still lingering on his lips.
Was she staring? She couldn’t help it. He had great lips. They were full and talented…at least they were talented in her many fantasies.
Realizing he was waiting for her reply, she regained control of her wits and returned his grin. “Yes, sir.” She saluted before crossing the quiet street.
Yeah, something was definitely different. When they reached his grandmother’s sidewalk, he fell into step alongside her. She glanced sideways at him from under her lashes. He was still smiling. It was a record. Leo never held a smile for longer than a few seconds. This was going on two minutes.
Once inside the house, she continued into the kitchen, trying to come up with something to say. “This is your grandmother’s place. Not mine. I should be following you.”
He snickered from behind. “As if she’d mind.”
“True.” She chuckled.
Ava was a firm believer in get-it-yourself-you-know-where-it-is.
Leo grabbed dishes for them from the cupboard and placed them next to the Crock-Pot, while she fetched the silverware and set it on the table.
“What would you like to drink?”
Drinks? He was getting them drinks?
She turned to face him. “All right. What gives? I’m dying of curiosity, Leo. Why are you so happy?”
“Water it is.” He swiped two bottles from the fridge and deposited them on the table next to their silverware. “Are you saying I’m never happy?”
“No.” She eyed him carefully, trying to assess what was going on behind his mischievous gaze. “But something has definitely happened since I saw you on Wednesday.”
He straightened up and smiled even wider. “I’ve been given my own crew. Start our first job on Monday.”
“That’s wonderful, Leo!” Without thinking, she launched herself at him. His grandmother had confided in her how hard he’d been working the past year, and how important it was to him to pull his own weight both at the ranch and at work. “Congratulations.” She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed tight. He deserved something good to happen to him.
“Thanks,” he rumbled, banding his arms around her tight.
