“Stone’s right.” Cord replaced Brick’s empty bottle with a full one. “Let’s drop it.”
“Leo knows we don’t mean no harm, and we’re actually trying to help,” Brick said. “No one was more clueless than I was with Beth. Except maybe you with Haley,” he said to Cord. “Man, you ignored your attraction to her foryears.”
Leo fought a grin. Yeah, both men hadn’t handled things so great with their women in the beginning. But his situation with Kaydee was different. Especially since she wasn’t his woman. They weren’t in a long-term thing.
“Don’t listen to them.” Vince chuckled. “You and Kaydee just keep doing whatever it is you’re doing. It looks good on you.”
“Damn good.” Stone grinned, watching Cord line up a shot. “You heading back up there this weekend?”
Leo nodded. “Yeah.”
Instead of bingo, his grandmother wanted to go line dancing with him, Kaydee, and Nate to celebrate the end of his first job. He held back a grunt. Dancing. He hadn’t danced in years. Although the thought of holding Kaydee close was a huge plus.
“What are you working on this time?” Brick asked, then wagged his brows. “Or is that a foolish question?”
“No, bro.” Stone sighed. “Thatwas the foolish question.”
Leo laughed. It was damn good to see the humor and well-meaning in their words without anger and self-deprecation getting in the way. It’d been so long—too long—since his thoughts centered on something other than guilt and self-loathing. “I’m going to repair the stairs to her basement.”
“That’s good,” Stone said. “And if you and Kaydee are a thing or become a thing, that’s good, too. Just know it probably won’t go without a glitch. That’s normal. Men are assholes, so we’re going to screw up. It’s in our DNA.”
Leo nodded, although he had no idea what made his buddy think he and Kaydee were long term. They were only light and casual. More of a fun friends-with-benefits kind of thing. Anything more would involve his past, and that would ruin her outlook toward him. He liked feeling absolved and knew he’d always feel that way when he looked back on their encounters.
He’d have to be crazy to jeopardize that.
Chapter Eleven
Kaydee loved surprises.
Leo’s call earlier that day to ask if she wanted to go line dancing with him, her grandfather, and Ava, definitely qualified as one. It was both great and unexpected. Of course, it wouldn’t be a surprise if it was expected.
She was glad she’d taken the time to paint her nails the same coral shade as her strapless sundress when Ava explained the reason for Leo’s surprise invitation. Tonight was a special occasion. They were celebrating the conclusion of Leo’s first job as a supervisor.
By the time their drinks arrived and they placed their orders for a round of burgers and fries, Kaydee was ready to go straight to dessert.
In the dimly lit honky-tonk, Leo’s dark hair gleamed black and curled where it hit his shoulders, making his startling blue eyes stand out even more. Add his sexy scruff to the mix, and damn, he was smokin’ hot. And that wasn’t even taking into account the lean lines of his muscled body emphasized under his white button-down shirt and blue jeans that had worn creases in the right places.
When he’d shown up on her doorstep a half hour ago, she’d nearly swallowed her tongue at the sexy vision he presented. Of course, she didn’t tell him. No guy wanted to hear they’re a vision, but he was one. Big-time. And her heartbeat hadn’t leveled off since.
“To my grandson. I’m so proud of you,” Ava said, eyes turning misty as she held up a glass of beer.
“Yes.” Her grandfather lifted his beer as well. “Congratulations on a job well done, son.”
Opting to share a pitcher of ginger ale with Leo, Kaydee raised her glass and watched as he shifted in his seat. Poor guy seemed to be uncomfortable dealing with positive attention.
That kind of broke her heart.
She reached under the table and entwined the fingers of their free hands. “To Leo.”
There was a ton more she wanted to add, but her throat swelled for some reason, so she left it at that. Besides, no matter what platitudes she spouted, she knew they’d only add to his discomfort. That was the last thing she wanted.
He raised his glass. “Thank you.” And when he squeezed her hand, she met his gaze and knew his words had been meant for her.
So was the heart-stopping smile on his face. It was real, and open, and it felt like the sun was shining down on her. She returned his smile, and her entire body softened under his attention, and probably the small circles he drew on her hand with his thumb helped, too. Goose bumps were now shooting up her arm.
“You know, you kids don’t have to pretend anymore,” Ava said, just as Kaydee had the misfortune of taking a sip of the ginger ale.
She coughed and sputtered while glancing at the woman through blurry vision. “Pretend what?”
