Kaydee Wagner was laughing on the outside, but on the inside she was trying very hard not to give in to the urge to snuggle against her hot friend. Again. It hadn’t been her intention earlier, but when she’d stupidly drenched the poor guy with hot water she’d forgotten to keep her distance. Just thinking about it now sent another wave of heat into her face, and it burned as she recalled how her embarrassment had turned to bliss. When she’d set her head against Leo’s wet chest, she couldn’t stop from melting into his incredible, hard, sexy body.
A treat for sure. She’d always had sort of a secret thing for Sebastian Stan in the Marvel movies, but Sebastian had nothing on Leo Reed. The handsome former Army Ranger had starred in her fantasies ever since they met. But he was so out of her league. Guys like him only wanted to be friends with girls like her. A fact he’d proven several times over the past few months, even though she’d caught him looking at her with interest in his gorgeous blue eyes.
That was okay, though. Thanks to growing up an army brat, Kaydee had learned early in life how to adjust and move on. She was far from good girlfriend material anyway. Thanks to that army brat lifestyle, “restlessness” was her middle name. She never stayed in one place more than two or three years. Putting down roots was not in her wheelhouse.
Besides, she didn’t have a lot of free time, between her long list of household repairs, part-time job at the salon, and helping her friend find a location to open a beauty shop. Yeah, she was too preoccupied to date.
Still, there was something about this man that made her want to hug him and never let go. It was a new and peculiar feeling.
The moment Leo had appeared from out of the blue in her yard and offered to help when she and her grandfather had been struggling to carry a couch into her grandfather’s side of the house, Kaydee was smitten. She knew right then that he was different. Between his generosity, good manners, gorgeous blue eyes, and panty-melting smile, she was never the same.
“Want some help with the dishes?” he asked, bringing her mind back to the present.
See? Most men would’ve made fun of her startled reaction, scarfed down their food, then handed her their dirty dish.
Not Leo.
“No. You eat.” She motioned toward his covered dish on the counter. “Thank God your food withstood my water attack.”
For months now, she had enjoyed his company both here at his grandmother Ava’s and at the rec center. Each encounter left her wanting more and looking forward to the next one. This was way out of character for someone who never got attached to people outside of family. Except for her friend from work and Ava. But Ava was their neighbor, and since her grandfather was probably going to stay at his current address for the rest of his life, she reasoned it was okay to befriend the woman.
Who was she kidding? Ava was a hoot. She was sassy and shot straight from the hip. Qualities Kaydee admired. As for the woman’s grandson, she admired his sense of family and how he helped people, whether it was support for other veterans or lending a hand and backbone to an old man and his granddaughter on moving day.
And she really liked the bad-boy look he had going on.
His hair was dark and wavy, and she knew it hadn’t been cut in a few years. The itch to style it was strong, but the look actually worked for Leo. Really well. As did the delicious five-o’clock shadow covering his strong jaw. She bet it would feel amazing against her skin. And his eyes…damn, they were a startling blue that could switch from a hardened I-don’t-give-a-damn expression to wicked amusement with a mere blink.
Kind of like the way he regarded her now.
He smiled. “Unlike our shirts.”
What were they talking about again? She glanced at what was in his hands. Oh. Right. His food not being ruined. “Yeah.” She snorted. “I’m going to have to go home and change before I head to the rec center.”
“Rec center?” He stuck his plate in the microwave. “Is there something going on tonight for seniors?”
“No.” She finished rinsing the last dish. “I need to hang up some flyers.” A thrill rippled through her. “My idea got approved.”
Last month, on behalf of herself and her coworker, Fiona, she’d petitioned the board of directors from the nonprofit corporation that ran the center to hold a “cutting clinic” once a month to offer free haircuts to senior citizens, veterans, and the disabled. But truthfully, she and Fiona wouldn’t turn anyone away. And the proceeds from any donations would go to a different charity each month.
“That’s terrific. Congratulations!” He pulled her in for a quick hug, then released her just as quickly. “I knew they’d go for it. When do you start?”
Her body was still tingling from contact with his solid muscles, and it took a moment to get her mind back on track. “Next month. We’ll hold the clinic the first Tuesday of every month, from six to eight p.m.”
“This will be a great way for you to drum up some word-of-mouth business for Fiona’s future shop.”
He was aware that she worked with Fiona, and that her friend wanted to strike out on her own. What he didn’t know—what no one knew—was that Fiona repeatedly asked Kaydee to partner in the venture, and she always declined. Owning a business was a root, and restless spirits didn’t have roots. Not that she ever planned her moves. They were always triggered by an overwhelming suffocating feeling that hit her like a bug and spurred her to move on. She’d just let people down if she tied herself to a business or person. Without attachments, it was much easier to pick up and leave when the urge hit…and the urge would hit.
It always did.
The microwave beeped. “Any luck finding a location?” he asked, retrieving his plate.
For the past two months, she’d helped her friend work on a business plan, and they recently started to search for a place for Fiona to lease.
“Not so far.” The spaces were either too run-down, in a bad part of town, or way out of Fiona’s financial reach. But neither of them were a quitter. They’d find something. Sooner or later opportunity would show itself; she was sure of it. Mostly.
“Just remember what I told you about my friends. They own property in Joyful and would be willing to work out a good deal for Fiona to lease one of their shops.”
Her heart warmed as it had last month when he first made the suggestion. “Thank you. And I promise, she’s keeping it in mind. It’s just that an hour is a little too far for some of her regulars to travel, and she’s counting on them to follow her to her shop.”
