She opened her mouth to respond, but movement outside caught her eye. “Um…there’s a guy walking a…cow?”
Chapter Fourteen
A verygood-looking guy, and a very big cow.
Leo turned to look, then laughed. “That’s Stone and Lula Belle. She has a thing for him and is always breaking through her fence down the road to look for him at the ranch.”
Kaydee recognized the name. It was the one Leo mentioned the most out of his buddies. Well, that one and Vince. She returned his grin. “That’s adorable.”
He snickered. “Tell that to Jovy, his wife. Lula Belle is not a fan.”
Nowthatwas funny.
“I better give him a hand,” he said, pulling off to the side.
They got out and crossed the quiet road to join his buddy on the other side, and as Kaydee neared, she understood the cow’s fascination with the guy. Stone was even better-looking up close. No wonder the cutie followed him around. She’d swoon, too, if her heart hadn’t already belonged to Leo.
As that thought sank in, her heart dropped into her fluttering stomach. The heart that belonged to Leo. The sometimes brooding, sometimes charming, and always sexy former Army Ranger had broken through her walls and captured her heart. Once again, she was both happy and terrified, and…wow…she had absolutely no idea what to do with that information.
For now, she’d concentrate on meeting his friend. And the cow.
“Hey, Stone,” Leo said, then grabbed her hand and tugged her close. “This is Kaydee. Kaydee, my former squad leader, Stone.”
“Nice to meet you, Kaydee.” Stone grinned. “Nice to meet the reason Leo’s been walking around with a smile on his face.”
Fiona had been right about Leo smiling…and her being the cause. Warmth funneled through Kaydee’s chest again and up into her cheeks.
“Good to meet you, too,” she said. “And your cow.”
Stone laughed. “Lula Belle is one headstrong female.”
Leo snorted. “So’s your wife.” He nodded toward the cow. “What happened this time?”
Stone sighed and shook his head. “She trampled Jovy’s petunias. Again.”
“Again?” Kaydee asked and spent the next few minutes laughing until she cried as the two men regaled her with Jovy-versus-Lula Belle stories. “Man.” She inhaled and wiped her wet face. “Sounds like there’s never a dull moment.”
Leo snickered. “There isn’t.”
And she could tell by the gleam in his eyes that it was a good thing.
“Looks like she got out down here,” Stone said, walking toward a section of busted fence a few feet away.
Lula Belle followed, her tail swishing as she lumbered. And ten minutes later, the cow stood and mooed on the other side of the repaired fence, while they climbed into Leo’s truck and headed for the ranch.
“Thanks for the help,” Stone said as they drove down the road.
As he and Leo chatted, Kaydee used the opportunity to take in the open fields surrounding the road, and the large oak trees dotting the landscape.
It was quiet and so darn peaceful. No wonder the town was named Joyful. It was fitting.
Leo’s hand rested lightly on her knee, and the thin material of her sundress did little to stop his heat from seeping through to her skin, making her hyperaware of him.
Which normally was great, but not with his friend sitting on her other side. She inhaled slow and steady and pushed back her needs, and by the time they parked in front of a beautiful white two-story house with a large front porch, she was able to focus.
The main house, no doubt.
“This place is amazing,” she said as Leo held out his hand and helped her from the truck.
