Showering alone gives me space and sufficient time to pull myself together. Summer is just another skirt - no different from any of the women in Heartville. I convince myself of the facts and find myself arguing the points as I march to my bedroom. When I look around, I notice she’s made the bed and removed all traces of her time here. I blink, and it’s all a dream. I check the clock as I throw on a fresh white tee and clean jeans.
It’s time to put distance between us.
I find her leaning on the shiny red hood of my Ford, hidden in a pair of men’s shorts - my shorts. They’re folded neatly, rising up her porcelain thighs to fit better. A tee pulls in tightly, knotted at the side so it cinches her narrow waist. The paleness of her legs is unlike anything I’ve seen before.
“Ready to go, honey?” I unlock the truck and open the passenger door for her.
She nods and climbs in. “Will I be welcomed back tomorrow?”
I stretch over and clip in her seatbelt. “Why wouldn’t you?”
She shrugs. “Well… that’s twice you’ve walked in on me practically naked. I’ve slept in your bed wearing your tee, and now I’m in these.” Her colored nails tap the material riding up her thighs. “It’s not exactly the best start. Not to mention your dad. He seemed pretty pissed off at me.”
I chose not to tell her how much I enjoyed the thrill, so I stay quiet and shut the door.
When I jump inside, she’s quietly fiddling with the ends of her sleek ponytail. Oh, how those long strands would feel so good wrapped in my fist. I gulp back the wild pulse in my throat and focus on the ignition. “You did a good job of cleaning the floor. If you want to come back in the morning, I’ll be happy to keep you on.” The engine purrs. “Don’t worry about Hank. He thinks I’ll make a move on you.” A blast of air rushes free from my mouth as I pretend the idea is crazy.
“Why does he think that?” Big eyes study my profile.
“I’m a hot-blooded male, and you’re… something else.” My grip tightens the steering wheel. “Don’t worry, I ain’t on the lookout for a summer fling, honey. My last girl was more than a handful, and I’m enjoying the freedom.”
Her arms slide across her belly. We drive to Sawyer’s cloaked in the words of heartbreak from the guy on the radio who’s telling me not to let her go, but I do. I open the truck door for her, let her say thanks for the lift and slam the door as she leaves me alone with a raging hard-on.
* * *
“About that puppy.” Clay slugs a mouthful of beer. “She needs some lovin’, and I can’t bring her to work with me every day. She chewed up a bunch of gauze and made a real mess. There was white stuff everywhere. I’m still finding it in random places.”
We’re sitting at a round table with empty bottles of beer and tequila chasers grouped in the middle. “I ain’t got time for her either, Clay.”
“She can run around the ranch with you,” he persists. Last year Clay put down my old darlin’ dog when her legs gave way and her kidneys failed. I swore I’d never get close to another dog again. “It’s about time, Hay.”
“No way. Don’t even go there.” The new female singer in town, Harley, sets up in the corner and does a mic check. I’ve heard her sing a few times now. Her voice is velvety and rough, which gives her vocals a sexy rasp. All the guys hit on her, but she keeps to herself. A deafening high-pitched squeal drowns out Clay’s appeal for me to home a rescue pup.
Once it trails off, I grab the shot glass and chug a tequila in one gulp. “How’s your Chev these days?” I joke because we all know Fords are better.
“Running better than your old Ford. Ain’t it been found dead at the side of the road yet?” He sucks down a long swig of beer, pleased with himself. “Hey!” Clay raises his hand, waving over at our buddy Levi who saunters into the bar.
With his usual swagger, Levi strides across the room in jeans and a black tee that shows off all his bulky muscles. “Hey, Jace!” he calls over to the bartender, our other drinking partner who invites us to stay long after everyone else leaves. “Another round.” His thumb flicks up, and he grins back at Jace, who mirrors his greeting.
“I see you showered for us.” I slam one of my beers down in front of him when he sits. “I thought you’d be later than this.”
Levi tweezes his short beard with a thoughtfulness creasing the corners of his eyes. “I washed my hair for you too, Taylor.” He does that snarky laugh he does so well and pats the dark lengths scraped into a bun at the back of his head. “Verlyne said she’d be happy for Beck to stay with her and read a book in the bookstore until the babysitter gets back from Dallas.” Levi brings the bottle to his lips and takes a long slow drink like he’s been looking forward to it all day. “Darn babysitter,” he growls.
His girlfriend ran off to the city, chasing a high-flying lawyer who helped manage her mother's will after she passed. They’d been screwing for some time before Levi caught her bent over the guy’s desk, getting ridden like a bronc. They have a three-year-old son, Beck, who lives with Levi while Jenny plays at being a city girl.
Harley strums her guitar, picking up a slow melodic beat. The thought of Summer drifts into my mind, wondering if she’s missing home.
“Heard you took on Sawyer’s kid at the ranch.” Levi pulls his shoulders back in a stretch like his muscles are tired. “How's that working out?”
I was determined to keep her hot body out of my drunken mind, so I shake off the memory of her creamy wet skin that keeps taunting me. Looking around the crowded bar, there isn’t one woman who sparks up my interest like she does. “She ain’t no kid, Levi. Turns out she’s all grown up, with an Irish accent that’s sexy as hell, and the prettiest blue eyes.”
“Shit…” Levi drawls. “You fancy her.” He hums low and deep with a knowing smirk ghosting his lips.
“Why the heck didn’t you tell me?” Clay interrupts.
I shrug. “Ain’t no point getting messy when she’s leaving. She doesn’t belong here, not from what I’ve seen so far.”
Levi slaps my arm. “Who the fuck are you, and what have you done with Hayden? What does it matter if she’s leaving town? Means she’ll be outta your hair once the fun dies.” His bottle taps mine. “It’s not like you’ll marry her, being a city girl n’ all.”
