“I thought better of you, boy,” Sawyer snaps. “Have you been sniffin’ around her all this time?”
Before I get the chance to answer, Summer leaps from sitting. “It was me. I kissed him.”
“What ya’ go and do a thing like that for, woman?” The last word is an octave higher with despair. “Don’t go kissing men when you ain’t staying. Kiss a goddamn man when you’re gonna stay.”
Summer glances back at me and mouths the word ‘sorry’. I have no idea why she’s apologizing because I’m the one who stole another kiss, and hell was I glad I did. She tasted syrupy and divine. I actually dared to imagine having her for keeps.
In five small steps, she idles up to Sawyer, stands on her tiptoes and lays a small peck to his cheek. “I cleaned the engine like you asked. The old thing is starting to come back to life with some care and attention. Whoever has the chance to own it will be very lucky.” By the look on Sawyer’s face, I’m thinking he read more into that statement. He seems different with her, softer, less aggravated and grouchy.
“I need to talk with you, boy.” Sawyer’s finger stabs the air. Summer hugs herself and wanders back to the old truck.
“What’s all this about? You planning out a future with her, or you foolin’ around knowing she’s temporary?” His face scrunches, and he scratches beneath his hat. I’m surprised he hasn't reached for his shotgun yet.
“I don’t know.” That's the god honest truth. “I won’t ask her to stay, not for me.”
“Then maybe I outta pay her to work here, with me, instead of at the ranch. That way I can keep her out of trouble.”
“No!” Star jumps when my quick response frightens her. “I mean, she needs other people to talk to.” Like I’m equipped to know what she needs after avoiding her for a week. “And, Star. She needs, Star… she’s very fond of her. They’ve bonded already.” I pat the dog, completely aware of the fact that I'm using a cute puppy to my advantage.
“I’m guessing you like her as much as the darn dog does.”
Is it that obvious? “There’s something there between us, but…”
“I’d be happy for her to stay a while longer.” Sawyer cocks his hat and turns away. “I’ve decided she’ll get all this when I meet my maker.” An aged hand waves across the land he owns on the horizon. “Of course I’d rather she lived here, instead of selling it.” He ambles back inside, letting the door slam naturally.
I let out a slow breath.
She has a reason to stay.
Star jumps down, sitting at my feet while my head spins. “Maybe there’s a chance she’ll wanna stay.” My hope whispers into the breeze. I see her standing by the truck in the distance, her back turned and her focus on something other than me.
There’s only one thing to do. No thought. No decision. No what ifs. No reason not to. Tapping my thigh, I nod to Star, commanding her to heel. Together we advance on the distracted woman who’s done nothing but distract me since she arrived. My strides are purposeful and tenacious. She hears my urgent approach and swings around, her chest heaving and eyes bright. “Are you leaving?”
I don’t answer her question. Instead, I crowd that sexy body of hers, backing her to the hood. My blood is charged, racing to the surface of my skin with a devilish heat. Heaving her upwards, I plonk her down on blemished paintwork. I love her secret sigh of delight and the tightness of her fingers bunching my shirt. Her legs wrap my hips, and I thrust my trapped hard on to her entrance. That firm pressure gifts me with a moan. Biting her lip, she tries to stifle another, but I grind closer, imagining the point of penetration, teasing my restraint. Her skin smells of sunny days and bitter oil, a combination that shouldn’t work well together but turns me wild. My palm curls around her nape, the other wraps her jaw, angling those sinful lips up to mine. I don’t stare, or pause, or think about the consequences, I just steal another kiss. Dipping my tongue inside her mouth is like fucking her gently. Slow pulses in and out, licking and tasting. Her hips move, her hands roam, and I pour all my desires into the effort.
Star scratches my jeans. A light breeze agitates the creaky weather vane. A horse whinnies. My heart thumps.
Breaking away, my forehead falls to hers as we gather control of our breathing.
“That’s why I’ve been avoiding you, honey, because every time I see you, I wanna do that.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“That doesn’t matter now.” I wink, freeing her face. “I want to take you out on a date sometime. Just you and me.”
Soft hands brush over mine. A burst of sunlight refracts off glass highlighting her grin. Yup, I’m a goner. I like her way too much. Her smile feels better than the first cold beer after a long day in the sun. “I’d like that. I’d like that a lot.”
“Tomorrow. I’ll pick you up around noon.”
“Heels or flats?” she asks, leaning in. “I need to know what people around here wear on a first date.”
“I don’t want you to be like those people. I want you to be, you. So, wear whatever the heck you like.” It won’t stay on for long if she flicks her hair and gifts me with a sexy smile like she did that night in Jackson’s. “It will only be us, just you and I, honey.”
17
An annoying brainthumping jingle jerks me awake. It’s my alarm, the one I’d set last night to ensure I had enough time to prep for my hot date with Hayden. Before floating to bed in the wake of his delicious mouth, I’d rifled through my many suitcases to find the perfect outfit. I couldn’t wear shorts - what if we spend the whole day in the sun? Exposed legs would burn up under the intense UV rays, crisping my skin up like twiglets. And a tight dress was probably not top of the list either, now that I know things are more low key around here. Burnt legs would ruin an evening rolling around under the sheets or above them or wrapped up in them.
A stress headache spreads over my brow, spurring me to pick denim jeans that graze the top of my ankles and hug my narrow waist. Heels aren’t an option. The gravelly ground in Heartville isn’t smooth like the city streets. The five pairs I’d stuffed in my luggage were a waste of crucial space. It took a nail file and a lot of scraping to remove the chipped gel nail polish, but I did - and now they looked less than pretty.
