Kylie sighed. “Hey, Grace. Don’t tell me the neighbors called.”
Grace laughed. “How long have you lived here now? Of course they did. Said a strange man was hanging around your house.” Her gaze went toward the garage. “Well, now I can see why everyone’s up in arms. Need me to cuff him?”
Glancing back at Landon, Kylie grinned. “Would you?”
“I’m sure I could come up with a reason. Looks like a heartbreaker to me.”
Kylie’s smile faltered.
Landon spotted them, but he stayed where he was and nodded in acknowledgement.
“Well, crap,” Grace said, frowning at Kylie. “Clearly I said something wrong. I’m sorry. For what it’s worth, I don’t know who he is. I haven’t heard a peep from the rumor mill. I was just teasing.”
“Don’t worry about it. Really.” It dawned on Kylie that Landon must be wondering what had prompted a visit from the sheriff, so she motioned him over.
He limped over, crutchless, sporting a well-placed tool belt on his slim hips, and smiled at Grace. “Howdy, Sheriff.”
It took a second for Kylie to tear her gaze away from Landon’s new look. “Grace, this is Landon. He’s an old friend from—” Kylie stumbled over the last words. Well, he was a friend. What else could she say?
Grace didn’t seem to notice. “Looks like she’s got you working hard.”
“She’s a slave driver, all right.”
Kylie rolled her eyes. “He’s building some bench seats and tables for the bakery.”
“Oh, that’s a mistake,” Grace said with a laugh.
“I won’t make them too comfortable.” Landon smiled, his gaze sweeping the row of houses across the street. “So, I’m guessing one of the neighbors called?”
“Three by my last count.”
“They’re a watchful bunch, but that’s good for Kylie. I’m glad.”
Grace seemed pleased with his remark. “It’s a safe community. We had a poaching incident a couple years back when I first moved here, but that’s it. Everything else has been petty misdemeanors, shoplifting or vandalism, drunk and disorderly, that sort of thing.”
“Where did you move from?”
“Arizona. Came here for the job and I like it—most days. Anyway, I’ve got some work to do back in town. Some kids broke into the barn where the dance is being held and decided to get creative. My deputies just picked up the last one. They’re going to be damn busy repainting all night.” She looked at Landon. “You comin’ to the dance?”
He looked at Kylie. “Are we?”
Grace chuckled and put the truck in gear. “Hope to see you tomorrow night,” she said, as she eased her way down the street.
Landon moved closer. “And how was your day?”
“Good,” Kylie said. “I’m much more interested in yours, though. Was that Barry I saw leaving in the white pickup?”
“Yep.” Landon slowed as they got to the garage, with the door lowered most of the way. “No peeking,” he said. “I want to make some headway before you see anything. And don’t worry—Barry seems like he knows his stuff. He’s already been a help today.”
“But I want to help, too.”
He turned to face her, both hands settling on her shoulders. “The whole point of this is to make your life easier. You worry about the coffee bar and Joe. I’ll worry about the rest. Do we have a deal?”
“Not yet, we don’t. First of all, how much help can Barry be if he’s only able to come after school?”
“That’s not going to be a problem. He’s stretched out his senior year because he’s been working a lot. Helping his single mom, I think. He only needs a few more credits to graduate and get the wrestling scholarship he’s counting on. He’s got every weekday and Saturday open to me.”
Kylie sighed, and would have relaxed if not for the gentle squeezes to her shoulders. And how close the two of them were standing.
Landon had been working in the heat, and his hair was that messy side of sexy that could have easily come from a wicked night, and his shirt was unbuttoned enough for her to see a few dark hairs plastered to his chest. He smelled downright feral. It should have bothered her, the sweat, but instead it awakened something new inside her. As if she had a specific gene that had been made to respond to this musky scent, and she’d never known it until this moment.
“Okay?” he asked, bending so he could look straight into her eyes.
“Okay. I’m trusting you big-time here.”
“I’m glad,” he said, rising to his full height. “It’s important to me that you can.”
She smiled, hating that they were in full view of the neighbors. And hating that she hadn’t counted on having to go back to the shop later. Maybe today wasn’t the right time to say anything.
“So, how about dinner later?”
“Sorry. I can’t,” she said, not hiding her disappointment. “I’m just here to grab a quick sandwich, but you’re welcome to join me. It was too disruptive at the shop after Joe started banging away, and so my new helper, Celeste, went home to feed her kids, but then she’s coming back so we can go through the evening prep together. I have no idea how long it’s going to take.”
His hands dropped to his sides, which disappointed her, but then she realized she could see inside the garage. At least a little bit. Not nearly enough to figure out what he’d been up to all day.
“Hey. I said no peeking.” His stern look had her holding back a grin. “Am I going to have to move in here just to keep an eye on you?”
She could feel her cheeks heat. The idea of him staying with her was something she’d already thought about. “Right,” she said. “I apologize, but I really didn’t see anything. And I do need to get back to the bakery soon, so...sandwich? I have only tuna and cold cuts. And there should be some beer left, unless you guys wiped me out.”
“I’ll take you up on that drink, but I’m too gross to eat now.”
“Gross? Not to me. I kind of like carpenter Landon.”
He blinked at her, offering up a little smile as he moved a bit closer. “Well, then. I guess I’ll take you up on that sandwich.”
“Good,” she said, standing there like an idiot, wondering if she’d said too much or not enough. “Guess I need to go in through the front door. Meet me in the kitchen after you wash up...”
The sentence fell away as an image flashed in her mind—him walking out of her bathroom wearing only a towel, a few drops of water easing down his chest...
“Kylie?”
“Tuna or bologna?”
“Tuna sounds great.”
“Tuna it is,” she said, inwardly sighing at her sparkling banter. As she let herself in the front door, she thought again about his suggestion. He’d been teasing, but in the middle of the afternoon she’d decided to ask him. At some point. The guest room, though, to start. As she scurried to get the sandwiches made, she heard him come in through the garage door, then she heard the one to the bathroom closing. It was a small house.
Which made the idea of sharing it with him completely crazy. But if she was going to jump in, it might as well be into the deep end. Or at least not the wading pool. Further confirming how insane she’d been, she was halfway to the bathroom with his beer before she spun on her heel and raced back to the kitchen to finish their dinners.
A few minutes later, she sensed him behind her and she turned her head.
His hair was damp, combed back, and he was removing his tool belt. “Sorry,” he said, “I should’ve left this in the garage.”
She briefly thought about asking him to leave it on. How ridiculous was that? “No problem. Just...leave it anywhere.”
He stashed it somewhere around the corner, then pulled out a chair for her at the small kitchen table.
She brought their plates a
nd their drinks with her, and sat down. “You know what you said about you staying at the house? That’s not a bad idea.”
His eyebrows rose and his smile grew.
“I’ve only got the one bathroom, so we’d have to share, but that shouldn’t be too much of a problem. I mean, why pay for the motel when you can use my spare room?”
His smile drooped, as did his brows.
She held back a grin, wondering if he knew how transparent—and impatient—he looked. “You wouldn’t need to eat out,” she said, going over the list she’d come up with earlier as she was helping customers. “And you’d be able to take breaks during the day. You know, to rest your leg. I mean, I know you do that now, but you’d have the option of getting horizontal.” She licked her dry lips. “Okay, that came out weird but I think you get it.”
“Yep. All sound reasons,” he said. “A very excellent idea. The spare room would be real...convenient.”
Although now that she’d gotten it all out and he’d accepted her offer, she felt herself flush. She had no idea what to say next. Earlier she’d been so excited that she hadn’t once considered how awkward this could become. Once he moved in—oh, they hadn’t discussed when...
He put down his sandwich. “You know, you can still change your mind.”
Realizing how closely he’d been studying her, she blinked. “I won’t.”
“Tell you what, take some time. Think about it overnight.”
“I don’t—” She nodded. “You, too. You can still change your mind.”
“Not gonna happen,” he said.
“Me, neither.” She took a sip of water, scared but excited. Him. Her. Holy cow!
“Okay, but I won’t check out until we touch base in the morning. Just in case.”
She smiled. He wasn’t the only one who was impatient.
Chapter Twelve
The next morning, Kylie called while Landon was in the shower. After cursing that he’d missed her, he quickly opened the text she’d left.
Bring apples on your way home, please. And your things.
Landon, having already packed, pumped his fist. He’d dreamed about Kylie all night, and in his fantasies he sure hadn’t been sleeping in the guest room.
Leaving his bag for the moment, he went down to the lobby and poured himself a cup of coffee. Several other guests were indulging in the muffins he recognized as Kylie’s handiwork. Instead, he grabbed an apple, figuring he’d supplement it with something more substantial later. Even though his physical therapy got him sweating, as did distressing the wood, it wasn’t even close to what he normally did. Now, more than ever, he needed to stay in shape. Once he returned to the circuit, every ride would count if he was going to make it to the finals.
Patty was behind the front desk, helping someone, so he stood a respectful distance away and sipped his coffee as he waited to let her know he’d be checking out. Naturally, his thoughts went to Kylie. Her day had started several hours ago, but he had a clear mental picture of what she looked like when she woke up in the morning. Back in the day her tousled hair and sleepy eyes had always made him smile. She’d never been much of a morning person. He wondered if having the bakery had changed that.
He’d find out soon enough.
The man at the front desk took his credit card receipt, picked up his bag and turned for the door. Landon was about to step up when Kevin entered the lobby. For a small-town motel manager, he looked overdressed in a crisp white shirt, navy blue blazer and gray dress slacks.
Kevin said good morning to Patty before he spotted Landon...who froze in his tracks. He was such an idiot. How in the hell had he not considered how his moving out of the motel would affect Kylie? Gossip was a popular small-town hobby. People would see him around and guess he was staying with her.
“Still here, huh?” Kevin said, all friendly and showing a lot of teeth.
Yeah, who was he kidding? The guy must’ve been checking the guest log twice a day, hoping Landon had split. Patty’s lowered gaze and struggle to squash a smile confirmed it.
“Yep,” Landon said, forcing himself to relax, when he really wanted to kick himself three ways to Sunday. “You have a nice town here.”
“It’s grown on me,” Kevin said, sizing him up and frowning. “Did you get a job or something?”
Landon looked down at his scuffed boots and worn, ripped jeans. His brown T-shirt had seen better days too. “I’m just doing some carpentry work for Kylie.”
“I thought she already had someone.”
“Yeah, Joe Hopkins. He’s working in the bakery. I’m building the seats and tables.” Landon glanced at the wall clock behind the desk. “I need to get moving. Got a lot of work ahead of me today.”
“Sure.” Kevin nodded, clearly distracted. “Any idea when you’re leaving?”
“Not yet.” He made a quick decision. “Look, if you need to adjust my room rate I totally understand. You didn’t know I’d be here this long when you gave me the discount. I don’t want you getting in trouble with your boss.”
Kevin snorted. “I am the boss. We’ll keep you at the same rate,” he said, irritation beginning to show in the tightening of his mouth. “Since you’re a friend of Kylie’s.”
“Okay. Thanks. I appreciate it.”
“Hey, I appreciate you helping her out,” Kevin said. “Wish I had the time to do it myself.”
Landon didn’t miss the proprietary message. No one who was listening could. He just smiled and went to get a coffee refill to take upstairs with him.
He’d keep the room and leave a few of his clothes behind, trade them out every other day, mess with the bed, just so it looked like he was using the room. As far as anyone knew, he was still at the motel and not staying with Kylie. It wasn’t just about the rumors. He didn’t want to mess anything up for her. Including Kevin. Landon wasn’t happy about it, but he wanted her to be with him by choice, not process of elimination. And yeah, he’d stay in that spare room as long as she wanted him to, but he couldn’t help hoping the situation would change quickly.
* * *
LANDON SPOTTED BARRY’S truck in front of Kylie’s place as soon as he turned the corner. Good for him. It was 8:45 a.m. and Barry had committed to coming in by nine for the next five days.
As Landon parked, he was even more impressed when he saw that Barry was stacking the long sheets of untreated ash that were for the bench seats. The miter saw was set up, ready to go. The kid didn’t stop, just gave a quick nod before finishing the stack and putting one sheet on the worktable.
“What time did you get here?” Landon asked, walking his crutches to the far left corner before he put on his tool belt.
“About eight-thirty. I can’t do that all the time, but this morning my mom chased me out of the house. She wants me to make a good impression.”
“It’s working. You have brothers? Sisters?”
“Yep. A brother and sister, both younger. Which makes it hard for my mom to work full-time.”
“What about your dad?”
Barry kept his eyes on the worktable. “He left. Which was a good thing. He was a mean drunk and allergic to work.”
“I’m sorry. My father died when I was seventeen, and that was hard enough. It must have put a lot of pressure on you, being the oldest. I know I’ve always counted on my two older brothers.”
Barry shrugged. “It’s not that bad. I just want to do as much as I can before I leave.”
“I never asked which school you’re going to.”
“Oklahoma State.”
“Good for you. I’m glad I went to college, even though I left after two years to rodeo. Although I’m kinda sorry I didn’t major in something more useful than history.”
Barry turned his head, not quick enough to stop his laugh. But that was okay. Landon had h
eard it all. “What about you?”
“Business. And a minor in farm and ranch management.”
“That’s great. You can do a lot with that, and live and work anywhere in the country.”
“That’s my goal. But first I have to make sure I can keep my scholarship.”
“I’m sure your mom’s real proud of you.”
Barry ran his hand over the piece of wood on the table. “She’s not always been all that healthy,” he said. “But she still works hard.”
Landon wrapped the distressing chain a little too tightly around his fist. He thought about his own family, how they’d all supported each other through some tough times, especially after his dad’s passing. The idea of a father running off was unimaginable.
He got started on bashing the wood up. Last night, he’d looked up that vinegar and steel wool method. He was considering trying that on the tables, since it would make the ash look aged, but keep the surface smooth. Although using the chain was giving him a needed workout.
The sound of the saw combined with the chain slamming into the wood almost made him miss his cell phone ringing in his pocket. He was pretty winded as he walked out of the garage. It was Kylie. He couldn’t have stopped his smile if he’d tried.
“Hi,” she said. “I left a six-pack and some sandwich stuff in the fridge. There’s a fresh loaf of bread on the counter, and some cookies in the big bear jar. Did you remember the apples?”
“Yes, and when did you have time to do all that?”
“I managed,” she said, but then he heard her voice, muffled, saying something about a cake. “Sorry.” Her voice was back to normal. “We’ve got three birthday cakes to finish this morning, and Celeste is still learning how to decorate, so that’s all on me.”
“Does that mean you’re going to be late tonight?”
“Does that mean you’re going to be there when I get off?”
He bit off a chuckle. “Damn,” he said. “I certainly hope so.”
She was quiet for a little too long, making him wish he hadn’t been such a smart-ass.
“Landon Kincaid. That’s not a nice thing to do when I’m at work.”
Stealing the Cowboy's Heart Page 11