by Rae, Harloe
“Not sure what you mean.”
“You’re done with me. I got mine, so we’re set. Nothing else needs to happen. That much was clear with your remarkable farewell.”
He stands, bringing our bodies into startling alignment. “Tell me that I’m not the only one still thinking about it.”
His hot breath trickles down my neck, burning a path straight to my core. I try not to shiver. “You’re crazy.”
“Maybe. You didn’t seem to mind before.”
“That was different.”
“How?”
“You were a stranger. Just some random guy I ran into a couple times. When you showed up at Bronco Buck, the pieces fell into place. And for one night, that worked for us. Now? It doesn’t make sense. Everything is more complicated.”
“You want to know more about me?”
“Not necessarily, but I won’t stop you if sharing makes you feel better.”
Crawford takes a tiny step back. I’m grateful for the sliver of space so my breasts don’t brush against him with every exhale. “It’s no damn secret that I’m a loner. I’ve been this way for years. Meeting you and Millie lit a fire under my ass. Maybe I don’t wanna be stuck out in the woods all alone anymore.”
Thunder rumbles in my ears. “What’re you saying?”
“Exactly what I already told you. I never wanted to be around others more than required to survive. My friendships are nonexistent. I decided that needs to change. We seem to get along well enough. So, tell me we can meet up once a week or whenever you have a free afternoon. Not for dates or anything romantic. Millie comes along. Invite Josey if that makes you more comfortable.”
I shake my head, trying to process what he’s saying. After several moments, his meaning still doesn’t compute. “I don’t get it. Why me?”
“Why not you?”
“Just answer the question, Ford.”
His throat bobs with a thick swallow. “You’re good for me.”
“How?”
“Why are you making this so hard?” Crawford yanks on his hat again. “I can’t explain it very well. You just make me feel…happy.”
My heart is beating too fast. I can’t catch a decent breath. This man is showering me with compliments to the best of his ability. Yet my broken spirit refuses to believe the sincere quality. “This seems like a trick.”
His hazel eyes skewer me to a nearby tree. “What do I have to gain from scamming you?”
“Sex.”
A twitch leaps in his jaw. “I already got that.”
“And you don’t want a repeat?”
“Another question.” A snort flares his nostrils. “If I did, lying and being dishonest is far too much wasted effort. I don’t need to be shady and resort to deception. How bad do you think I am?”
“That depends on what version of personality you’re using.”
“Are you going to deny me compassion either way?”
I shake my head, strands of blonde sticking to the stubble along his jaw. Light blending with dark, the meaning not lost on me. I release a shaky exhale. “No.”
“Does that mean yes to everything else?”
Is this another future regret? Only tomorrow will tell. “Sure. We can give this friendship thing a test run.”
The shimmer in Crawford’s gaze speaks of victory, but what he won is yet to be determined. I refuse to let Millie be a casualty of a failed experiment. My heart, on the other hand, is a bargaining chip I’m more prepared to lose.
His lips brush the shell of my ear. “You won’t be sorry.”
Clarity seeps in with another impulsive assurance from him. “Don’t make promises that are meant to be broken.”
The smirk touching his mouth caresses my most intimate bits. Yeah, I’m completely screwed. “Only if you stop assuming the worst of me.”
I don’t shy away, tilting my chin to put us on even ground. “Prove me wrong, Ford.”
Healing Hug #18: Given to those who aren’t brave enough to ask.
For the sake of establishing equality in this crazy-ass experiment, Keegan gets to decide where we’re meeting this morning. Switching off is reasonable since I’m the one who’s orchestrating a change. If I want new challenges, this is a guaranteed way to get them. Her lack of trust isn’t surprising in the least. I deserve the clouds she’s casting over me. If she jumped in without questioning my integrity, I’d wonder about her genuine investment. But of course, Keegan bailed and bucked at my plans. Thankfully, in the end, she bent when it really counted.
We share stakes in this arrangement. Mine just happened to be a greater risk, at least in my opinion. There’s no denying she’s still interested in me. How deep that attraction flows is another story. Does the potential of sleeping with her again appeal to me? Abso-fucking-lutely. I can get hard in a moment’s notice with her nearby. We can both benefit from solidifying a relationship, platonic or purely physical.
I glance at Keegan’s last text while waiting for the light to change. Her location of choice is in the heart of downtown Silo Springs. The options become less appealing with each block I pass on Main Street. Patch is acclimating to our widening horizons far better than me. She’s almost friendly with everyone that walks by, offering them a whipping wag of her tail.
When I approach the address, my stomach drops straight to the sidewalk. The regret for concocting this harebrained scheme is settling in real deep right about now. Keegan sent me to a fucking coffee house. This is what I get for not researching the site first. Going in blind to keep the suspense alive was a foolish mistake.
Once I’m standing in front of Steeped, there’s no doubt in my mind that Keegan chose this spot to torture me. Upon initial glance, this bistro is only marginally better than Bronco Buck in regard to my preferred ratio of people to space. The interior is crawling with patrons searching for an open table or waiting in line or standing against the wall while talking to others. This is a great example of socializing to the extreme. I’m about to be one of the guppies swimming in a sea of idiocy. But, to be fair, there’s a patio where dogs are allowed.
Patch drops her nose to the ground and leads us around the building. At least one of us knows where to go. Idle chatter floats over from around the corner, offering further proof I don’t need. The outdoor seating area is less crowded, but there are still more bodies than I care to count. There are so many damn people in this area. If I wanted real solitude, I’d have to move a lot farther than the woods on the outskirts of town.
Millie looks up when I clang the metal gate open. She waves, pigtail braids flapping with the erratic motions. That little girl has the ability to knock some good sense into me without batting an eyelash. The other woman at the table gives me pause for another reason entirely.
Keegan’s glossy, blonde mane shimmers in the direct sunlight beating down. She twists in her chair to face me, a coy grin hiking up those ruby-stained lips. If Millie is candy-coated sprinkles, her mother is a double slice of creamy cheesecake with strawberries and whipped cream. My fucking favorite. A shot of pure adrenaline gets injected into my veins, and I barely manage to stifle a groan.
Without further delay, I stride into the fray with my gaze set dead ahead. Keegan’s eyes are covered by a pair of oversized sunglasses, but I want to believe she’s tracking my every move. When I near the empty seat, it becomes clear she’s looking at Patch. Well, damn. Talk about deflating a man’s ego.
“Want this up?” I gesture to a folded shade umbrella in the corner.
She puckers that red pout at me. “If you can. I tried, but the darn thing wouldn’t budge.”
In one smooth motion, I slide the center mechanism up and lock the pin in place. A wide shadow immediately curtains the table, providing much-needed relief from the skyrocketing heat.
“Better?”
Keegan doesn’t answer. She seems transfixed by something on my shirt. I glance down to see what’s caught her attention. My hem lifted with the movement, exposing a slice of my lower abs.
I hum and allow a smirk to tilt my mouth. Now that’s more like it.
“Find something of interest?” I don’t bother masking the humor in my voice.
“Hmmm?” She licks her bottom lip, feeding my already overflowing spank bank. My cock jerks in approval, which is highly inappropriate considering the quantity and nature of the company surrounding us. I force images of wrinkly grandpa asses into my mind to dial me back.
“Just appreciating you enjoying the view,” I drawl.
That snaps her out of the trance. Keegan shoves her shades to the top of her head with a huff. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
“Don’t need to. You’re doing a mighty fine job of it.”
A rosy hue blossoms on her cheeks. “Whatever.”
“Getting busted in the act looks great on you, Kee.” I plop my ass down on the seat, getting comfortable under her blazing fury. Even the fresh air and overpowering scent of much-needed caffeine can’t mask her pineapple paradise aroma.
“Continuing to rub my face in it makes you look like a…meanie.”
Millie has been silently sitting on the sidelines until this moment. Her adorable face pinches tight. “Uh-oh, you’re gonna get in trouble. Don’t be naughty, Ford.”
Vindication splatters across Keegan’s terse expression. “Yeah, be nice.”
“What did I do? You’re the one ogling me like I’m a piece of—”
“Do not finish that sentence,” she scolds.
I narrow my eyes on her. Mama Bear is showing up to battle. “This isn’t over.”
“Far from it.” Keegan’s eyes gleam in a way that almost makes me avert my gaze.
“Is that why you picked this spot? You almost had me running scared.”
“That’d be a fun sight, but no. This is my favorite café. I spend most of my weekdays here working with Josey. Figured I’d introduce you to good coffee.” She nudges a large mug in my direction.
I peek at the dark brown liquid, steam rising off the top. “You ordered for me?”
“Are you offended?”
“Not at all. I like it when you take care of me.” I treat myself to a tentative sip. The rich brew bursts on my tongue. Damn, that’s delicious. She’ll never hear me admit that, though.
Keegan tosses her hands up. “Here we go again.”
“You make it so easy for me.”
“Too bad I can’t say the same for you.”
I wince with a hiss. “Oooh, ouch.”
“We’re off to a fantastic start.” She glances down at the pups lying under Millie’s chair. The little girl is pleasantly distracted by her fierce protectors. “I wasn’t sure you’d bring Patch.”
I study the slender column of her throat, moving with a thick swallow, as she watches them. “Why not?”
Keegan’s gaze returns to mine. “She doesn’t fit on your bike.”
“Which is why I didn’t drive.”
“You walked all the way from…uh, where do you live?”
I hitch a thumb over my shoulder, pointing in the direction we came from. “Above the garage. Figured you knew that.”
“I’m trying to curb my assumptions. That’s a far hike, Ford.”
“It’s only seven miles.”
She sputters and her eyes bulge. “That must have taken you hours.”
I give her a flick of my wrist. “Only a little over one. It’s nothing we haven’t done before. We go for a run every morning. This wasn’t a big deal.”
Keegan nods. “Wow, yeah, I guess not for you. That’s really inspiring.”
I enjoy another swig of coffee. “It’s good to know that I can impress you.”
“Weren’t you aware already?” She circles the rim of her cup with a fingertip.
A quick glance shows me that Millie is still occupied with Elsa and Patch. “No harm hearing it directly from the source.”
“I could learn a thing or two from you,” she murmurs.
My pulse leaps at her words. Such simple context from this woman gets a huge reaction. “Is that so?”
Keegan taps my arm. “Get your mind out of the gutter. I just meant being more physically active.”
I wipe over my mouth, hiding a smarmy grin. “I’m the one being dirty? Plenty about that topic can be misconstrued.”
She presses a hand to the flush racing up her neck. “So, anyway. You just hoof it everywhere if Patch comes along?”
“What else am I gonna do?”
“Get a car?” She clamps her lips shut, looking like there’s more she wants to add.
I wait for another beat, but she remains quiet. “Nah. I can get anywhere we need to go with what I’ve got. Why waste more money on another vehicle?”
“What if you want to take someone out?”
“My bike seats two.”
“How about a little someone?” She gives Millie a pointed look.
I almost snort. As if this woman would ever trust me alone with her kid, on purpose. “That’s never going to happen.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t anticipate the situation presenting itself.”
“Humor me.” The tone she uses has a seductive twinkle on the end. That silky note fuses a spark under my skin.
My molars clack together. “I’m sure walking would be a viable option.”
“And if it’s too far?”
“Then we’ll stay in.”
Keegan taps her chin. “See? These are things you have to think about.”
“Yeah, for you as a parent. Those concerns don’t apply to me.”
“For now.”
“And the foreseeable future.”
She frowns at me. “You don’t want children?”
“Didn’t say that. I’ve very recently decided to start making friends. Opening myself to the possibility of more is intimidating as fu—fun. Kids are a long way down the road after that.”
Keegan seems to ponder that, allowing the silence to stretch between us until I’m ready to fill the gaps. She finally puts me out of my misery with a tempered, “I see. That makes sense. So, isn’t this weird?”
I scan the bustling space, but the rush of voices doesn’t penetrate our bubble. “Only at first. I’m getting used to all the traffic.”
“No, I meant hanging out with Millie and me.”
“Why would this be weird? I’m very comfortable with you two.”
“There has to be better options for a single guy such as yourself.”
“Quit selling yourself short. I’m where I want to be. Millie is an extension of your best qualities. We both know I like you, perhaps more parts than others. But that’s only because I’ve been properly acquainted.” I run a hungry gaze along the low-cut neckline of her shirt. “Maybe intimately is a better word choice.”
Keegan buries her face in a curled palm. “Please watch your language. You’re worse than Josey.”
“What did I say?”
“You know exactly what’s being implied.”
I nod at Millie. “But does she?”
She glances at her daughter, who’s busy telling our dogs a story. Patch and Elsa are taking turns getting brushed, one stroke each, with a pink brush Millie pulled from her little purse. Not the most efficient grooming method, but I don’t see anyone complaining. Keegan twists her lips to the side. “I just don’t get it.”
“That’s your problem to solve. I’m having a great morning. You’re the one who needs to relax.”
“Me?” Her voice rises with outrage. “I’m fine.”
I grunt into my nearly drained mug. “I think we already established that I know fine does not mean fine.”
Millie pops out from under the table. “Mama, I already told you. Ford gets it.”
I furrow my brow at the little girl. “Did I miss something?”
Keegan flutters a hand toward Millie, cupping her cheek in a comforting gesture. “She says you understand why she doesn’t talk to most people. She stands up for you at every turn.”
A shooting pain slices into th
e center of my chest. I suck in a sharp breath, choking on the ball in my throat. People have always let me down. Everyone except these two. “Thank you.”
Millie beams at me. “You’re welcome. We gotta stick together, right?”
I blow out a heavy exhale, loosening the tangle in my gut. “Absolutely.”
Keegan points at my empty cup. “Had enough?”
That’s a loaded question. I rub my temple as thoughts swirl into a complex jumble. “Yeah, I’m done.”
She smiles at me, soft and warm and melting the bitter cold buried inside of me. “Let us give you a ride home.”
“Nah, that’s not necessary. My shop is out of your way. I don’t want to impose.”
“How very thoughtful of you.” A tinkling laugh bounces out of her. “Since when?”
I motion between us. “This is voluntary.”
Her shoulders shake as she reels in the humor. “I’m well aware. So is my offer to drive you.”
“You’d be forced into spending more time with me.”
“Don’t read so much into a simple gesture.” Keegan winks at me.
“You’re confusing.”
“And you’d be doing me favor. Thinking of you running another seven miles today is bad for my health.”
“Well, in that case—” I give her a wink of my own. “I’ll call shotgun.”
Healing Hug #19: A cure for when the chill is bone-deep.
The crunch of fallen leaves crackles underneath my flimsy flip-flops. Millie tightens her grip on my hand as Crawford guides us deeper into the woods. That’s what I’m assuming, at least. My eyesight is currently compromised by a massive palm. With permission, of course. Even so, this situation is the perfect opening scene for a horror movie. I can picture the photo caption in bold, blazing letters.
A very trusting, albeit idiotic, woman allows a broody guy to steer her and an innocent child into the dark forest. While blindfolded.
Yep, this is stolen straight out of a scary film script.
I take another shaky step forward on wobbling legs. When a twig snaps, I nearly leap out of my skin. The bastard behind me chuckles.
“So jumpy,” he murmurs.
“You would be too if the roles were reversed.”