“If you laugh any harder you’re going to pee your pants,” she said.
“I can’t help it. That is so not you.”
“Oh, it gets better. So it’s obvious he knows what I did. I’m sure he could read the attraction in my eyes because I struggle to have any poker face. And then there he is telling me things like he gets excited but doesn’t think I could handle it.”
Cassidy was waving a hand in her face. “That’s kind of sexy in a bad boy way.”
“Not anyone I’ve ever been interested in. I’m not sure what it is about Clay. Maybe because I remembered him not being as hard as a kid. Anyway, next thing I know I’m confessing the whole mess about Fredrick to him. Close your mouth. I know. I can’t believe I did that either, but he was actually nice about it. In his way.”
“Why would he want to know?”
She didn’t want to tell Cassidy about Clay’s background in the Navy or what Gale confessed.
“He wanted to help. I’m not sure what he could do to help, but he got me thinking about things. We had a few drinks since we were alone at the bar.”
“How much is a few? We know you don’t handle alcohol that well.”
“Yeah, well, I needed a bit of liquid courage to confess my sins. I downed one glass, then filled up another. Both were gone in twenty minutes. It hit me hard and fast. One minute I know exactly what I’m saying, the next I can’t focus on anything other than his face and the beard he had growing that wasn’t there the last time I saw him.”
Talk about rough and hardy. Yes, please!
“Wow. I don’t know what to say about this,” Cassidy said.
“Oh, it’s not over. So hold on so you can save it up all at once.”
“What could possibly be worse? Did you kiss him?”
“I wish.” Cassidy rolled her eyes. “There was no way I could drive home. Everyone was working. The property was crazy busy with customers going on hayrides with kids and all the otheractivities. I was terrified one of my students or parents might see me. But he loaded me into my SUV and drove me to his house.”
“You went to his house?”
“He lives in a ranch on the property. I remember it was the house their grandmother lived in. Gale said she lived in it for a few years until her grandfather died, then they moved into the big house. It’s Clay’s house now.” She turned her head to look at the door and make sure no one was around. “I made some stupid comment about going to his bed.”
“How did he react?”
“I don’t remember. Probably a good thing. He was going to bring me to the guest room, but I remember just flopping on his couch. The next thing I know I’m awake and alone in the house. It’d been like two hours.”
She had opened her eyes, stretched her arms over her head, pointed her toes and realized her shoes were off. She’d worn flats and they were on the floor.
She hadn’t remembered kicking them off and wondered if Clay had removed them.
The thought of his hands on any part of her body still caused unanticipated sweat to break out on her spine.
“He wasn’t in the house?”
“No. I didn’t want to search for him, but I called out his name. I got a glass of water, cleaned the glass, then left. My car was in the driveway.”
“Have you talked to him since?” Cassidy asked.
“I felt I had to apologize. I sent him a text later that night thanking him for his assistance, then apologizing for my behavior and hoped it didn’t reflect poorly on my ability to do a job. I swore I never drank on the job.”
“Sounds like a long text.”
She snorted. “He said I talk too much and it was fine. That was it. I didn’t hear back.”
“Then let it go,” Cassidy said.
“I’m embarrassed. How can I face him again?”
