“He said he’ll meet you at home, by the way.”
Lauren wraps her arms around me as I protest. “Stop fighting me on this, friend. You need a hug. Let me hug you.”
As I let her pull me into a hug, I feel myself draw away emotionally as my brain sorts through all the logistics that losing this income entails. If I slow down long enough to think, I’ll unravel. And that just isn’t an option right now.
Chapter 2
McKenna
Havenwood, Georgia, is beautiful this time of year, but the view in front of me might very well be the reason I think so. December here means alternating between cold nights and warm afternoons, which makes this afternoon’s free entertainment so perfect. Who wouldn’t find a sweaty, shirtless farmhand with a perfect bubble butt attractive? Add in that he’s slinging hay bales like they weigh nothing, and suddenly I wish I were in their place.
“Hello, Earth to McKenna.”
I jump at my best friend’s voice, nearly sloshing my sweet tea out of its glass in the process. I’m curled up in one of the rocking chairs at River Haven Ranch. From here, I have a perfect view of the gravel drive, the main barn, and—unfortunately for my self-control—Reece Taylor working in nothing but Wranglers and work boots.
My cheeks heat as I realize she may have caught me ogling her brother’s ass. Dear Lord, I hope those thoughts stayed internal. The last thing I need right now is to word vomit.
“How are you holding up?” she asks. “I know how much you love those kids.”
I nod, relieved that my best friend seems oblivious to where my thoughts were. “Surviving. I still have to call my mom, but I’m dreading it. How do I say ‘sorry, Mom. I’m having my own version ofHome Aloneinstead’ without ruining her day?”
Jett plants her feet to stop her rocking chair and grabs my hand, her hazel eyes serious in a way that doesn’t match the usual mischief dancing there. She’s adorable in her own pair of jeans and one of Noah’s union sweatshirts, her dark hair pulled into a messy bun that somehow looks effortless. Classic Jett—chaos wrapped in cuteness. “I know! Stay here.”
An unladylike snort slips out before I can stop it. “Where? You and Slater’s loft? I love you guys, but those quarters are too tight. And, no offense, I don’t want to hear your lovey-dovey stuff at all hours.”
She humphs as she thinks. When her mouth twists into a mischievous smile, I know it can’t be good.
“Nope. No. Whatever it is, forget that idea.”
“Stay with Reece.”
“Do you want one of us murdered? Because that’s the only outcome of forcing us into that one-bed shack he calls a home.”
“Oh, come on. I mean, he only has the one bedroom now since he turned the guest room into some secret lair. Who locks a room when they live alone?”
“Anyone with a little sister who snoops through everything?”
She waves me off as my mind spins at her offer. This is by far her worst idea ever.
Never mind the fact I’d be more likely to jump his bones than murder him, and I’m desperately trying to behave myself. I still don’t know how to feel about his overly-generous elf adventures. The anger is gone, but we still need to talk about it. My gaze drifts back to the man in question, and I am once again gratefulfor seventy-degree weather a week from Christmas. Reece tosses another bale off the trailer as Jett’s boyfriend Noah stacks them.
Reece uses his forearm to wipe sweat from his face, putting his abs on display. Years of farmwork built that body. A toned core mixed with his sun-kissed skin, the V that disappears into the waistline of his jeans, and forearms that turn coherent thoughts to mush are more than any mortal should have to bear.
“He can sleep on the couch,” Jett says with a shrug. Before I can stop her, she hollers across the gravel lot. “Yo, bubba! Kenna is crashing with you for Christmas. Cool? Cool.”
Noah nearly misses the hay bale Reece tosses down as he hides a laugh behind a cough, but it’s Reece’s face that freezes me in my tracks.
I figured he would lay into Jett about how terrible of an idea this was, that he would back me up. Instead, his green eyes rake over my body in the way he usually saves for behind closed doors.
“I told her it wasn’t a good idea,” I yell, unable to hold my tongue lest he think for some reason that I suggested it. Sure, we’ve thrown the idea around a time or two, but we always end up at each other’s throats. Our individual relationships with Jett aren’t worth risking. That’s the only thing we agree on.
Reece shocks all of us when he shrugs. “Just don’t touch my recliner,” he says before turning back to the hay.
I glance at Jett, unsure of what to say or do.
She looks pleasantly shocked. “Did my pain-in-the-rear big brother just agree with me?”
“I still think this is a bad idea.”
