I cleared my throat and felt the eyes of my brothers on me.Every single one of them was practically salivating at the idea of teasing me.I was starting to wonder just how obvious it had been to everybodybutKendall just how bad I had it for her.
“I was, but you know how it is over there.One minute the goats can be quietly eating, and the next they can be wreaking havoc and knocking things over,” I said lightly.
Tommy nodded somberly, like a mini adult.“Idoknow.Just the other day, Dolly ate my tennis shoes.I put them by the door because I needed to put my boots on to go out and help with the feeding.It was a little muddy.She destroyed one whole shoe.”
“Well, I’m sure you’ll grow out of those within a week, so I’ll get you a new pair,” Haven cut in dryly.
Elsa grinned, her eyes warm.Blessedly, attention shifted away from me and Kendall.
ChapterFourteen
Jude
After we finished eating, and my mom was talking about something to do with the schedule, I couldn’t resist sliding my hand onto Kendall’s knee.Now that I’d been able to kiss her—not once, but twice—now that I knew maybe she wanted the same thing I did, the relief of being able to actually touch her was immense.Except, of course, her knee was warm.At the mere hint of her body heat, my own body reacted.Everything tightened, and I felt my arousal swelling.
“Jude,” she whispered under her breath.
Sliding my palm up a little, I squeezed her thigh because I couldn’t help it.She swatted my hand away.When I glanced over and saw her pink cheeks, it was all I could do not to kiss her right then and there.
“Jude.”Tommy’s voice broke through the haze in my brain.
I whipped my gaze over to him.“Yeah?”
Tommy let out a belabored sigh.“Can I go with you?”
“For what?”
“You’re going ice climbing, and I’ve never gone.”
I quickly deduced I’d missed the details of a scheduled ice-climbing trip.I glanced toward Haven, and he didn’t say anything, but I knew his look well.The answer to Tommy’s question was negative.
“Look, Tommy, ice climbing’s pretty risky.This isn’t something you’re going to want to do right now,” I explained.
“Can I just watch?”he pressed.He looked toward Haven this time.“What?I can’t even watch?Why?”
“Which trip is this?”I asked.
“The one next week,” Haven explained.“You’re doing a day hike up to that ice climbing spot above the falls.”He paused, his gaze sliding to Tommy.“You can go, but only if you promise to watch and do everything Jude says.”
“Oh, it’s about an hour in.It shouldn’t be too difficult for the hike,” I said, glancing toward Tommy.“It’s kind of cold to watch.If you want to go, you cannot get in the way of any of the customers coming with us.”
“I won’t.I promise.”He looked toward his dad, and Haven nodded.
“Then, it’s a deal.I’ll make sure you are bundled up warm,” I replied.
“You’re going to feel like a miniature puffball with your down coat,” Elsa teased.
We eventually started cleaning up, and Kendall began to leave.I practically sprinted to catch up to her, reaching her just as she got to the main doors.
“What is it?”she asked.
“I’m coming over.I’ll drive you home.”
“Jude, I drove here—” she began.
I narrowed my eyes.“Kendall, we have to talk.I’ll give you a ride in the morning.”
“Okay.”She bit her lip.
