“I’ll eat later.” Kit slid off his stool and beckoned for me to do the same. “Come on. You wanted to celebrate, and I don’t think this counted.”
I was more than happy to follow him out and put as much distance between us and Tessa as possible. If I never saw her again, it would be too soon.
27
Penny
Moonlight striped the ground through the canopy of the trees as Kit and I walked along. It was chillier than I had prepared for, so I hugged my arms around myself and watched my breath fog in the air. Kit didn’t seem to mind, enamored by the serenity and the view as his soft smile would attest.
We made it there in relative quiet, crossing town and climbing a little hill past the residential portion of Ashpoint. It got darker and quieter the further we went, and now the pale blue of the moon was the only source of light.
It was romantic.
I caught myself eyeing Kit’s hand hanging idly at his side, then tried to distract myself from it by telling him about the kind of pecans these were and how surprisingly easy they were to shell.
Somewhere amid the chatter, I remembered Tessa’s harsh words about Kit being sick of me. Of me talking like I was now, running myself out of breath with every thought and whim that crossed my mind. Kit was quietbeside me, as always. Unable to get a word in edgewise. My brow furrowed, and I slowed in my stride.
“What did you think of Tessa?” I asked.
Kit frowned. “She’s pushy. And rude.”
“But she wants to make you a succulent ham,” I teased.
“I think I’ll manage without.”
My smile spread as we continued, kicking through the carpet of fallen leaves. “Pity,” I said, then quickly clarified, “for her.”
Kit caught my arm and drew me to a halt. Turning to face him, I found his expression earnest. “I meant what I said back there: thank you for stopping her. And for correcting her when she used my full name.” His gaze cut away, chasing something unseen through the dense trees. “You don’t have to, though,” he added in a lower voice.
“Don’t have to what?”
Kit’s lips twisted as he considered. “Protect me, I suppose. I’m a grown man.”
“I know that.” Looking down, I dragged the toe of my boot through a bare patch of dirt. “You're more grown than I am. More of a man, too.”
A pecan lay beside my foot, and I crouched to retrieve it. As I’d told Kit, the thin shell peeled off easily, revealing the soft meat of the nut. I offered it out. “Do you want to try one?”
Kit took it and popped it in his mouth, chewing while I began the hunt for more pecans.“You’re man enough in any way that matters, Pen.” His voice chased me as I scoured the ground.
Warmth blossomed inside me, more effective than anything at warding off the chill.
Breaking into motion, Kit came alongside me and joined the search for fallen nuts. “I don’t think I congratulated you properly for your first sale,” he said.
I sniffed as I stooped to pick up a few more pecans. “It was just Rosie’s father. I think he was being kind.”
“I don’t believe that,” Kit replied. “You do fine work.”
Warm feelings filled me again, and I scrubbed my shoulder over my flushed cheek. “Thank you.”
I gathered more pecans than I could hold and untucked my shirt to pile them in the loose hem. Kit was filling his pockets just as fast, and between us we’d have enough for me to try my hand at making pecan tarts for he and I.
“As far as the money you make,” Kit said after a pause, “you don’t owe it to me. You should save your earnings for your family or to buy things you want.”
“Iwantedto buy you dinner.”
To thank him. To repay him. To court him…
Nerves made my stomach lurch. I was suddenly grateful I hadn’t eaten more of the roast.
