The light turns green, and I return my gaze to the road. We drive in silence until she directs me to a blue house at the end of a quiet street.
“This is me here.” She leans forward on her seat like she’s going to charge out of the truck the second I stop moving.
Sensing her discomfort, I live park on the curb rather than pulling into her driveway. I stop just short of the front window, and before she can make a quick getaway, I shift to face her.
“Leleila.”
She startles. “Hmmm?”
What comes out of my mouth next stuns even me.
“What do you say we be friends?” I ask her, my eyes searching her face. “You seem like maybe you could use a friend.”
Her cheeks heat. “I have plenty of friends, like Sophia. Just because I enjoy granola and like to patronage my sister’s place of business doesn’t mean that I am lonely.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”
Her shoulders relax. “No, I’m sorry I snapped. I don’t have a large circle, but I never have. I’m a bit of a loner.”
“I am too. My cousins are my best friends. Everyone else—it’s pretty casual really.” My voice dips. “I guess I just…I’d like to be friends with you. Which is unusual for me. Being just friends with a woman.”Pretty much has never happened in my entire life.
Our eyes lock.
After several beats, when I’m certain she isn’t going to answer me at all, she gives a tiny shake of her head, and her green eyes lose their brightness. “I’m not sure. My life is…very up in the air right now. I’ll…get back to you on that,” she adds stiffly.
Christ, I need to cut this tension.
Remembering something I do need to talk to her about, I say, “Hey, how much do you know about burying hazardous waste?”
Her hand drops off the door handle, and she turns to face me fully. Her brilliant green eyes brighten with interest. “What exactly are you talking about?”
I briefly fill her in on the container I saw at the Eastons’ ranch.
“I’d have to get a soil sample,” she says. “I know it’s private property. And the soil can’t be wet, or too dry, for that matter. Sometime soon would probably be best since it rained a few days ago. I have to tell you, though, that we’ll probably have to send out to a different lab for testing. We can only do so much at our small nonprofit. Is getting a sample possible?”
“Definitely possible,” I assure her. “I’ve got a game in Billings Friday night, but I can take you there this weekend when I know the coast is clear.”
We exchange cell numbers, and I tell her I’ll text her with a time.
She opens the door and slips out before I can think how to respond. “Good night, Brayden. Thanks so much for tonight.”
And just like every time I’m with Leleila, she disappears so fast I barely know what hit me.
She hurries out of the truck and up the walk to her house. A house she shares with her fiancé.
I run my hand down my face. This situation is trouble. Leleila Wills makes me dance and do all sorts of things I never do. I should stay away.
And yet, I just scheduled another reason to see her. Alone. My brain tells me I’m stupid. My heart says this can’t end well. And my dick? Well, he’s always up for anything. Especially when it comes to a quirky introvert who makes me feel things I haven’t felt in twelve years.
* * *
Leleila
I glance back, and Brayden’s already pulled away from the curb. I can’t help but smile at the adorable way he asked if I wanted to be friends. But the way he makes me feel like I’m crushing on him? I can’t have a crush on another man. What does that say about me? I’m engaged. Phillip and I have our entire futures planned out, and I can’t change course. You have to stay the course. That’s what Dad always says.
I definitely need to take a break from Brayden Wild. I’ll help him with the soil issue if he calls, but other than that? I need some time.
I send June a quick text that I won’t be in to work until next week and head inside the house.
