“Yes,” she said. “But that’s okay. We can do that tomorrow.”
Now his heart skipped another beat. “Tomorrow? You being serious?”
“Um hmm,” she said. “Same time. Only I’ll be in charge of the picnic basket next.”
This day was getting better by the minute. “Deal.”
The delight rushing through him came to a sudden halt as he remembered a prior obligation. He was supposed to meet the real estate agent and a potential buyer at the ranch. Funny how suddenly Trenton didn’t exactlywantto sell the property anymore. That was his irrational side talking though. The side that said things between he and Andie might just go somewhere.
Perhaps he was jumping the gun, selling his ranch so quickly. Couldn’t he put things on hold just in case?
Andie shifted suddenly, cozying closer beside him while reaching a hand over his lap. It took him a moment to realize she was searching for his. Quickly, Trenton slipped his hand against hers, enjoying the way her small silky fingers laced through his.
And as much as he liked the feel of her touch, and the feel of her so close beside him, as much as Trenton reveled in the fact that the two had yet another date the very next day, that rational side of him said he still couldn’t stay in Haven Hills.
It was time to put his past behind him once and for all. Trenton would go on the date, but he wouldn’t cancel the showing of his property. Instead, he’d have the agent show the place while he was gone. From there, fate would sweep in, take him away from The Homestead, and right into his future.
Chapter 13
Trenton could hardly get the grin off his face as he strode from the barn to the inn. It seemed no matter the chore at hand, he was musing on his time with Andie, past and future. It sure made the time spent in between fly by.
He tugged the brim of his hat as he passed a small group heading toward the barn. “We get to climb on the horse today,” he heard one child say to the other. Katie and Joe were back running the Little Broncos course, and a few others too. Good thing he and Andie had found other ways to spend time together. After their first two dates over the weekend, Trenton had asked her out for the very next day. And the day after that too. In fact, they’d had five wonderful dates in the last five days, and they had another planned that very night.
It was a pattern he planned to repeat as long as she said yes. Already, he was looking forward to nuzzling up beside her to watch the thriller movie Andie had talked about. That, after another picnic of course.
He’d come very close to kissing her a time or two, but he hadn’t done so yet. It wasn’t that the opportunity hadn’t presented itself. It had, but each time Trenton considered moving in at last, his conscience kicked in, reminding him that he didn’t plan to stay in Haven Hills.
Call him old fashioned, but he felt like there was more to a kiss than just a kiss. At least, it felt like that with Andie. It seemed that if he were to kiss her now, it’d be more of a promise. Or at very least, a declaration of intent. It would say that he planned to pursue a relationship with her. Something he couldn’t very well do if he moved away.
The trouble was, Trenton wasn’t willing to give up either pursuit.
He was just passing one of the fire pits out back when someone called his name.
“Hey, Trenton. Think we could get a little help over here?”
He glanced over to see both of Andie’s brothers balancing a long bench over their shoulders as they walked.
“We don’t need any help,” he heard Emmitt hiss.
“Sure, we do. Your shoulder’s bothering you,” Richard said.
Trenton gathered that he wasn’t supposed to have heard that part of their conversation as Richard spoke up again.
“Emmitt’s getting a cramp in his neck. Mind taking his end of the bench?”
“Not at all.” A knot of nerves built in his gut as he hurried over to take Emmitt’s place, shouldering the wooden bench for himself.
Emmitt stepped away and proceeded to rub at the side of his neck. “Thanks, man.” It sounded more sarcastic than sincere.
“Right over there,” Richard said, pointing toward a spot in the shade where a large toolbox rested.
As they approached the grassy area, Trenton could feel the topic they planned to address, heavy in the pine-scented air.
Emmitt shot his brother a pointed look. “Here’s good.”
Trenton followed Richard’s lead, spots of sunlight peeking through the limbs overhead as he hunched low, hoisted the bench off his shoulder, and set it on the ground.
“Betty said the handyman here is running ragged,” Richard explained. “We thought we’d take care of a few of these things ourselves.”
