“I like the sound of her. An independent woman. I feel the same way when Kayn tries to fix everything for me with his money.” Ahri gave a soft laugh. “Though I confess that I’m glad he was in a financial position to help me move so fast, otherwise I could still be driving here in a moving van.”
Rafe just smiled but said nothing else. She decided she liked that about him. The idea of working outside in this beautiful spring weather and creating something that would grow appealed to her. There would also be fewer people than there were here.
“All right. I’ll give it a try,” Ahri said. “Be warned that I’ve never done much gardening, but I’m a fast learner.”
“Thank you. She said she’d be happy to pay you, but I wonder . . .” His words drifted off, and he shifted in his seat. Was he uncomfortable?
“Wonder what?” she asked, wary.
“Would you like to stay there for a few days?”
“Likelivethere?” When he nodded, she asked, “Why?”
“Because it’s a nut house here right now. As long as the creek don’t rise, we’ll settle down after the release in a couple of weeks.”
“Creek don’t rise?” Ahri was loving these quaint sayings, especially coming out of this handsome Harvard man who, except for his accent, sounded sophisticated. If she wasn’t careful, she’d pick up that southern drawl too.
“I’m sorry.” Rafe tossed up his hands. “The longer I’m back here, the more my youth comes out of my mouth.”
“Don’t stop on my account. I like it.”
“Do you?” He peered at her.
That funny thing happened in her stomach again. Rafe Davis had a way of looking at her in a thrilling but unsettling way. Did he use that in business meetings to cow any dissent? Not with employees, she was pretty sure. If those collaborative brainstorming meetings were any indication of how he ran this business, then it wouldn’t be his style.
“I do,” she said. “Now tell me more about me staying at your mother’s.”
“I thought, considering everything you’ve been through, that it might be good for you to spend some time somewhere normal, in a simple house with home-cooked meals and some good hard work to make you tired enough to sleep at night.”
Ahri looked down at her hands. Was it that obvious that she was having trouble sleeping?
“Does she have room if she’s running a B&B? I don’t want to take away from her income.”
“It’s a large house, and they keep a private guest room for when they have nonpaying company. Ma says you can stay there.”
Ma. He called his mother Ma. It sounded so down-to-earth.
“I thought it’d give you some quiet time, and it’ll force Kayn to take a break when he comes to see you.” Rafe gave a dark chuckle. “Having our apartments right here in the complex might save commuting time, but it’s almost impossible to get away from work. The four of us will be sure to come for dinner at Ma’s every Sunday until the launch, and then probably more often after that.”
“You think I’ll be stuck there for two weeks?” Rafe shot Ahri a look that made her realize how bad that had sounded, and she quickly added, “Not that I’ll bestuckthere. Sorry. That came out wrong. You’re saying I can help you and my brother by staying out of your hair and working for your mother for a couple of weeks.”
“Yes.” His words were simple and direct. “Though I wouldn’tcall it staying out of our hair. But you don’t have to decide now. Just think about it.” Rafe rose and looked about to walk away, but she took his hand. He went very still.
“I’ll do it. I’m already going a little stir crazy in that apartment. I like the idea of being busy with something useful.”
“Great,” he said, still not moving. “I’ll let Ma know.”
“When does she need me?”
“How about I take you when we all go over for dinner on Sunday? You can pack what you need and bring it with you.”
“Perfect.” She dropped his hand and instantly missed the warmth of his touch. Was that a sign of how lonely she was?
Ahri watched as he walked back toward his wing, rubbing the hand that she’d held. Curious.
6
RAFE MADE SURE TO ARRIVE early to his mother’s house on Sunday so he could help with the food prep. The guys had all decided to take their own cars anyway. Ezreal almost hadn’t come to dinner because Ahri would be there. Rafe had to assure him that he wouldn’t have to talk to her since they’d already been introduced at the ribbon cutting over a year ago.
