“What time for the meeting?” I asked after finishing.
“One-thirty.”
Sighing, I nodded, waiting to see what she’d do. When she remained where she was, I was forced to realize the awkwardness between us had everything to do with her family. “You know, we could go out on a real date some time.”
She laughed softly, the sound fighting with the common sense of knowing I needed to leave so as to not make her family life any more difficult than it already was.
“Yeah, we could. I just need to figure out if this crazy plan is a possibility. Then I can free some time.”
Nodding, I took a few seconds, still wishing I knew the right thing to say to her. “I get it. But I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon. Maybe we can grab a cup of coffee or a drink afterwards. I mean, I need to provide you a list of names of the guys I talked to. I’ll put it together with their contact information.”
“I’d like that. Then maybe you can steer me in the right path of hiring photographers. Then there’s the artwork that needs to be designed for social media. I’ll need to contact the local radio and television stations and…”
“Breathe, Palomino Girl. I won’t allow you to do this all by yourself.”
Her expression of relief grabbed at my very soul.
“I need all the help I can get.”
My cock ached all over again as she shifted a strand of hair behind her ear.
Another hesitation and it was all I could do not to scoop her into my arms. Why in the hell was I now tongue tied?
“Good.” My fucking God. My hands were clammy. It was like I was in my twenties all over again. With a snort, I headed down the ladder, grabbing my shirt, yanking it on as I walked to the barn door.
Just before I walked outside, I tipped my head toward the loft.
She wasn’t watching.
CHAPTER 26
Kenzie
Men.
A laugh immediately bubbled to the surface and for some crazy reason, I stifled the sound. Maybe because my brother had interfered with some of the best sex I’d ever had. Well, at least the afterglow. I sat down in the chair, thumping forward so my head was in my hands.
Why were discussions so difficult with Axe? Yes, he’d always been the loner type. So much so that with his ‘bad guy’ image, there were teachers who’d called him a remake of James Dean. I’d been forced to search the internet to find out who the hell they were talking about.
Short of the cigarettes and slicked-back hair, the depiction was close.
Only those around him didn’t know the sensitive side of him, the one he’d only shown me. Not in ways of reading poetry to meor singing lyrics to some crushing love song, but in the way he’d looked at me, his expression soulful and haunted.
That was perhaps the very reason I’d… fallen in love with him all those years ago. Why had it taken me so long to admit? I was madly in love with the man and had been for years. And I’d acted like some little girl.
Oh, I was so frustrated. Maybe my sudden loss for words, which wasn’t usually like me, had everything to do with Wade just dropping by. That wasn’t usual for him. My brother just wanted to snoop. Undoubtedly, my father had mentioned our terse conversations.
“Oh, what are you doing?” I flopped back against the chair, staring up at the ceiling. I honestly had no idea if I had a plan. At least regarding the sexy man.
Why were images of Axe’s naked body flashing through my mind at rollercoaster speed? Another laugh was strangled and I pounded my feet on the floor. When I opened my eyes again, I stared at the laptop. At least I could try to put that great plan together tonight.
Just before I stood, resigned to spend the night alone, I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. What was that? I crept closer, crouching down. Oh, no. It had to be Axe’s wallet. While standing, I opened it to make sure it didn’t belong to one of the ranchers.
There was his driver’s license.
Unable to help myself, I flipped through the contents, shocked when I found an old picture neatly tucked away in a plastic sleeve.
The photograph had been taken years before. One of my senior high school yearbook photos. I’d be damned if I wasn’t standing in front of the same tree where I’d shared the kiss with Axe.
