She mimes zipping her lips as she rolls them inward, and I look over at Oakley as the same smirk graces his face while he makes our coffee.
Should have known I’d get shit from a simple coffee order.
Oakley hands me our coffees and meets my eye. “Any update on what you brought to my attention?” My eyes shift over to Willow to make sure he knows what I’m talking about. Rina hasn’t told me about anything happening at her place, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t.
“Nothing more, but I’m keeping my ears open. You’ll be the first to know if there’s a new development.”
“God, I hate it when you two talk in code. So annoying,” Willow grumbles as she walks by, and Oakley follows her with love-struck eyes.
And that’s my cue to leave.
I toss a ten on the counter and grab our coffees before leaving.
The drive to Rina’s house only takes about fifteen minutes, and when I pull into her driveway, I glance at her barn, seeing the main door wide open.
Climbing out, for the first time in a long time, my back doesn’t immediately lock up. One injection in, and I’m already seeing a difference. I don’t know why I waited so long.
Walking the long path, I hear a table saw as I get closer. I stop in the open doorway and watch her as she works.
Her usual leggings are wrapped around her long, toned legs. A long-sleeved Sam Houston National Park shirt covers her body, and safety glasses cover her gorgeous blue eyes. I’m transfixed observing her work. I don’t think I’ve ever had the pleasure of just watching her in action, and it’s incredible to witness. The way she confidently makes cutsand knows exactly how a stack of wood can turn into a beautiful piece of furniture is nothing short of impressive.
When she decided this was what she wanted to do with her life in high school, I couldn’t have imagined it would turn into the booming business it has. That’s not because she isn’t fully capable; she absolutely is. She just had a different plan back then.
I’ve always wanted a Rina Hutton piece, but it’s not something you ask your wife who doesn’t know you’re still married for. Plus, my house is not the place for something so meaningful; it’s basically a glorified bachelor pad. Her pieces deserve to be cherished and in a house filled with love.
“You just going to stand there like a creeper all day?” Rina’s voice jolts me out of my reverie, and I almost drop both our coffees.
I feel my cheeks heat as I clear my throat. “Sorry, I didn’t want to startle you.”
Smooth, real smooth, Steel. I internally roll my eyes at myself.
“Well, thank you for that. Is one of those for me?” She nods at the coffee in my hand.
“It is. I don’t know what you usually drink, but Oakley gave me your usual.”
She smirks. “I don’t have a usual.” Stepping forward, she grabs the drink intended for her and takes a sip. The moan after the sip damn near makes me audibly gulp. Maybe this was a bad idea. I’m not sure my body has gotten the message that we’re just friends, and going slow with everything at that.
I take a sip of my own drink just to give myself something to do. She’s so close to me I could just reach out and pull her to me, kiss the hell out of her before she knows what’s hit her. I want to do all of that and more,but I won’t because I’m not a total asshole. Probably still a small one, though.
“So, Sheriff, what brings you by? Just bringing me coffee out of the goodness of your heart?”
My cock twitches when she says Sheriff like that, and I didn’t know that was something that could get me going.
“Noticed you’ve been busy, so I thought I’d stop by and check in. That’s what friends do, right?” I’m honestly asking at this point because I don’t have a fucking clue. All I know is that I wanted to see her, so I made up a reason to.
“Normally, Ainsley just lets herself into my house and starts making me breakfast, but I don’t think the same thing can fly for you.” Her grin grows, and I look back and forth at her eyes.
Is she flirting with me?
It’s apparently been so long since I’ve flirted that I can’t even recognize it. A sad realization that reinforces my poor decisions from the past.
“I’ll … not be doing that,” I finally say. Would I love to eventually? Hell yes, but I’d also like to go to sleep with her at night and wake up with her every morning, so just bursting into her house doesn’t really feel like the end goal for me here.
“Would you like to sit down outside?” She barely hides her laugh.
Nodding, I follow her as she leads us out of a side door I never knew was here, to a small porch overlooking part of the stream on the outskirts of town. It’s gorgeous out here, and I can see why she wanted to live out here. It’s peaceful and hidden away.
Two rocking Adirondack chairs flank a small side table I assume she built. We both take a seat, and I start rocking without a thought.
