Page 24 of A Simple Love

She did, leaning forward. “Terrible. Such a nice girl to have that happen.”

Once again, I felt anxiety growing, but I shoved it down and nodded. “Terrible.”

She sighed. “She left here brokenhearted and came back with her spirit gone.” She paused with a frown. “I’m not sure what was worse.”

I took my bag, backing away to end the conversation. “Well, she’s home now.” Then I deftly changed the subject. “I think Timmy will be getting an email about the extra gig.”

“Oh, lovely! Thank you, dear boy!”

I smiled and hurried away, wondering what would happen if she recalled I was the one who’d broken Kassie’s heart. I doubted I’d be as welcome.

I drove to the house, parking outside.

“What happened to you, Kassie?” I murmured, wondering how to ask her and knowing I had no right to do so.

It didn’t stop me from wanting to, though.

I was in the kitchen when I heard some odd noises from the backyard. I glanced out, seeing Kassie bent over a lawn mower, trying to get it started and failing.

I hurried downstairs and went into the backyard. The gate squeaked as I opened it, and she looked up, then went back to her attempts at starting the machine.

I joined her, waiting for her to acknowledge me. She gave up, standing and passing a hand over her forehead. She’d changed into a T-shirt with her jeans, and her hair was piled up on her head, pieces escaping all over, making her look cute as well as sexy.

“I think you need gas.”

“I just filled it.”

“A block in the line, then. Lemme look at it.”

She put a hand on her hip. “I somehow doubt you cut your own grass, superstar.”

Her tone made me laugh. It was almost teasing, not angry like the other day.

“Not lately, I admit. I have no grass. With the droughts in California, they encourage rocks and cacti more than grass. But I cut a lot of lawns in my time.” I bent down and checked the line and added air into the system. Then I stood and pulled on the starter, the sound of the engine firing up filling me with satisfaction. “Still got it.”

“Thanks.”

“Let me.”

“Let you what?”

“Cut the grass.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“I want to. I was gonna go for a run, but my legs are a bit sore from being on a horse after so long, so this will give me some exercise and stretch the muscles.”

She bit her lip, and without thinking, I tapped the lower one. “Stop overthinking. Let me cut the damn lawn.”

She hesitated, and I decided to bargain with her. Why it was so important for her to let me cut her damn grass, I had no idea, but it was. “You can bake me more pies.”

“Oh. You really liked it?”

“Loved it.”

“How about…” She paused, then swallowed, looking nervous. “How about I make us dinner? You said you wanted a burger the other day?”

I stuck out my hand. “That includes pie, right?”