Page 39 of Breathe Me In

“Sec,” she called, and I began to heat up, not sure where this was going. “I need your help tomorrow around twelve thirty.”

“Surrre.” The word fizzled away when she came back dressed in a PJ set of a silk shirt and shorts. “Is that your date outfit?” I rubbed my hot hands on my thighs and shamelessly let my eyes roam all over her.

“Yes, it is.” She smiled, then headed for the door and held it open for me to leave. “Good night, Brad, and remember, if you’re late, I still know how to unlock your bedroom window and get to you.”

I stood in front of her and kissed her cheek, lingering there for a moment. I had to force my hands to stay at my sides when all I wanted to do was grab hold of her, press my body into hers, and ravish her. But that whole thing about us being coworkers was hard to navigate . . . so I’d behave, at least for a bit. “Good to know. Night, Bree.” I kissed her one more time just to witness the sprinkle of pink go across her chest, then with a light chuckle, I headed out into the wet night. I needed a cold shower after that.

Mornings on a farm came way too early. When the sun was up, you were up. Farm life waited for no one. Just as the morning light peeked over the Cedar Creek Ranch across the lake, my boots touched down on the dirt and I called to Ginger to follow. She bounded after me with a big old smile. We crossed the property to where I had stacked the pine boards. I tossed my hoodie onto a hay bale in case I needed it later. The temperature often took a drop at that time of year without warning.

Ginger loved being out here even more than at my place in town. I knew she was spoiled rotten, mostly thanks to my father. She was rarely alone and always had someone or some other animal for company. Here she had all the space in the world to run free and swim. Her best friend, Finley, the Jaminsons’ border collie, lived at the ranch, and the two were often spotted swimming around the dock. I grabbed a stick and tossed it into the air. “Go get it, girl!” She raced off to find it.

With my tool belt in place, I grabbed a piece of board and began to nail it to another. The old fence needed a lot of boards replaced, and the physical labor felt good. It was just what I needed. Maybe it was because I didn’t get as much action in my job as I used to, or maybe it was because I’d been a little pent up lately.

I worked away until my muscles screamed at me to stop, and I knew I needed a break and some water. It felt so good. I leaned back against a tree and listened to the world wake up around me. It did wonders for the head.

A short while later, Dad walked into my line of vision and helped hold a board in place, then he gave Ginger a pat on the head. “Morning, girl.”

“We’re out of lumber.” I swung the hammer and smacked the nail into place. “You want me to go pick up some more?”

“I have a few things to grab—I’ll head in.” He stepped back and admired my job. “Looks really good, Son.” His smile showed below his cowboy hat as he handed me a fresh bottle of water Mom must have sent out with him. “How’s it going?” He jerked his chin toward the ranch as I downed the water, gaining myself a moment to think. “Must be strange having her back in town.”

“Yeah” was all I offered.

“Heard you, Sherry, and Bree had dinner the other night.” He looked away as I looked at him, confused about how he knew. “Bree told Nina, who told your mother.”

“Christ.” I chuckled at the phone tree of gossip. “It was awkward,” I admitted. Dad and I were close, and I’d leaned heavily on him for advice during the divorce. “I don’t know.” I mopped my face and let the cool breeze pass over me. “Bree’s back in town, and now suddenly Sherry seems to want to talk.” I looked away, knowing I still didn’t have my head 100 percent in the game, but it was straight-ish. If I wanted a relationship with Bree, it had to be handled carefully, no matter how badly I wanted her.

“And?” Dad prompted.

“And nothing. We’re done. Sherry’s always wanted what she can’t have.”

Dad’s face twisted, and he looked over at the lake. He went to say something but seemed to change his mind and coughed. “You and Sherry were together a long time. You have history. But like you said back when you divorced, you weren’t happy in your marriage.”

“No, I wasn’t.” I shook my head and let out a long, heavy breath, hoping to shed some tension.

He leaned against the fence next to me. “So, what’s on your mind? You seem to be struggling with something. Is it Sherry?”

“It’s not about Sherry. She just feels threatened now Bree’s back. She was always jealous of my friendship with Bree. I’m struggling with the fact that old feelings are surfacing for Bree. I think she’s always been the one I wanted. I just don’t know if it’s too late to act on them now. I’ve pushed her away so many times.” I dropped my head and closed my eyes. “When I married Sherry, I thought it was what I needed, but now I know that wasn’t the case. I just don’t want to mess up.” I let out a heavy sigh, feeling drained. “Man, life’s timing is interesting, isn’t it?”

The wood creaked when he pushed off the fence. “It is.”

“If you were me, Dad, what would you do?”

Dad removed his hat and ran his hand along the brim. “Son, you have some healing you need to do before you let your heart decide on anything. But only you can decide if you’re ready to try again.” He swatted his leg with his hat. “Just remember what the two of you have been through. That girl’s gone and created another life for herself elsewhere. She might not be willing to give that up.”

“Yeah, I know. It’s one of the things I’m worried about.” I huffed as I swatted at a horsefly. We began to slowly walk back toward his pickup truck.

“At the risk of overstepping.” He jammed his hat on his head and opened the driver’s door. He laughed as Ginger didn’t miss a beat and jumped in and settled on the front seat with a big, jerky, tongue-lolling grin. “Just don’t let Sherry wiggle her way back in. We both know she’s good at getting what she wants.” He was right. Sherry had a side of her that could be vindictive at times, and her best friend, Anna, was worse. “It’s your life, and it’s okay not to know what the right call is right away.”

“Yeah.” I hit my glove on his open window as he started the truck. “Thanks, Dad.”

“Anytime.” He patted Ginger’s head, then headed out toward town.

I put my tools away and checked the time. I had forty-five minutes before I needed to meet Bree. I eased myself down onto a pile of hay bales, tucked my arms under my head, and stared up at the gloomy gray sky. It wasn’t long before I drifted off to sleep.

Hot, wet air shot across my face, and my eyes jerked open as a big soft white nose touched my cheek, then flared its nostrils at me.

“Rise and shine, cowboy.” Bree smiled down at me from her saddle. “Hope you stretched, because you and I got a job to do.” I stood and blinked away the fog as I registered the rope in her hand. She led another, fully tacked horse.