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“They are.”
Her father was well down the row by now, his head bent over Eileen’s note, which left Kate and Wes alone beneath the tree. She was still far too aware of him.
The handshake had been bad enough. Now she noticed the few inches between his shoulder and hers, and the way his eyes seemed to stay on her a little longer than they needed to.
“How long are you staying?” Wes asked.
“A little under two weeks. Penny has preschool, and I have work waiting for me at home, so we can’t stay indefinitely.”
He nodded, but his gaze stayed on hers for another second before he looked away.
Was he disappointed by the answer? She was surprised by how much she hoped he was. A little under two weeks wasn’t long. She and Penny had a life waiting at home. So why did she care whether a man she’d met that morning wanted her to stay?
Alan came back toward them, folding Eileen’s note as he walked. “I think that’s enough education for one morning. If I keep going, I’m going to start believing I know what I’m doing.”
“You’re getting there,” Wes said.
“I’ll take that.” Alan tucked the note into his pocket. “Come inside for coffee. I’m sure I can rustle up a slice of Janice’s apple pie as a thank-you for all the free advice.”
“That is tempting,” Wes said, “but I really do need to get that tractor running. The part is still sitting in my truck.”
“Are you sure? The pie is very good.”
“I know. That’s what makes saying no difficult.” Wes glanced at Kate before turning back to Alan. “Rain check?”
“Absolutely. I’ll make sure Janice saves you some.”
They walked back toward the packing shed together. Wes’s truck was parked beside it, and Kate spotted the box on the passenger seat through the window.
Wes opened the driver’s door, then paused. “I’ll see you both later.”
“Thanks again,” Alan said.
“Good luck with the tractor,” Kate said.
“Hopefully it behaves.” He climbed in and started the engine.
Kate stood beside her father as Wes backed away from the shed and turned down the drive. She watched the truck until it disappeared between the trees.
When she finally looked away, Alan was watching her.
Kate ignored the look. “Coffee?”
“Sounds good.”
They started toward the farmhouse.
Alan waited until they had gone several yards before he said, “So, what do you think of our neighbor?”
Kate took her time answering. Alan did not need to know about the handshake, or the awareness she had of Wes whenever he came close, or the fact that she had just watched his truck disappear as if she had been hoping he might change his mind and stay.
“I like him,” she said carefully.
And if she was being honest with herself, she liked him a lot.
CHAPTER 4
Wes
