“Yes. It will.”
Her confidence was heartening. “I have to ask a favor. Since I’m trying to lie low...”
“You don’t want to flood our little town with lookie-loos. You just show up and let us hear your pretty voice and we’ll let the local news mill do its thing.” She lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “I might make some pointed hints so people’ll want to stop by just in case.”
After we hashed out some details, I disconnected. Smiling, I picked out the song I’d written for Jonah and Summer’s wedding and gazed at the trees and the way the land dipped into the valley.
I had something to look forward to other than seeing the girls and Rhys every Sunday.
I looked forward to seeing the girls tomorrow. Would I see Rhys after that second kiss? Would he come to the performance in the park?
He hadn’t seen me play any shows. He’d admitted to spying on my social media, but other than the rookie appearances I’d done around town, he hadn’t seen a real show. I used to dream about looking out from the stage and seeing him. I used to fantasize that I’d finish my show and run right into his arms.
It’s too hard to let you go, and I will let you go, June. Don’t doubt me on that.
I flubbed a note.
Letting out a frustrated growl, I put the guitar down.
I didn’t need him, and where my career was concerned, I couldn’t count on him. I’d done everything on my own and it would stay that way.
Rhys
I paced inside the shop. The big door was open. June was in the house with the girls for their weekly lesson. Next week would be the last week until the kids were back from Wren’s. They were already asking when they could restart. They swore Wren would let them practiceat her house, but I couldn’t bring myself to give them a response. A yes would mean June was still interacting with my family. I’d hear about it. A no would mean she was done. For good. Unless her car broke down somewhere between my house and town. Until she left for good. Again.
. . . you should probably stop kissing me.
She’d been right. I was the one who’d initiated lip-to-lip contact both times. I was the one who couldn’t keep his hands off her. She might’ve gotten close, but I’d had more control over myself as a kid.
As a kid, she’d been mine.
I rubbed the back of my neck and walked from the barn to the house. Goldie trotted next to me. The dog was in love with June too. She waited by the door when June’s car pulled up and got pets and baby talk.
I was jealous of a damn dog.
A knot next to one of my shoulder blades thrummed with my heartbeat. Maybe I needed a massage.
I’d never gotten a massage in my life.
Just as I crested the drive, June emerged from the back door, her guitar case slung over her shoulder. Would she ignore me? Give me a glare or a cool stare?
When she saw me, a saucy smirk curved those pretty pink lips. “Decide to risk getting within a hundred yards of me?”
The tension defused, leaving behind sheepishness. A hundred yards was too fucking far away. “I can yell at you from the barn instead. I’ve got a pair in there that keeps trying to die on me.”
Concern filled her face. “The mama or the calf?”
“Both. Treated the mama first, then she wouldn’t let her bull calf drink.”
“Did you give her a nice teat massage?” June asked, her tone deceptively innocent.
My body’s reaction to her question was not. Her creamy breasts flashed through my mind instead of an engorged udder. “As a matter of fact, I did. The heifers around here are not appreciative of my teat massages.”
She nodded knowingly. “They might be used to you trying to kiss them.”
“I can one hundred and infinity percent control myself around a cow.”
She looked at me from under her lashes. “It’s around me you can’t?”
