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“Not necessary. I can sleep right here.” His mother patted the sofa she was seated on.
“That thing is hard as a rock. I know.” Wes clutched his back as he remembered the last time he’d crammed his long frame onto the uncomfortable pull-out sofa.
“I’m half a foot shorter than you, so I think I’ll be all right.” She held up her open hand when Wes objected. “This is my compromise. Take it or leave it.”
“Fine.” Wes blew out an exasperated breath. “But don’t complain when your back muscles are as stiff as bricks.”
“Deal.” She indicated that he should kiss her on the cheek.
He did, then sat beside her, draping an arm over her shoulder. “You’ve eaten and Dallas will be here shortly. This is a good time for me to take Bree back to Pleasure Cove.”
“What a shame.” His mother frowned. “I was hoping she’d be here to see the finished result of her idea. Besides, I could use her help decorating the new room.”
“Bree’s a busy woman. She doesn’t have time to hang out here and play interior decorator.” Wesley’s shoulders tensed.
“Actually, since the rest of our trip is canceled, I don’t have anything planned for the next couple of days.” Bree smiled at his mother, her eyes not meeting his. “I’d love to help.”
Wes turned to his mother, who was as excited as a kid at Christmas. If it made his mom happy and Bree didn’t object, why should he?
They’d shared a bed for two nights. Surely he could deal with her being at his mother’s house for two days.
“You sure about this?” Wes gave Bree one last out.
“Positive.” Bree grinned. “This will be fun.”
Between his mother and Bree, Wes didn’t stand a chance.
CHAPTER 15
Lena Adams was an indomitable spitfire who wouldn’t allow minor inconveniences like a fractured ankle or a sprained wrist to keep her from cooking a full meal for her guests. Bree was sure that if she hadn’t insisted on helping the woman, Lena would’ve soldiered through the entire process herself.
She admired Lena’s drive and determination, traits her son had obviously inherited.
In the course of an afternoon helping Lena prepare a three-course meal, Bree had doubled her cooking repertoire.
Bree stole another glance out of the kitchen window at Wes working in his mother’s backyard. It was the end of winter, yet the North Carolina sunshine beat down overhead, making the already mild temperature feel considerably warmer. Wes had stripped off his T-shirt. The deep brown skin of his bare back and chest glistened with sweat. His black athletic shorts hung low on his hips.
Bree swallowed hard, then sunk her teeth into her lower lip. Her cheeks warmed and a sudden burst of heat crept down her torso and sank low in her belly.
Lena chuckled.
Shaken from her temporary haze, Bree returned to her work of dicing more potatoes for the potato salad.
“Business associates, eh?” The woman could hardly hold back her laughter. “Is that what they’re calling it these days?”
Bree froze for a moment, unsure how to answer her.
“Don’t know whether you two are trying to pull the wool over my eyes or your own, but in either case, it ain’t working.”
“I hate to disappoint you, Ms. Lena.” Bree emptied the rest of the diced potatoes in a pot of water on the stove, then washed her hands. “But we really are business associates and friends.”
“I hope that isn’t true.” Lena had a sad smile as she poured two icy glasses of syrupy sweet tea. She handed them to Bree. “It’s obvious to anyone with one eye and half a brain that you two are into each other.”
“Wes isn’t looking for a relationship. He’s made that abundantly clear.” Bree’s gaze drifted back to Wes outside. “Neither am I.”
“Sometimes we don’t know what we want until the situation presents itself.” Lena nodded toward Wes. “My boys mean everything to me. But before Wes came along, I was set on a very different life. One that didn’t include children or a stable home. I was terribly wrong because being their mother is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
