“Sit down,” he says immediately.
“I’m fine.”
“Your ankle looks like shit.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“You’re still beautiful. Your ankle, though…”
Warmth spreads through my body.Gavin Holt just called me beautiful.“A busted ankle won’t keep me from being a good hostess, and we both need to eat.”
His eyes move to my ankle. “I’m not letting you stand on that. No way.”
I sigh. “You’re going to be very bossy about this, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
Raider lifts his head like he approves of that answer.
I sit and lean back in the chair. “Fine. There’s leftover garden vegetable soup in the fridge.”
Gavin opens the refrigerator and pulls the container out and sets it on the counter. “You grow everything in this?”
“Yep.”
“Impressive.”
“Thank you.”
He heats the soup on the stove while I watch from the table. The kitchen fills with the smell of tomatoes, herbs, and garlic. Gavin moves easily around the small space, like he has been here before. He finds bowls without asking and grabs two spoons from the drawer.
A girl could get used to this…
He places a bowl in front of me and tells me to eat. So, I do. The soup is warm and comforting after the long evening.
He sits across from me and takes a spoonful of his own. For a few minutes we eat quietly. Raider sighs from the rug.
I glance at Gavin.
“So… you’ve been coming to my booth at the farmer’s market for nearly a year.”
His eyes meet mine. “Every week for just over eight months.”
“That’s a lot of eggs.”
“I eat a lot of eggs.”
“Other venders sell eggs, too.”
He shrugs. “Yours are the best.”
“I’ll be sure to tell the chickens you think so.” I take a deep breath. “I always wondered why you never really talked to me.”
“I’m not great at small talk. Never have been.”
I study him across the table. “Who made the report tonight? About my truck.”
He sets his spoon down. “No one. I saw your truck, and I recognized your farm logo on the side. So, I went to look for you.”
