Page 31 of One Kind Soul

“Oh, don’t listen to Horse-and-Cat Guy.” Tessa grabbed her phone, tapped the screen, then handed the phone to Nicole. “Look at him.”

Nicole stared at the all-white puppy with a cute black nose and pink tongue. “Aww, he’s adorable. I can’t wait to meet him.” She handed the phone back then risked a look at Christian. Why did he have to fill that seat so wonderfully? What made it more tempting was she could easily picture him sitting there naked, all his muscles on display, because that was still fresh in her mind. “Don’t you like dogs?”

“I like dogs. I have horses and cats, but don’t have anything against dogs.” He pointed at Tessa. “Her dog, however, is like a hyperactive kid.”

“He is not.” Tessa reached her hand to the back and smacked Christian’s knee, making him laugh. The raspy sound made Nicole close her eyes for a minute as she recalled them laughing together last night. “He’s perfect.”

“If by perfect, you mean unhinged.”

“Take that back!” Tessa smacked his knee again and Nicole was a little jealous that her friend got to touch him.

“Hey, quit hitting me,” Christian said. “I’m injured over here.” And that made Nicole want to touch him again too.

“Well, stop saying mean things about Remi. He’s the sweetest baby.”

Christian turned his head toward Nicole. “Let me know how sweet you think Remi is when there is white fur stuck to every square inch of your clothes.” He gestured to her sweatshirt. “You’re going to regret that dark green. Just saying.”

His eyes, however, said, You’re going to regret not telling Tessa and Donovan about us.

If the effort it took her to keep her hands off him was any indication, he might be right.

****

Christian woke up alone the next morning in the loft apartment in his barn. He normally woke up alone, but he didn’t care for it today. Not when yesterday, he’d had Nicole next to him. Nicole and her fine ass.

What was she doing right now? Probably still sleeping. With both Donovan and Tessa out of work for the week, no one at his brother’s house had to get up early. Not like Christian who had a full day of house remodeling to do along with caring for the horses, chickens, and cats, as well as checking the inventory at the store. They didn’t have fresh produce yet, but Rada Ahmid, his store manager, had opened the store at the beginning of the month right after the last of the April snow melted. They had canned things to sell, maple syrup, a line of soy-based candles Rada made, and some baked goods, along with a few other locally made odds and ends. Customers straggled in now and then, but things didn’t get hopping in the store until the first fruits and veggies made their appearance. Christian hoped to have the house finished by then so he could focus solely on the farming and the orchard.

And the house wouldn’t get finished unless he hauled his ass out of bed right now. He threw the blankets back and swung his legs over the side of the bed. The barn was drafty and the May mornings could still be a little chilly so he reached for his socks right away. He inspected the stitches on his calf before pulling on his sock. Everything looked good there and he reminded himself to make an appointment with his regular doctor to have those stitches removed.

Standing, he stretched his arms over his head then pulled on a pair of faded jeans and a blue T-shirt. He used the bathroom then made his way over to the small kitchen to down a glass of orange juice and one of the muffins Rada had left him when she’d heard about what had happened in Boston. This quick breakfast was nothing like the one he’d shared with Nicole yesterday. True, the food hadn’t been much more—only bagels and coffee—but the company had been a huge improvement. Would he get to see Nicole again?

Of course he’d see her. They had the wedding and he was sure he’d be at his brother’s house before that, but they’d be pretending they hadn’t made each other pant with desire. He hadn’t known pretending would be so difficult. He’d barely survived the nearly four-hour drive to Vermont in the close confines of Tessa’s SUV yesterday. Weren’t SUVs supposed to be spacious? Tessa’s wasn’t. Nicole had been right there—so close, yet so far.

When Donovan had dropped Tessa and Nicole off at Donovan’s house, Christian had found it challenging not to pull Nicole in for a hug and a kiss before she left the driveway and followed Tessa into the house. She’d seem to feel the same because she’d lingered by him with her rolling suitcase, almost as if she were waiting for an opportunity.

That opportunity never came though because Donovan had ushered Christian to the front passenger side seat. “C’mon, man,” he’d said. “Let’s get you back to your place.”

Christian had saluted his brother and had given Nicole one last, longing look.

Which she’d returned before Tessa marched her into the house. He did have Nicole’s number though. They’d exchanged them during breakfast yesterday. They hadn’t discussed any rules about calling each other, but maybe he could run a test.

He picked up his phone from the counter and texted, How was your first night in Maplehaven? He would have preferred that she’d spent her first night in Vermont with him—in his bed—but at least she’d spent her first night in New England with him. That had to count for something.

Deciding to brush his teeth so it wouldn’t seem as if he were waiting around for a reply text, he made his way to the tiny bathroom in the loft. It would be great when he had a full-sized master bathroom in the farmhouse so he didn’t have to nearly bump his head every morning on the low doorways in this loft.

A loud neigh followed by some hoof stomping sounded below him. It would also be nice to have some space between him and his livestock. Not that he didn’t love his horses. He did. Completely. But living above them wasn’t always wonderful. Especially if he wanted to bring a woman by. Generally speaking, many women considered it a deal breaker if a guy’s place smelled like horse. Since moving onto the farm, he hadn’t actually had any women over, convincing them instead to invite him to their places where they had their fun.

Then they showed him where the door to The Friend Group was and he had no choice but to walk through it. He should prepare himself for this exact thing happening the next time he saw Nicole. Their meeting and hookup had been different than his usual meetings and hookups, but he could see this playing out in the same manner. Not given the chance to continue a physical relationship due to hiding their interest from Tessa and Donovan, Nicole would inevitably decide that being friends with Christian was preferred. Normally this would merely depress him. Because it was Nicole, however, it felt more . . . tragic. He definitely did not want to be only her friend.

Christian tidied the small bathroom and grabbed his phone on his way to the stairs leading to the lower level of the barn. He didn’t want to check the screen for a reply to his text yet, but he couldn’t help himself. As soon as he had his work boots on, he tapped the screen to wake the phone.

One message had come in.

Grinning like an idiot, he tapped on it.

My first night in Maplehaven was not as good as my first night in Boston.

A warmth settled in Christian’s chest. No vans tried to kill you? Three dots on his screen wavered as she composed a reply and he pictured her in Donovan’s guest room. Had she wished she’d awakened to him beside her?