AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“My grandfather had—”
“Enough.”
He hadn’t meant to yell, but damn it, he wasn’t going to be analyzed. Not by his brothers and sure as hell not by this stranger he was more attracted to than he should be.
Hayes was well aware what he suffered from and giving it a label wasn’t going to fix the issue. At some point, he’d have to go talk to someone, to bare his soul and give up all the demons in his mind that he’d lived with for years.
The electricity flickered once more, but remained on. Hayes continued to stare out into the yard where it stretched to the river. Puddles were forming in the grass and the waters in the river rolled quicker than usual. They were in for a hell of a storm and Alexa wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
“Why don’t you get flashlights,” she suggested. “We better be prepared for the worst.”
Prepared? He nearly laughed. He knew full well that there was no preparation for Alexa of the raven hair and mouthy chatter. She’d hit the nail on the head when she’d thrown out PTSD. Little did she know, others had tried to heal him and had failed.
What made her think she could come in here after knowing him only hours when his brothers who’d known him his entire life hadn’t been able to get anywhere? Alexa might be the sexiest woman he’d ever seen, she might have a smart mouth, but she wasn’t going to do any psychoanalyzing. If she wanted to do anything regarding this sexual tension, he’d be totally on board with that.
This was going to be a long, long night.
CHAPTER FIVE
Well, clearly the topic of PTSD was off the table. Alexa wouldn’t make the mistake of bringing that up again. The man knew he had it—just as she knew. What level of hell did he live in on a daily basis? Did he just battle all of this on his own?
Alexa didn’t know his brothers. Well, she’d seen Beau Elliott in movies, but that didn’t necessarily count. From the way Hayes spoke about the others, he had a support system right here. Was he not ready to reach out? Perhaps he was too proud?
When her sister had passed, Alexa’s father had a difficult time accepting help from others. But then he’d realized that was the only way he’d be able to move on and heal not only himself, but also his family.
“Tell me about your movie-star brother,” she tossed out.
Hayes let out a humorless laugh. “You really know which subjects to hone in on to get on my bad side.”
“Then maybe you should get me a list of safe things to discuss because I’ve yet to see a good side.”
The glare he shot her suggested she should keep quiet, and that grouchy demeanor might work on some, but not her. She wasn’t worried.
“Maybe we should try to get along during this storm and skip the getting-to-know-you portion of the night,” he growled.
She thought about that for a second, but opted to ignore his request.
“I’d rather play the game,” she countered. “I mean, I am wearing your clothes and it doesn’t look like I’m going anywhere anytime soon.”
Hayes shook his head, clearly not on board. “How about we get flashlights and candles? Then maybe I’ll tell you about my renovations.”
She pursed her lips and tipped her head to the side. “Sounds like a good idea to me. I can give you some tips.”
“Did I ask for tips?” he countered. Alexa crossed the room and patted his cheek. “Consider it my payment for your Southern hospitality.”
“I didn’t have a choice,” he muttered beneath his breath.
“Sure you did, but you chose to push your moodiness aside and step up as a gentleman.”
Those dark eyes traveled over her. “I’m always a gentleman, Lex.”
Something shifted inside her. “Don’t call me that.”
Scott had always used that as his nickname for her and no one had called her Lex in two years.
Hayes’s dark eyes landed on hers. “Fine. Alexa.”
The way her name slid through his lips as he drawled it out made her think of skin to skin and promising nights. However, there would be neither skin on skin nor a passion-filled night.
“Let’s start in the bedroom.”
She blinked, then smiled. “Lead the way, cowboy.”
Hayes did move, but not to lead the way. He leaned in and came within an inch of her. So close, his warm breath tickled the side of her face.
“And for the record, don’t pat me like a little boy again.”
Swallowing hard, she eased her face back just slightly to look him dead in the eyes. “Believe me, Hayes, I definitely don’t see you as a little boy.”
* * *
He wasn’t sure what was more nerve-wracking, the fact she followed so close behind as he led the way up to the second floor, or the way she’d volleyed that sexual tension back in his face.
“Do we need to do anything for your horses?”
Hayes reached the landing and turned to face her. “They’re all right. I have hay and feed in the barn. They’re just as comfortable as they’d be down in Colt’s stable.”
Alexa glanced around the second story and then down over the first floor. The balcony-style hallway allowed for a beautiful view with the window behind overlooking the property and the family room below.
