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Her hard look practically bores a hole in me. “We have a night manager. So, you know what? You’ve been edgy since Leland arrived. What gives?”
“Nothing, I just need to go. It’s been a big week. I’m tired and just want to go, check on things and relax.”
She frowns. “I get it. I understand what you’re saying, but there’s something else. You’re tense and don’t tell me you’re not. What’s going on? Is it your ex? Has he contacted you?” She jumps up. “That’s it isn’t it. I swear just say the word and I’ll get Lawson to go after him and lock his rich ass up.”
“Dakota.” I grab her hand and pull her back down. “I just . . . Leland.”
“I was hoping you two were on the same page, and things were improving. C’mon, I can read you and I can sure pick up vibes and you two give them off in waves. And I swear those waves are huge. Big enough to surf on.”
I smile knowing she’s exaggerating, but her talking about waves being big enough to surf on makes me smile. How I thought I could ever keep a thing from this woman is beyond me. I sigh and drop my head into my hands. “We kissed.”
“That’s great.” She pauses. “Isn’t it?”
I look at her. “It’s not like anything’s changed, Dakota. We kissed and he still didn’t remember me.”
“Oh, Sarah. I’m sorry. It was a long time ago and . . .”
“The twenty bucks? No. I can’t. A man like that? You don’t know him that well either. And he’s your man’s best friend, but men can be good guys, that is to the women they make their own. Besides, Leland gets around. I’ve heard the rumors around town.”
“I’m pretty damned sure Lawson did too. And now he doesn’t even look at other women.” She gives a little laugh. “I’m sure he looks, but not with any thought about fucking them in his head.”
The confidence with which she says this rips little shreds into me. I agree with her. I can see that. But something like that isn’t in the cards for me. Not that I’m looking for that. No matter how much Leland takes up real estate in my brain.
“You’ve got a man who’s in love with you. Who cherishes you. Just drop this whole thing. Please, for me.” I get to my feet. “I’m going to get going. I just . . . I need an early night. And then we have a wedding to plan. Fall will be on us before long. We’ve got a lot to do.”
I hug her goodbye, make my way out to the yard, and to the drive where my truck is.
My step falters as I notice the man with the moonlight shining on him.
Leland’s leaning against my truck, thumbs in his jeans pockets, his button-down white shirt making him sexy instead of stuffy.
He’s all kinds of delicious no matter how I look at it.
“Now what’s your problem, Sarah? Leaving like this?”
“Are you stalking me?”
Leland shakes his dark head. “Just looking for some answers.”
“I don’t have any. Nothing’s changed between us.”
He sighs as I pull out my keys, but he doesn’t move. “If you’re looking for an apology for that kiss there isn’t one. I don’t regret it.”
“I do.”
“The only thing I regret,” he says straightening, “is that was it. I want more.”
His words sting me, and I raise my head. “Well, you’re out of luck ‘cause that’s all it’s going to continue to be.”
“You say that, but you keep looking at me like you want me. Talk about mixed signals. Hot for me one minute, cold the next.”
“I’m not giving out signals.”
“You probably don’t notice,” he says, closing the gap, “because you’re too busy running. But I see it.”
“Doesn’t that tell you something? Me running from you? Doesn’t that tell you I’m not interested?”
“The way your tongue was in my mouth, kissing me back says otherwise. Everything about you says otherwise. I know the difference between a woman who’s interested and one who isn’t. And you’re interested.”
