Chapter 2
McKenna
Havenwood, Georgia, is beautiful this time of year, but the view in front of me might very well be the reason I think so.
December here means alternating between cold nights and warm afternoons, which makes this afternoon’s free entertainment so perfect.
Who wouldn’t find a sweaty, shirtless farmhand with a perfect bubble butt attractive?
Add in that he’s slinging hay bales like they weigh nothing, and suddenly I wish I were in their place.
“Hello, Earth to McKenna.”
I jump at my best friend’s voice, nearly sloshing my sweet tea out of its glass in the process.
I’m curled up in one of the rocking chairs at River Haven Ranch.
From here, I have a perfect view of the gravel drive, the main barn, and—unfortunately for my self-control—Reece Taylor working in nothing but Wranglers and work boots.
My cheeks heat as I realize she may have caught me ogling her brother’s ass. Dear Lord, I hope those thoughts stayed internal. The last thing I need right now is to word vomit.
“How are you holding up?” she asks. “I know how much you love those kids.”
I nod, relieved that my best friend seems oblivious to where my thoughts were. “Surviving. I still have to call my mom, but I’m dreading it. How do I say ‘sorry, Mom. I’m having my own version of Home Alone instead’ without ruining her day?”
Jett plants her feet to stop her rocking chair and grabs my hand, her hazel eyes serious in a way that doesn’t match the usual mischief dancing there.
She’s adorable in her own pair of jeans and one of Noah’s union sweatshirts, her dark hair pulled into a messy bun that somehow looks effortless.
Classic Jett—chaos wrapped in cuteness. “I know! Stay here.”
An unladylike snort slips out before I can stop it. “Where? You and Slater’s loft? I love you guys, but those quarters are too tight. And, no offense, I don’t want to hear your lovey-dovey stuff at all hours.”
She humphs as she thinks. When her mouth twists into a mischievous smile, I know it can’t be good.
“Nope. No. Whatever it is, forget that idea.”
“Stay with Reece.”
“Do you want one of us murdered? Because that’s the only outcome of forcing us into that one-bed shack he calls a home.”
“Oh, come on. I mean, he only has the one bedroom now since he turned the guest room into some secret lair. Who locks a room when they live alone?”
“Anyone with a little sister who snoops through everything?”
She waves me off as my mind spins at her offer. This is by far her worst idea ever.
Never mind the fact I’d be more likely to jump his bones than murder him, and I’m desperately trying to behave myself.
I still don’t know how to feel about his overly-generous elf adventures.
The anger is gone, but we still need to talk about it.
My gaze drifts back to the man in question, and I am once again grateful for seventy-degree weather a week from Christmas.
Reece tosses another bale off the trailer as Jett’s boyfriend Noah stacks them.
Reece uses his forearm to wipe sweat from his face, putting his abs on display.
Years of farmwork built that body. A toned core mixed with his sun-kissed skin, the V that disappears into the waistline of his jeans, and forearms that turn coherent thoughts to mush are more than any mortal should have to bear.
“He can sleep on the couch,” Jett says with a shrug. Before I can stop her, she hollers across the gravel lot. “Yo, bubba! Kenna is crashing with you for Christmas. Cool? Cool.”
Noah nearly misses the hay bale Reece tosses down as he hides a laugh behind a cough, but it’s Reece’s face that freezes me in my tracks.
I figured he would lay into Jett about how terrible of an idea this was, that he would back me up. Instead, his green eyes rake over my body in the way he usually saves for behind closed doors.
“I told her it wasn’t a good idea,” I yell, unable to hold my tongue lest he think for some reason that I suggested it.
Sure, we’ve thrown the idea around a time or two, but we always end up at each other’s throats.
Our individual relationships with Jett aren’t worth risking. That’s the only thing we agree on.
Reece shocks all of us when he shrugs. “Just don’t touch my recliner,” he says before turning back to the hay.
I glance at Jett, unsure of what to say or do.
She looks pleasantly shocked. “Did my pain-in-the-rear big brother just agree with me?”
“I still think this is a bad idea.”
“No, it isn’t. Maybe you can’t go home for the holidays, but my best friend is not spending Christmas alone in a stuffy apartment.
You already said staying with me is out.
Leila and Drew are still adjusting to living together, with little Kaia waking them up multiple times a night.
I could always ask Kelsey, but she sneaks off to who knows where a few times a week. Noah might have a rental available.”
“No,” I sigh, pulling up my imaginary big girl panties and rolling back my shoulders. “I’ll do it. I’ll stay with Reece.” Jett squeals in excitement as I continue. “But fair warning, there may only be one of us standing come Christmas morning.”
“I’m not worried, McKenna. He may be grumpy most of the time, but he’s the furthest thing from a Grinch this time of year.”
Hmph.
Instead of hanging around the barn at the risk of being caught ogling my holiday host, I head into town to put some distance between us.
I tried using the excuse that I needed to drive home to get my bags, but Jett called me out on it. I was supposed to start the drive to Raleigh tonight, so my luggage is already in the trunk. Sometimes, being an overachiever is underwhelming.
I study the floor space in front of me, the “For Lease” sign still taped to the floor-to-ceiling arched window. If dreams were free, this would be the new home of Naughty Peach Athletics. Most of my clients are virtual, but I have always wanted to expand into in-person sessions.
I created NPA when I was a freshman in college. One of my electives was a sports medicine course where I took a deep dive into bettering one’s self.
My husband at the time—don’t ask—demanded I go to class and come straight home.
That course was my first silent rebellion.
It still took too long to get out from under his thumb.
It helped that I met a cute, brown-haired giant with green eyes and a weakness for my iced coffee habit.
Weeks of campus walks and whispered coffee shop talks later, I realized what was happening—and that I had to find a way out.
Then came the catch. He was my roommate’s brother.
He would have risked Jett’s wrath, but I couldn’t. Over the years, pushing him away has only gotten harder in the quiet moments.
Apparently, I spend too much time in my head, because a grumbly voice behind me nearly makes me drop my phone as I spin around. Not that I need to. The goosebumps and butterflies give him away before our eyes meet.
Damn. He looks nearly as good in a black V-neck as he does shirtless.
The veins in his arms do nothing to detract from their appeal as he crosses them over his chest like my boss did earlier.
Except when Reece does it, my eyes can’t help but follow every movement.
When the fabric of his shirt pulls across muscles he usually hides, I know he’s doing it for my benefit.
I scoff and turn back to the window. “What do you want, Reece?”
“Now, is that any way to talk to your new roomie?” he asks, that stupidly attractive smirk of his reflecting back at me in the glass.
“Not funny.”
“It’s a little funny,” he says, pinching his fingers together. Damn if my lips don’t twitch at the sight.
“So, what? You’re stalking me around Havenwood now?” I ask, confused as to why he’s here in the first place.
“Actually, I was heading to pick up some chicken wraps and fries from Riley’s since my new house guest can’t eat the shrimp alfredo I’d planned for dinner.”
“You didn’t have to do that,” I whisper, finally turning to look at him.
“No, but if a shellfish allergy takes you out, who will I torment then?” He chuckles, his arms spread open.
I shove the arm closest to me. “I mean it, Reece.” The heavy sigh that escapes nearly drags the day’s emotions with it, but I refuse to fall apart.
Not right here on the main sidewalk in Havenwood.
Small towns talk. The last thing I need is the ladies’ bingo group to start rumors about me.
I pinch the bridge of my nose and wish for strength. “Why?”
“Why what?”
“You know what I mean.” I laugh, but the sound is weak. “Why did you drive all the way to Steele Valley with wrapped gifts for twenty toddlers? Why did you agree to let me crash with you? You didn’t even blink when Jett offered your place to me, and it’s not like you have extra room.”
“Last I heard, you were heading to your parents’ house for the holidays.
Then suddenly, you show up with tear-streaked cheeks and this weight on your shoulders that I’ve never seen before.
” He steps closer, his fingers brushing back a lock of hair until his breath tickles my ear.
“Besides,” he whispers, “no one deserves to spend the holidays alone.”
Just as his lips brush against my skin, I feel a light tug before oxygen rushes back to my lungs.
“See you later, blue eyes,” he taunts, and I realize the tug I felt was Reece stealing the green clip-in bow from my hair.
“Reece! What are you, five?”
He backs away toward the local eatery with far too much pep in his step. “Thirty-five, but thanks for asking!” he shouts, and before I can say anything else, he slips through the door to Riley’s.