8. Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Kora
T he truck looked much better on the inside than the outside. The seats were leather and didn’t look anywhere near the age the truck had to be. There were no bells and whistles, and the windows even had manual cranks, but the radio was new. At least Kai had good sense when it came to music. “So, I know you came to Orlinda Valley because of work, but what made you settle here instead of somewhere else? There’s a lot of small towns around if that’s all you were looking for.”
“I don’t know. Being close to the interstate helped. Makes getting to work easier. And like I said, I love the openness, and the river is a major plus. I love kayaking and would love to start fishing.” He glanced quickly at me and shrugged before getting his eyes back on the road. “I always dreamed of the quiet and peacefulness of a small town.”
“Well, you’ll get the peacefulness here, but quiet will all depend on what time of year it is and where you live. During baseball season, if you live near the city park, the noise and traffic of little league parents gets a bit much. If you live near the school, basketball season and football season are a racket.” I pointed to the next right. “Turn right here.”
We passed the school on the left. “This parking becomes packed to overflowing during football games. The entire town comes out on a Friday night. Football’s a big thing.”
Kai glanced out his window. “The parking lot and field look like they take up more space than the entire school.”
“Well, you know. Orlinda Valley’s got their priorities straight. Turn left here.”
He hit the brakes hard, and I braced myself on the front.
“Sorry about that, but a little more warning would be nice,” Kai said.
“Well, here’s a warning. Slow down. The road is windy and bumpy, as you should remember.” I gestured as we passed a stretch of road. Was it just last week I met him? Doesn’t matter.
“The place we met.” He slowed down a bit. “I guess I need to watch out for tire-eating potholes.”
“Yeah, you do.” I smiled at him without meaning to.
“You should do that more often.”
I scrunched my face. What was he talking about? “What should I do more often?”
“Smile.”
“I smile a lot.” I sat up straight and scrunched my face up again. How could he say that? I always smile.
“Nope. You don’t. Not for me at least. That scowl.” He gestured with his head. “That’s what I usually see.”
I narrowed my eyes as he focused back on the road. I’ve never been told that before. Maybe it’s the company. I really wanted to say that to him, but instead I faced forward and crossed my arms. “My house will be on the right about a mile up.” I shot a quick glance in his direction. He focused hard on the road and had a concentrated squint going on which caused that scar under his eye to crease. “Answer something for me.”
“I’ll try.” His concentration was still on the road.
“How’d you get that scar?”
He glanced quickly at me, and the corner of his mouth turned up. “Why, you think it’s sexy?”
My eyes popped and I chuckled. “Have you been told it’s sexy? Turn here. My driveway.”
He slammed on the brakes—again—and caused my face to almost meet the dash. “Careful!”
“Sorry. Again, your directions,” he answered as he turned the truck into the driveway and the gravel crunched under his tires. “It doesn’t matter what I’ve been told. It matters what you think.”
Why are all cute men egotistical idiots? Don’t they know it takes away from their cuteness? “We just met. It matters not what I think.”
“Now you sound like Yoda.”
“I was trying for Shakespeare.”
He glanced at me with a slight chuckle, then parked in front of the garage. He climbed out, and his gaze took in his surroundings. “How much of this is yours? It’s awesome.”
I tried to see my land from his eyes, or what I could make out in the glow of his headlights. My house was small. Just nine hundred square feet, yet cute. So cute—at least I thought so. It was an older brick ranch with a concrete patio. The patio was surrounded with bushes and pots which would be filled with flowers soon. Even though I couldn’t see it well, the goat house and chicken coop were out in the pasture. I love my place. It’s mine, and it’s home.
“The house, right here”—I pointed to the left—“is mine. It’s small but perfect. It used to be Tonya’s guest house. Her house is over there.” I pointed toward a tree line. “You can barely make out the outline of her house through the tree line during the day. She had twenty acres, but when my father moved to Florida last year and sold our house, she sold me this five acres and the guest house. I added that small barn and the fence. I have three goats and ten chickens, and a small garden. The shed we passed up by the road is my roadside stand where I sell eggs when I can, and extra veggies in the summer. It’s not a lot, but it’s mine and I love it.”
I led him to the pasture. “She promised the boys land, but Bryson declined. He and Darlene enjoy being closer to town, and Jamison is building on the other side of her. Who knows what Rowan will decide.”
I unlocked the gate, and a black and white goat came running up to us—Baby Goat. I laughed when Kai took a step back.
“He’s not going to hurt you. This is Baby Goat.” I crouched down and Baby Goat bleated and rubbed his head against me. “He’s as friendly as a dog and about the same size.”
Kai put out his hand and rubbed the goat’s head. “He must be a baby. He’s so tiny.”
“Nope. He’s a Nigerian Dwarf. That’s the biggest he’ll get. Come on. He’ll follow.”
I stopped at the chicken coop, and Kai leaned on the top rail. Two more goats, both white with black and brown spots came over to us. “Meet Percy and Jackson.”
Kai chuckled. “Percy Jackson. Cute.”
“My favorite books.” I opened the door to the goat house and was followed by the three impatient goats pushing and shoving for both attention and food. I fed them quickly, gave them hay, checked their water, patted them all, and promised to spend time with them tomorrow before we left for the night.
“Won’t Baby Goat get out again?” Kai asked.
“No.” I latched the gate. “It’s like he knows it’s nighttime. He won’t get out until he hears me close the back door tomorrow morning.” I checked the chickens and gathered six eggs.
“Cool. I’ve never collected eggs before,” Kai said. “Or had fresh eggs for that matter.” He picked up one of the eggs and brushed my fingers as he did.
A tingle went up my arm. I glanced quickly at him. Did he notice that? Luckily, he was focused on the egg, so he didn’t see how large my eyes got or the blush I was sure crept up my face.
“So how do you clean them?”
“What do you mean?” I was totally confused.
“The eggs. You know. How do you clean them so they’re safe to eat?”
I chuckled. Was he serious? “You don’t clean them. Just crack and eat.” I watched him and cocked my head to the side as he turned the eggs over in his hand. “I’ve never thought about someone not knowing about fresh eggs. I’ve grown up with chickens. Eating our own eggs is a part of my life.”
Kai shook his head and motioned toward all the land and the animals. “All this is just something I saw on TV or out my car window. I love it though. This is why I’m here.”
I stared at him. This man. This hot man who irritated the shit out of me last week was now making my insides all muddled. I watched as a shadow crossed his features and he became closed off. But as quickly as the shadow appeared, it disappeared and was replaced by amazement as he looked out across the dark pasture.
I followed his gaze. It was beautiful and peaceful. There was the soft sound of crickets chirping, and somewhere off in the distance, a squirrel chattered, and a cow mooed lowly in the pasture across the street. “It’s my favorite place. I couldn’t wait to get out of college and get back home, teach in the elementary school I grew up in, find a husband, and raise my family right here in Orlinda Valley.”
“So far you’re living that life.”
“Except for the husband. That’s one bad thing about growing up in a small town. You know everyone, and all the good guys are taken, or we’re in the friend zone. It’ll take an outsider to get into my heart.” My eyes met his, and my heart skipped a beat as our gazes held. I sucked on my bottom lip. A nervous habit. Did I really just say that out loud?
“No husband material in town yet?” Kai’s voice was rough, yet quiet.
I’m so glad it’s dark. He couldn’t see the blush that again covered my cheeks. I really needed to get a grip on my feelings. One minute he was annoying the hell out of me and raising my blood pressure because he was the most irritating thing I’d ever met, and the next, my blood was pumping to other parts of my body, causing me to feel things I wasn’t prepared for.
“I can’t picture being so into the town I grew up in that I’d want to move back.” Kai’s words pulled me back to the now. “I couldn’t wait until I was able to escape from my hometown and everything about it. Not that it ever felt like home.” He shook his head. A mischievous grin filled his face. “So, do you consider anyone in town husband worthy?”
Those crystal eyes of his danced with amusement under the glow from my outdoor lights, and maybe a little heat as well. My voice eluded me, so I just shook my head. It was safer that way.
“Good to know.” He responded as his eyes held mine.
The oxygen got sucked from my lungs as I melted into his gaze, and that tingling sensation—I was determined to ignore—sent my ovaries into overdrive and caused my desire for Kai to erupt like a volcano. I swallowed and took a large step away from him.
“Thanks for showing me around. I hope we can see each other again soon.” He smiled and that dimple appeared.
God, I itched to reach out and brush my finger against that dimple. Instead, I shoved my hands in my back pockets, not wanting to give them the freedom they desired. If I touched that dimple, who knew where my hands would slide next. My eyes wandered down his body. I cleared my throat and averted my eyes to focus on a tree behind him. “I’d like that,” I said. Damn, I hope that didn’t sound too desperate. I watched Kai's ass as he walked back to his truck. The rear view looked as good as the front view.
“Hey, Kai?”
He opened his door and leaned on it with his brows raised.
“I never thanked you properly for the help with the tire. I really appreciate it. I know I was a bit . . .” I wiggled my shoulders up and down. I was never good at apologies. “Bitchy. I’m sorry. It amazes me how sweet I can be from seven thirty till three Monday through Friday, then as soon as I step out of the school, it all evaporates.”
He nodded.
“And thanks for the ride home.”
“Anytime you need anything, just let me know.”
A shiver ran through me, and desire ignited within my core. Good Lord, leave already, Kai.