Chapter 13 #2
I’m terrible at playing pool, but it has become a part of our routine. A round of drinks and a few games of pool at Elkhorn Tavern. The extent of our relationship. But it’s comfortable, and I’m thankful that Blake doesn’t push it.
Five minutes before the clock strikes five, I find myself at Cole’s front door, wearing a flowy western dress.
Cute and not too revealing for an evening at Harlow Mansion with thick waves of hair falling over my shoulders.
My palms are sweaty by the time Annie answers the door, brightly smiling at me with rosy cheeks.
She pulls me in for a hug, smelling of fresh flowers. After a long and hard day on the ranch, this embrace feels even sweeter. It feels right. “We’re so glad you could make it,” she croons into my hair.
There’s that word again. We. “I wouldn’t miss an opportunity like this,” I say nervously.
Annie leads me through the house and into the dining room, lit with a grand chandelier.
I’m biting into my bottom lip so hard I’m surprised it isn’t bleeding, staining my western dress.
But when I enter the lavish space, it’s only Cole sitting at the long wooden table.
Relief flushes through me, as well as a small wave of disappointment that Kit’s not here, at least so he could apologize for being so rude to me.
Yeah, that’s why you want him here, Sadie.
Even my own thoughts betray me.
“Well, there she is,” Cole smiles. “Have a seat anywhere you like.”
Candles flicker on the table, with a feast laid out before me as I pull out a chair. Very intimate for a family dinner.
“Um, is this okay?” I gesture to the chair next to Cole, not sure where it’s appropriate for me to sit.
“I was hoping you’d sit there,” he smiles.
I smile and sit next to him. “This looks amazing.” However, I’m still not quite sure why I’m here. Do they invite all their employees to family meals?
There’s an extra plate next to mine, but I’m not sure who it’s for. Blake knew nothing about this, so it can’t be for him.
“Annie’s a wonderful cook,” Cole replies. “Shall we pray?”
Before I grab his hand, Kit walks in, stopping dead in his tracks when he sees me.
I stand quickly in reaction, chair grating on the floor. Breathless from the way he looks in a flannel and jeans, like it’s made for him. He stares at me, taking me in with a softness that I’ve missed, but then his eyes narrow and he sighs, glaring at Cole.
Guess he wasn’t expecting me.
“Sorry, I’m late,” he mutters, walking to the opposite side of the table.
“Not there,” Cole quips. “There,” he gestures to the seat next to mine. “Next to Sadie.”
With a loud grunt, he heads towards me. Clearly, not happy about it. But I’m surprised he didn’t just turn and leave at the sight of me. This is the most he’s been in my presence in days.
“Let’s pray,” Cole smiles after Kit settles in. He grabs Annie’s hand, reaching for mine.
I take it with an awkward smile.
“Kit?” Cole arches a brow at him, asking him with his eyes to take my hand.
Even I’m sweating at this point.
Another agitated sigh, and he holds out his hand for mine, resting it on the table, palm up.
Well, I’ve come this far.
I slide my hand into his rough one, and his fingers close around mine, gently holding me. It feels much better than it should. If only he had six fingers or slimy hands, but no, he had to have these big, calloused hands that perfectly melded in mine.
Stupid.
Cole says a prayer, and it’s this quiet moment that steadies me. Prayer. Soft voices. Warm hands in mine. He holds my hand with such tenderness that it feels strangely sexual. My pulse begins to burn beneath my skin.
I’d like to say I kept my eyes closed, like a good girl.
But I peek about ten seconds in, glancing at my hand in Kit’s before daring a look at him.
Strong jaw with the perfect amount of clean stubble.
Well-defined soft lips and a straight nose.
I’ve almost forgotten how handsome he is, like he was sculpted in heaven.
He opens his eyes and turns to me, and my heart skips a beat. I expect him to push my hand away, but he holds it firm, never leaving my eyes. Even well after Cole has finished the prayer, he’s still holding my hand, staring at me like nothing else matters.
I’m not sure I’m breathing.
“Shall we?” Cole gestures to the food.
Kit drops my hand before his next breath, filling up his plate to the brim.
Back to ignoring me and pretending like the last two minutes didn’t happen.
I pile up way more mashed potatoes than I need, but I’m far from shy about eating.
And I need all the comfort carbs I can get to endure this dinner.
“So, is the job everything you hoped for?” Cole asks.
“Very much so. I love it here,” I respond.
Cole smiles at that. “Blake has many nice things to say about you,” he adds.
Kit’s fork scrapes loudly on the plate, making my teeth ache. Annie gives him a terse look, glancing at the plate with concern.
“I enjoy working with him,” I blush, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear. “We have so much fun in the fields that it never feels like work.” Long days were short with Blake.
Kit rips into his steak with more force than I feel he needs, shoving it into his mouth like a caveman. Chewing with intent.
“And where did you learn how to ride?” Cole asks. “Kit here says you’re quite gifted.”
Kit sets his eyes on Cole with red in his cheeks.
“Did you, really?” I ask him, bumping his arm.
He swallows the steak in his mouth, frowning at Cole. “I believe my exact words were, it’s a miracle she stays in the saddle.”
Cole smiles in his direction, twinkling his eyes.
“It’s okay to admit you like watching me ride, Cowboy,” I wink at him, and he glares, a glare so sharp I feel it in my spine. “Anyway,” I sit up straighter. “I grew up with horses. I’m self-taught.”
“How does Aspen Hollow compare to Valentine?” Annie asks with a warm smile, trying to make casual conversation, like a normal person, but I flinch, sucking in a sharp breath.
“It doesn’t.” Valentine was a nightmare. “There’s nothing quite like this place,” I try to deflect, hoping she’ll leave it alone.
“And what about your family? They must miss you terribly,” she adds.
“They don’t,” I snap with more venom than I mean to.
Kit turns towards me, scrunching his dark brows.
Besides my brother, no one cared about me in the way I deserved. And it’s something I don’t want to talk about. “I’m happy here. I have no plans to go back,” I push mashed potatoes around my plate.
Annie nods, ready to leave that conversation alone.
“Why?” Kit asks.
“Why, what?”
“Why don’t you want to go home?” he repeats.
“It’s not my home anymore.” And it never will be, nor do I have a reason to go back. “Besides, why would you care?”
He looks at me incredulously, looking pained for a moment, as if my words got under his skin. His face settles into a deep frown. “Just making sure you don’t have wanted posters up in another town.”
“Kit,” Annie scolds.
I level my eyes at him. “Sorry to disappoint you, but my record is clean, Cowboy.”
He huffs a laugh. “I’m sure it’s not clean.”
Damn, he’s feisty today.
My forearms rest on the table, meeting his hard blue eyes. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? To find out, I had some dirty secret that would force me to leave.” It hurts to admit out loud, knowing that it’s true. I did have a secret, but it isn’t for the reasons that he thought.
He snorts, leaning back in the chair. “Sure would. Life was much more peaceful without you here.”
“Kit Alexander,” Annie slams her hand on the table, middle-naming him. “What has gotten into you?”
My eyes fall to the table, heart aching with guilt and sadness that I’ve buried deep.
The weight in my chest feels heavy, pulling me down.
“It’s fine,” my voice shakes as tears build in my eyes.
“Look, I… I should get going,” I mumble, rising to my feet, trying not to let the tears fall.
“Thank you for the invite. This was very educational.”
Cole and Annie try to stop me. Their voices echo down the decorated halls, but I’m already out the door, heading down the porch steps, when Kit catches up with me.
“Sadie, please, just stop!” He calls out. “Sadie—”
“Why?” I turn around at my truck, boots crunching in the gravel, stopping his words. “Why bother? This is what you wanted, isn’t it? For me to leave?”
He’s breathless as he stares at me, with a face full of hurt and regret, before his eyes drop to the frosted ground. “It doesn’t matter what I want.”
But it matters to me.
And he doesn’t want me here. He confirmed it right in front of his family. It shouldn’t hurt, but it does. “Please apologize to Cole and Annie. I’m not feeling all that well.”
“Sadie, please stay—” He begs, but I’m already in my truck, slamming the door behind me.
There’s no reason to stay where I’m not wanted.
His tall frame disappears in my rearview mirror as I drive away, blasting my favorite song. Looks like cereal and whiskey are back on the menu.