“I’m so embarrassed. Excuse me,” she muttered, her cheeks going pink.
I tilted back my head and drained my bottle, then let out a loud belch. “Impressive but nowhere near as good as mine.”
My dad laughed. “We used to have belching contests. Your mother would get so annoyed.”
“Betcha I can still win.” I egged him on.
He shook his head, taking only one sip and letting out the loudest one of them all. “Amateur,” he sniffed. “I’m old, but still got it.”
We all laughed, and Kelly forgot her embarrassment. I liked seeing her like this. I liked teasing her. I also liked the fact that my dad was in a good mood.
“Does Rosa agree with you on that?” I asked slyly.
He grinned. “I don’t kiss and tell.”
Kelly lifted her hand, and he high-fived it.
Then she set down her bottle. “I should go. I was gone longer than I planned, and I promised Charly to help her with a project she has on the go.”
“Charly always has a project on the go,” I replied.
“She does.”
“I’ll take you.”
“No.” She waved her hand. “I’ll get my bike and go. You stay with your dad.”
I followed her outside and lifted the bike out. She put her bag in the basket and swung her leg over the seat. “Thanks for today, Brett.”
I leaned down and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Thanks for letting me tag along, Shutterbug.”
I stood and watched her pedal away until she disappeared around the corner.
I turned and found my dad sitting in one of the rockers, his drink in his hand, a fresh bottle of soda beside him waiting for me. I sat down, accepting the bottle.
“So, Charly’s friend, eh?”
“Say another word, old man, and I’m telling Stefano you kissed his mother.”
He chuckled. “I got meatloaf in the oven for supper. You want to join me?”
His voice held a hopeful note, yet it was resigned. He expected me to say no.
I leaned back. “You making mashed potatoes with it?”
“Yep.”
“Then count me in.”
He leaned back, rocking slowly.
“Great.”
I matched his position, pushing off the old wooden deck in the rocker.
“Yep. Great.”
The next few days were busy and productive. We met with the contractor, finalized the plans, and agreed on a start date. Kelly started her job with the paper, so she was in and out. She and Charly worked out a schedule, and Gabby came in one day a week, so the office was always staffed. I enjoyed working with Charly and Gabby, but I missed seeing Kelly every day. I told myself to get used to it since she wouldn’t be around forever, but the days she was there, I know I smiled more and found reasons to go to the office.
I was surprised to see her on Thursday. I took an invoice in, asking her to check if it had been paid. Standing behind her, I studied the back of her neck, noticing the fading mark behind her ear.
Unable to stop myself, I traced a finger over the skin of her neck, fighting back my smile as she shivered.
“I didn’t know you were here today,” I said.
“It’s going to storm. I can’t be out in the rain.”
I nodded. “I miss you around here,” I murmured so only she could hear me.
“That invoice was paid on Monday,” she replied, a slight tremor in her voice.
I leaned on the desk, peering over her shoulder at the screen. To anyone looking, I was simply checking out the information on the computer. But I was close enough to smell her light fragrance. Feel the heat of her skin. I braced my hand on the top of the chair, teasing the skin on her back. “There haven’t been any bear sightings recently.”
She gasped, a quick intake of air. “Brett,” she protested.
“Raccoons either,” I added. “No wildlife.”
“Stop it.”
I straightened, dragging my hand up her back and through her hair. “Just keeping you informed.”
I headed to my office.
“I’m going to do inventory later. In the barn. Charly wants a count of the tires,” she informed me.
“I’ll be sure to check in on you.”
“You do that.”
Smirking, I headed to my desk. I dropped the invoice on it and walked out to the garage. At the sound of a raised voice, I looked over to where Ward was talking to a customer. Ward looked frustrated and the customer unhappy. He was a tall guy, broad shoulders, and a bald head that gleamed under the light. He wore a dress shirt and looked uncomfortable in his own skin. He was in Ward’s space, obviously trying to intimidate him. I walked over, forcing a smile to my face.
“Problem, gentlemen?”
“Yeah, your guy is trying to rip me off.”
I crossed my arms. “I find that hard to believe. What seems to be the problem?”
“Damn car took a nail to the tire.”
“I can put a plug in,” Ward explained. “But his oil light is on, and it’s way past its service date. I told him we should do an oil change while it’s here so he doesn’t burn out his engine.” He paused, looking at me meaningfully and offering me the clipboard with the work order. “Way past due.”