He smiled again, and this time his dimples were on full display. Kaylee moaned slightly from next to me, and I had to jab her in the side.
“Oh, that’s so sweet . . . but why don’t they live in the house anymore?”
Ty looked uncomfortable.
Lifting my hand to wave off my last question, I said, “Never mind. That’s none of my business, and I’m sorry I asked.”
A rush of embarrassment swept over my body. I of all people should have known better than to ask such personal questions. Here I was, attempting to start my own life over in a new town, and the first person I met, I asked a question that was truly not my business.
Ty let it go. “It’s been empty for a few years now. I think you’ll enjoy fixing the house up even more, with your career and all. My mother said you’re an interior designer.”
I nodded. “Yes, I am. I owned a pretty big design firm in Atlanta and needed a change. I sold it and decided it was time to explore something new. I’m hoping to find a simpler, less complicated life here in Hamilton.”
Ty’s eyes widened. “You’re not from a small town, are you, Lincoln?”
“No, born and raised in Atlanta.”
Glancing to Kaylee, Ty asked, “And you?”
“I was born in Georgia too.”
He nodded. “Your southern accent is heavier.”
Kaylee beamed with pride. “Well, I’m from a smaller town in Georgia originally, but I’ve been working on my southern twang for years. I think it’s finally set in.”
The poor man looked perplexed by my best friend. “Well, I’ll let you ladies go so you can explore the rest of the house. Do you need help with your luggage?”
“Yes!” Kaylee said at the same time I said, “No.”
Ty laughed. “If you pop the trunk, I’ll grab your stuff.”
I pulled out my keys and did just that. Kaylee and I stood there and watched as Ty stepped out of the screen door and walked down the gravel path.
“Is it just me, or does that man have an ass to die for?” she whispered.
I turned to look at her. It wasn’t like I wasn’t happy to see her showing interest in someone; I truly was. I believed it was time for her to jump back into the dating world. She needed to move on past the hurt. Back in Georgia, she’d never so much as looked twice at a guy, no matter how good looking he was. I wasn’t about to hold her back. “No, it’s not just you. He has a nice ass.”
“If that’s how they make the men up here in Montana, I just might be sticking around for a longer visit.”
Lacing my arm through hers, I grinned. “If there are more cowboys who look like that, you might never want to leave.”
“Right?” she said with a giggle.
Deep down in my heart, I prayed she would seriously think about staying. I wasn’t being selfish in my reasons why I wanted her here. Of course I wanted my best friend with me. I would miss her terribly when she went back to Georgia. But I honestly felt like a new start was exactly what Kaylee needed. A place that didn’t have a memory around nearly every corner she turned. A place where she could let go of the hurt and allow herself to move on. Somewhere to start over where no one told her what to do. A place to forget the past and look forward to a future.
I paused for a moment in my thoughts. Was that what I wanted for Kaylee . . . or for me?
I wanted that for both of us.
“How many brothers do you think he has? More than the one?” she asked as we watched Ty take our suitcases out like they weighed nothing.
Watching the muscles flex in Ty Shaw’s arms almost felt sinful. It had been a long time since I’d even allowed myself to look at a man like this. The last time I’d given my heart to someone, I’d ended up regretting it.
With a slight chuckle, I shook my head. Maybe it wasn’t time for only Kaylee to start dating but me as well. A nice Montana cowboy is exactly what I need. It had been over a year since I’d had a man’s hands on my body. I was beginning to remember what that pleasure felt like.
I took a deep breath and slowly let it out before I said, “One can only hope.”
Chapter Three
BROCK
I checked my rigging bag once more before I got ready to head on out and catch an Uber to the arena with Dirk. I heard the knock on my hotel door and made my way over and answered it.
Dirk Littlewood, my best friend since first grade, stood in front of me, a wide smile on his face.