Of course that's why he would want me to sit with him. No other reason. It is a hard pill to swallow even though I had been trying to shove it down my own throat earlier. He was definitely kidding around. Attracted to me, my butt!
“That’s… a really good idea, Grayson.” I nod. “Let me go get my plate and I’ll bring it out.” He nods, and I start to make my way to the kitchen when I look over my shoulder and ask, “Is there anything you would like to drink? I have lemonade, water, or tea.”
“Lemonade is good but let me help you,” he offers, following me into the kitchen. Much like earlier when he had come from Rosie’s, we work quietly on serving drinks and getting my plate set at the dining table. He pulls out a chair for me like a gentleman, but I ignore it. I move to the other side.
It’s bad enough I am going to eat in front of him. There is no way I can do it with him staring at my scars.
“This is really good.” The appreciation is clear in his voice, and it makes my heart flip inside out.
“I’m glad.” I nod, feeling compelled to share a little more. “It’s a recipe my mom made.”
“She a good cook?” he asks, and I nod. It's bittersweet talking about her, but it feels good to share her with him.
“She was the best,” I whisper, looking back down at my dish. “Probably why I didn't learn. There was no real need.” I press my lips together, trying to keep my emotions in check. “I can tell you know about her. It’s okay.” I shrug, smiling at the table. “From what I’ve noticed, this small town has a lot of great things about it. Everyone knowing one another, watching out for each other. But that also means people talk. Usually I’m not a fan of people talking about my business, but this time I’m kinda glad. Saves me from having to tell you she’s gone or what happened to…” My voice drifts off to nothing as I wave a hand up and down in front of my face. My eyes prickle and my nose stings, but I swallow the emotion down. I have to.
“Hadley.” There’s emotion in his voice, and I shake my head. He isn’t here to listen to my sob story. He is here to work. So I put my fork down, sip my lemonade, and get down to business.
We talk about the fence line and the stables. I also tell him about the loose rafter on the chicken coop. He listens and points out things he’s noticed in the short amount of time he’s been here.
“I think that's about it. Unless there is something else?” I’m about to stand and clear the table and go to bed.
“I think there is somethin’ you should know about me.” His voice rasps, and I wait. The moment my eyes connect with his, he keeps talking. “I was married. Before. I’m divorced now.”
Questions burn on the tip of my tongue. Personal ones. But I have to keep this professional. I breathe in through my lips and exhale slowly. I can’t get close to him. I hardly know him, and if for whatever reason, he isn’t turned off by the scars on my face, I know there is no way he’d be okay with every scar that lies beneath. Those are worse.
“You’re my first cowboy.” My face blooms pink at my stupid wording and its possible dirty insinuation. I fight from looking away from his dark gaze. I know it could be so easy to look away, but I have to face this head on. I want Grayson to take me seriously. So as calmly as I can manage, I start over.
“I mean, you’re the first ranch hand I've had here at Hickory. So please excuse the question, I’m not sure… Is this something you told the people over at the Cherry Blossom Ranch? Something you needed to share with them?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Okay,” I say slowly, running my tongue over my teeth. “Then I don’t need to know either.”
“She cheated on me, Hadley.” I open and close my lips, not sure what to say. But he keeps on sharing, something I have a feeling he doesn’t do often. “Walked in on her and my best friend on our bed.” Who would ever cheat on a man like him? He is so kind and hard-working.
“She’s an idiot, and honestly it's her loss.” The words fly out of my lips before I can stop them. What did I just do? My face is hotter than before.
I stand clumsily, slightly tripping on my own chair. I see his hand fly out, but I ignore it, grabbing the dishes. “Would you like dessert?” I offer without looking in his direction, trying to stack the plates.
“I’d love some, thank you. Can I help?”
“No, no.” I shake my head. “I got it. I’ll be back.” I rush out of there and set the dishes. Turning on the water to soak everything, I grip the cool kitchen counter and close my eyes.
“Get it together, Hadley!” I whisper-hiss to myself.
I shut the water off and walk over to the small kitchen table and grab the store-bought cake I picked up yesterday on a whim with a couple of plates. I walk into the dining area and set the cake by him.
“That looks pretty damn good.”
“It does, doesn’t it?” I can feel the way my lips move upward in an easy smile. I can’t help it. I love sweets, and cake is one of my favorite forms of it.
I cut him a thick slice and set it on a plate for him. I push the small plate toward him, and the tips of our fingers lightly brush one another. It’s a faint hardly anything caress, but I swear I feel it to my toes.
But again, I ignore it. I have to. He is my employee, and I’m his boss of sorts. Plus it’s not like I’m great with people. No. It’s better to focus on the sinfully delicious, beautiful cake in front of me. I cut a slice for myself, and I smile as my eyes move up and to his.
“It’s so pretty, isn’t it?” I smile brightly at the three-layer wonder.
“Breathtakin’.” His deep voice vibrates with a deeper tone. Something that makes me wish he was talking about something other than the sugary confection.