Leave Him Loved_Harloe Rae Page 10

  Reeve wraps an arm around my shoulders for a completely innocent side hug. “Hey, city girl. Good call on your latest choice. This is one of Bam’s most beloved events.”

  “So I’ve gathered. This town doesn’t lack for funtivities.”

  “Especially in the summer,” he informs. “If we’re all preoccupied with these random festivities, scandal has less chance to brew. We can thank the planning committee for that.”

  “You would’ve attended either way, then?”

  “Probably not. The films suitable for a wide audience aren’t my preferred taste.”

  “I suppose porn would cause quite the stir.”

  He coughs into a fist. “Damn, Audria. Diving straight in, huh?”

  “Why waste precious moments with idle chatter?”

  “To be polite?”

  I lower my chin to hide a smile. “Okay, fine. What are your five favorite movies? The ones you’ll watch over and over again until they’re little more than background static.”

  “Guess I asked for that.” Reeve scrubs his jaw. “Ah, let me think. Die Hard, Star Wars, American Psycho, Scarface, and anything from Marvel.”

  “That’s a wide spectrum.” I squint up at him, shielding my eyes from the setting sun.

  He leans closer, offering me some much-appreciated shade. “Tell me yours.”

  I hold up a hand, ticking the titles off each finger. “Pretty Woman, Old School, Tangled, Dirty Dancing, and Step Up.”

  A dimple pops in his cheek when he smiles. “Oh, I see now. You have ulterior motives.”

  I wiggle my brows at him. “I’d never waste an opportunity to watch one of my favorites. Will this be torture for you?”

  “Maybe not that extreme. Having you nearby makes it more bearable.”

  I feel a flush race up my neck. “Watch what you say, farmer. A girl might get the wrong idea hearing you talk that way.”

  Reeve gestures pointedly to our friends. “Is it better if I include them in that sentiment?”

  I greet them with a collective wave. I’ve done a fantastic job ignoring them until this point. Bea and Gavin are too tied up to notice. Sondra wears a smirk that would give Reeve’s a decent challenge. Owen and Will seem to be competing for her attention, but failing miserably.

  I return my gaze to Reeve. “Is it horrible that I forgot they were here?”

  His eyes spark with something resembling desire. But that’s most likely me projecting my emotions on him. “Now who’s giving the wrong impression?”

  I shake my head with a smile. “Honestly? It’s impossible not to flirt with you. I’m finding it increasingly more difficult.”

  He chuckles. “I’m not complaining.”

  “But it complicates things.”

  “Only if we let it. Think of this more as the harmless variety.”

  “I suppose.” I’m clearly off my game and thinking way too much. Flirting just for the sake of flirting occupied much of my free time in college. Reeve seems breezy and relaxed. I need to improve my nonchalance.

  “The spectators will shut down any suspicious activity. They’ll keep us honest.”

  I lift a brow at that. “Dottie will have plenty to chat about.”

  “I’ll control myself, city girl. That’s why we have our chaperones, right?” He nods at our friends again.

  Bea appears to be five seconds away from leaping into Gavin’s lap. The other three have engaged in a lively discussion with extravagant hand movements.

  “Maybe we’ll have to switch roles.”

  “Sounds great to me.” Reeve slaps his palms together and motions to the spread by our feet. “Let’s get settled in.”

  “Oh, you saved seats.” I send a pointed look to Sondra. “How thoughtful.”

  He pats the empty spot beside him. “How else would I make sure you sit next to me? I don’t want you across the lawn. That defeats the purpose.”

  “I bet you don’t,” Sondra murmurs.

  I send her a snarky side-eye for that comment. “Well, thanks. We brought the concessions.”

  “That’ll pair perfectly with soda.” He bumps the cooler with his foot. “There might be a few beers in there too. I wasn’t sure if you’re a midweek drinker.”

  I offer my best demure grin and reach for a grapefruit shandy. “An exception can be made. It is my summer vacation after all.”

  He takes a swig from his drink. “Ah, yes. When does school start?”

  I don’t bother masking my groan. “You know that’s the worst possible question to ask a teacher?”

  He grunts. “And the one all parents are desperate to answer.”

  “I have three weeks of freedom remaining,” I provide begrudgingly. “But I’m actually looking forward to the year. This is the kickoff to my career with my own classroom. Second grade is a good age for kids.”

  Reeve tips his head, a crease forming between his brows. His expression clears a moment later, replaced by a cocky grin. “You’ll do great. The best teacher Bampton Elementary has ever hired.”

  I sidle up against him, rubbing his back. “Thanks, buddy.”

  He goes rigid under my touch. I still my hand and almost recoil. Does this cross our extremely blurry lines? Damn, I need a freaking rulebook. A distraction will work in the interim.

  I glance at his sneakers. “What’s your opinion on cowboy boots?”

  “Everyone should own a pair.” The statement rolls off his tongue like an indisputable fact. His expression holds no hint of reluctance or deliberation either. All I find is his comforting smile, which adds to my festering infatuation. Why must he be so damn attractive?

  I tuck a lock of hair behind my ear. “Never have I ever.”

  “Oh, are we playing?” That sinful grin tilts higher.

  The heat coiling inside me cranks hotter. “I was just stating a fact.”

  “Next time we’re at the Salt Lick, it’s on.”

  “That game is definitely more entertaining with copious amounts of liquor.” I tip the beer to my lips.

  “Especially with your lewd frame of mind.”

  “Ha, you’re hilarious.”

  “And you’re the one who coined CornHub.”

  I pick at some lint on the blanket. “You’ve got me there.”

  “I appreciate your wild and adventurous spirit.” The gleam in his gaze returns.

  A twitch crooks at the corner of my lips. Volleying with an equally sweet comment is a seamless move. Instead, I allow a trickling melody of silence to dance between us. The chatter cocooning us hasn’t dimmed, the unintelligible murmurs providing a gentle backdrop. He studies the huge black screen in front of us. Based on how intimately the sun kisses the horizon, I would estimate the movie reel spinning soon.

  Reeve peers over at me. “Any interest in going to a football game?”

  I knit my brows. Attending a sporting event had occurred to me as an option. I didn’t know where to begin with possibilities, though. “Iowa doesn’t have a pro team.”

  “Damn, you’re cute.” He chuckles and lightly nudges me in the ribs. “I meant high school.”

  And now I want to hide behind a tree. “Ah, that makes more sense.”

  “Certainly does. So, wanna go?”

  “Yeah, absolutely. I’m a fan of the game. Did you ever play?”

  “Offensive line. I was a tight end,” he explains.

  “No past tense about that,” I whisper.

  “If that does something for you, I still have my jersey.”

  “How about the stretchy pants?”

  “Ball huggers,” Reeve corrects.

  “Yeah,” I purr.

  It might be my imagination, but he seems to bend closer. The blue in his eyes swirls with tiny specks of green. The usually cool combination sparks with fire. His hand barely brushes mine, but an unmistakable tingle zaps up my arm. Rather than retreating, he traces the center of my palm with his finger. This type of touch—whether by accident or very much on purpose is irrelevant—steps our harmless
flirting up several notches. I suck in a sharp breath, and he notices.

  Reeve shifts a safe distance away, taking his warmth with him. The absence of his touch is an immediate loss. His gaze burns into me, vivid depths swirling with undeniable want that I’m positive reflects in my own eyes. He leans in, ghosting the tip of his nose across my cheek. I tremble and tilt into him.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he whispers.

  I lick my bottom lip, preparing to eliminate this invisible barrier separating us once and for all.

  “Hey, love birds.” The feminine voice has a coy lilt.

  Reeve wrenches backward as if scalded. He glares at our intruder. She looks familiar, yet I can’t place her.

  “Jamie,” he mutters.

  Ah, his sister.

  She giggles at the scowl marring his features. “I see you’re setting the mood early, hungry eyes.”

  That gets a muffled snort from me. “Good one.”

  Her gaze pings to mine. “You must be the elusive Audria.”

  “Oh, that makes me sound so fancy.”

  “You think that’s good? The way Reeve talks about—”

  “Is there a reason you came over?” The force behind his words clangs with reinforced titanium. Why is he being so rude?

  Jamie twists her mouth into a pout. “I just wanted to say a quick hello.”

  “Well, I’m glad you did.” I offer a wave.

  Reeve’s expression remains stormy, clouds swollen with a torrential downpour just waiting to be released. He’s not trying to hide the hint in the least.

  Jamie finally accepts that her brother isn’t interested in a group chat. She skirts to the edge of our claimed section of lawn. “Well, I should get to my spot before the movie starts or it gets any darker. No need to drag on my intrusion. It was great to meet you, Audria. I’m sure we’ll see each other again soon.”

  The grin I send her lifts with sincerity. “I’d like that.”

  She pierces her brother with a look I’m all too familiar with. In the near future, they’ll be exchanging words not meant for my ears. The strain melts from her face a second later. She wiggles her fingers, backing away. “Tootles!”

  I return her gesture. Reeve mutters some semblance of a goodbye. When she’s nothing more than a fading outline in the dimming light, I swing my focus to him. He’s staring at his beer can hard enough to drill holes in the aluminum.

  A swig of shandy chases the grit from my throat. “She seems… nice.”

  “Yeah, she’s all right.” He grunts, the power of his RDF aiming directly at me.

  Yikes. I blow out a thick exhale. A sludge gurgles in my stomach that’s unrelated to the few sips of citrus beer I guzzled. Whatever we shared before Jamie interrupted is long gone. We exchanged a moment of weakness. That’s all it was. But if that’s true, why do I feel like resuming from the point where we left off?

  An eerie glow flickers to life on the screen as uncertainty creates a fog around me. I’ve never been more confused. Can we continue pretending nothing more is brewing? Should I slam the brakes before we make a mistake? If I don’t, what happens next?

  Pages of field growth charts blur on my laptop. I’ve been staring at irrigation-system maps, crop-dusting schedules, and soil-saturation levels for hours. A deep inhale grants me a lungful of stale air. Usually, my job allows me to be outside, away from the confines of this stuffy office. That’s not the case once September arrives. With the harvest season gaining on us, it’s critical that every detail lines up exactly right.

  With a low vibration, my phone skitters across the desk, offering a solution to my desperate need for a distraction. I peek at the screen, not realizing I’m holding my breath until it releases in a rush. It’s not her. Why would it be?

  I answer with a swipe and tap the speaker button. “Hey, sis.”

  “Reeve, I’m so glad you picked up.” The edge of panic in her voice rings louder than a dinner bell.

  My chair crashes against the wall as I stand. “What’s wrong?”

  “Calm down, brother. It’s not dire. I’m having a hose emergency. Can you get Gabby from school at four?”

  I settle back in my seat at the change in her tune. I exhale, whipping off my hat to rake my fingers through my hair. A glance at the clock shows it’s already half past three. On a typical day, I would be long gone by now. I find myself nodding, regardless of her inability to see me. “Sure, I can do that. It’s far past quitting time.”

  The whoosh of breath echoes her palpable relief. “Really? Oh, you’re a lifesaver. I wasn’t sure if you’d forgiven me for interrupting at the park.”

  “That was weeks ago, Jams. I’ve spoken with you numerous times since.”

  “You could still be harboring resentment,” she points out unnecessarily.

  “Hardly. It shouldn’t have happened to begin with. You saved me from more trouble,” I grumble.

  “Please,” she sputters. “You were so pissed at me for getting in the way of what was about to be a very hot smooch.”

  “Audria would’ve blocked me.” And rightly so. I had no business trying to kiss her after specifically stating we shouldn’t.

  “Sure, keep telling yourself that.”

  “It’s better this way. I haven’t seen Audria since that night,” I admit.

  “And why not?”

  That’s a fair question, but I still grind my molars hearing it. We aren’t necessarily avoiding each other on purpose. I think she went to Minnesota recently to visit family before the school year started. But that only explains a portion of her noticeable absence.

  Our mutual attraction has been a cause for concern since we met. Try as I might, I can find no gray area to explore with Audria. My self-control is especially weak when it comes to that woman.

  “Things were getting too muddy.” That explanation doesn’t make me feel any better about Audria’s silence.

  Jamie hums. “How so?”

  “I crossed the line. The damn thing probably would’ve been obliterated if you hadn’t shown up.”

  “Well, shit. Now I’m even more sorry for intruding.”

  “Don’t be. We aren’t getting involved on purpose. I should be the one apologizing for being an asshole.”

  “Eh, I’m used to your surly attitude. Remember how awful you were when I started dating Trevor?”

  I chuckle at the reminder. “You’re my sister. It’s my job to protect you.”

  “I’m older by eight years,” she chides. “The fact that my teenage brother attempted to chase off guys was purely comical.”

  “It worked most of the time,” I drawl.

  “Until it didn’t, thankfully. I’d still be single and nearing spinster status. I won’t do you such a disservice.”

  “Not like I’m giving you a chance.” I scrub over my forehead. “So, Gabby?”

  Jamie squeaks. “Right! How easily I get wrapped up in your drama. Just park in a visitor spot and check in at the main office. The secretaries know who you are, so don’t worry about that. If you arrive before dismissal, it will go much smoother.”

  I shut my laptop. “Easy enough.”

  “Thank you, thank you! I owe you another meal or two.”

  “You’re speaking my language, Jams.”

  A loud holler has her yelling several colorful words away from the phone. “I better go. Trevor’s drowning.”

  “See you soon. Should I bring any tools?”

  “We should be set. You’re doing plenty by getting Gabby. Thanks again.”

  I end the call and do my best to organize the chaos strewn across my desk. After fetching my keys and hat, I jog to the nearest exit. My truck gleams in the afternoon sun, the shiny red paint winking at me. That glint will be dull after a stroll down my sister’s dirt road. I guess it gives me an excuse to visit the wash again. I’m all about pampering my baby with a deluxe wax.

  Lucky for me—and Gabby—the drive to Bampton Elementary is short. I pull into the lot ten minutes later with seve
ral to spare until the school releases the rowdy fleets. After dodging a bus intent on running me over, I stalk into the office and slap on a visitor’s badge. With a deafening ring that I could go my entire life without hearing again, the hallways flood with children. I swear the floors quake from their thundering pace.

  A bundle of energy dressed completely in pink dashes toward me. Before I can brace myself, she crashes into my legs. I stagger with an audible oomph. That only makes her squeeze my legs in a more punishing grip.

  “Uncle Ree! What’re you doing here?” Gabby showcases several missing teeth with a massive grin. The tooth fairy doesn’t lack for work with this one nearby. Her happiness is infectious, and I find myself wearing a smile to match hers.

  I kneel down to be at her level. “Your parents are busy at home. They sent me to pick you up instead. Is that okay?”

  Her brown curls bounce when she nods. “Yes! This is a super-fun surprise. Can we stop for ice cream?”

  “Most likely?” Asking her mom would probably be best, but this girl’s impossible to deny.

  She pumps her tiny fist. “You’re the best uncle ever.”

  I never point out that I’m her only uncle. The compliment inflates my pride a bit more that way. “And you’re the sweetest niece. Did you have a good day?”

  “Uh-huh, the best. My teacher is so cool.”

  “That’s great, peanut.” I’m well aware that Gabby struggled in first grade. Jamie told me that this year is already off to a much better start. “What’s her name?”

  “Miss Griffin. She’s right there.” Her arm flings blindly to the right.

  Hovering mere feet behind my niece is none other than Audria. My eyes widen at the unexpected sight of her. But why am I the least bit surprised? She works here, for fuck’s sake. Talk about an added complication. A groan escapes me without warning. I tuck my chin, cursing the higher power responsible for this mess.

  Gabby giggles, crushing a palm to her mouth. “Isn’t she so pretty?”

  Fucking stunning is more like it. She’s pulled her blond hair into a messy knot with a few stray curls teasing her jawline. Faded jeans on the optimal side of snug hug her toned thighs. Her slightly tilting lips are glossy with something I want to lick off. Even after a full day of dealing with rambunctious kids, she’s sexier than my dirtiest fantasies.