Page 58 of See It Through
She spun around, alighting on me, seated on a padded bench. “Well, look who’s here. Remington Town.”
I raised my bottle. “Hannah Kelly.”
It’d only been a day since I’d dropped her at home after having breakfast, but it felt longer. She hadn’t known I was going to be here tonight, and I wondered how long she would’ve gone without seeing me if it had been up to her.
Crossing one foot over the other, she considered me, and I did the same right back. She had on her brown cowboy boots, her long tan legs bare and smooth under a cream, gauzy dress that floated over her figure and stopped midthigh. That thick wave of hair I’d formed an obsession with spilled over one shoulder, a barrette holding it off her face on the opposite side.
Crickets chirped, the earth spun, her family moved about in the background, but the space between us was suspended, separate from gravity and time.
Until Jesse darted between us, his dog chasing behind him. Hannah grinned, and I had no choice but to answer with a wide smile of my own.
She sauntered over, stopping right in front of me so the tips of her boots met mine. “Fancy seeing you here, Remington.”
“I received a personal invite from your granddad.” I patted the cushion beside me. “Sit here. Tell me a thing or two.”
Her hesitation was brief before she flopped down on the bench, crossing her legs toward me. Boot hooking on the back of my calf, she trailed her fingertips down my forearm to my hand, giving it a squeeze.
“I have a confession,” she whispered.
I caught the tips of her fingers in my grip and idly ran my thumb back and forth over her short nails. “What’s that, sweetheart?”
“I’m pretty glad you’re here.”
From another woman, that might’ve sounded lukewarm. From Hannah Kelly, I took it as she’d said it. She was happy to see me, and I sure as hell was pleased to see her.
I tipped my head toward hers, close enough to get a dose of her warmth and scent without touching. “Me too.”
Caleb walked out onto the patio, hands on his hips. He turned, spotting us sitting next to each other. We were barely touching, but I had to imagine our intimacy was unmistakable.
That was why when he shook his head and walked back inside, I chuckled under my breath and Hannah rolled her eyes.
“He thinks the idea of me kissing boys is gross, like I’m twelve.”
I had to laugh. ’Cause yeah, that was true. “Probably worse that the boy is me.”
“Mmhmm. You’re Cay’s. I’m surprised he’s sharing.”
“Unfortunately, I have no interest in kissing Caleb.”
Her lips pursed, tempting me, but I wouldn’t go there. Not here, with Jesse running around in the yard and her granddad a few feet away.
“Only you, Hannah.” I moved my thumb along the edge of her hand to the pulse in her wrist. “You look gorgeous tonight, by the way. I like your dress and the thing you did with your hair.”
Dipping her head, she smoothed her dress out over her legs then touched her barrette. “Thank you. It’s not anything fancy, but—”
“Nope. You’re gonna let me tell you how gorgeous I think you are. All you have to do is say ‘Thank you, baby.’”
Rearing back, her eyebrow arched. “I have to call you baby?”
I grinned at her. “Why not? It’s better than asshole.”
Giggling, she tilted toward me, her head falling on my shoulder. Then, so quiet I almost missed it, she whispered, “Thank you, baby.”
And yeah. I liked that. I liked it a whole lot.
During dinner, conversation landed on the topic of the rodeo. The cowboys descended on Cheyenne through the month of July. Along with the rodeo, there was a fair with rides and games and a concert series, some big stars, some smaller musicians.
“Remi’s coming with Dad and me next weekend,” Jesse announced.