Page 9 of Light on Love
“Anything I can get that she likes? Something she didn’t bring from home, but you know she’d want to have it here?”
The breath escapes her in shock. He’s talking abouther. Laurel leans closer to the entrance of the office, enthralled.
“Ray, you said you were friends with her. Do you know this little about all your friends?” he asks it with a chuckle. A small smile forms on her face at Brett’s warm laugh, something in it making her feel lighter.
Ray must be responding because Brett is silent for a moment. Laurel moves back up a few stairs, propelled by her growing guilt knowing that he’s called Ray on her behalf. She’s ready to climb the remaining stairs and return to her room when Brett’s voice floats up in the quiet.
“You’re killing me, man. Couldn’t have put in a good word for me before she got here? You know I’m out of my element with this and she’s over here cooking for me and being all sweet.”
He sounds almost… nervous? And did he just call her sweet? Laurel’s hand lifts to her face in surprise.
“Fuck off. You did not just try to tell me to be myself.” Brett’s chuckle from earlier has transformed to a full, deep laugh now, and the sounds is hypnotizing. When she hears him tell Ray he’ll talk to him later, Laurel turns and races back to her room, trying to close the door silently. She doesn’t even remember why she got up in the first place, now that she’s back in bed. All she can think about is Brett’s laugh, greedy to hear it again.
—
“Good morning, Laurel.”
A thrill runs through her at the sound of his baritone voice. She turns from the coffee machine and faces him, leaning back against the counter. Brett drifts into the room, like a predatorstalking his prey. And yet, Laurel finds herself enamored by him instead of afraid. From his dark jeans and black pearl snap shirt to his dark hair and beard, he looks like the sexy brooding cowboy of old western movies.
“Good morning!” she chirps, an octave higher than her typical voice. She looks down at her coffee, recalling the phone call from a few days prior and feeling embarrassed to have been spying on him. This is the first time Laurel has seen Brett since that night and worry creeps in that he knew she was listening.
He comes to a stop, his gaze fixed on Laurel’s face as if he’s studying her. She waits to feel afraid yet again under the watchful eye of the deadly war fighter, but instead she only feels butterflies. “What are you doing inside at this hour?” she asks timidly.
“I came back in looking for you,” Brett replies with a flicker of heat in his eyes. “The guys are having a barbecue at the stable tonight. Floyd’s wife is coming down, I wanted to see if you were interested in joining me.”
Laurel’s stomach somersaults at the idea of being invited to go with him. She desperately tries to tamp the feeling down, reminding herself that he wasn’t asking her on a date. He didn’t mean anything behind the invitation other than being a kind host. This is probably just his attempt to make her feel more comfortable.
“I’d love to go, thank you for thinking of me,” she replies nonchalantly, hoping her facial expression matches her tone.
At her acceptance, he closes the distance between them and leans in close. Laurel stills, her heart racing as his chest filles her line of sight. Brett reaches around behind her and a moment later he pulls his arm back, cinnamon roll in hand. Peering down at her, his mouth curves into a slow, teasing smile.
“Good, I’ll be back in to get you later,” he promises before stepping back and taking a bite of the pastry on his way out.Laurel loosens a breath as Brett disappears through the door and tries to ignore the way her fingers had itched to reach out and touch him.
6
Laurel decides to work from inside today, worried about looking eager for Brett’s return. As evening approaches, she watches the gaggle of ranch hands ride in. It doesn’t take long for her to see Brett split from the rest and approach the house. Training her eyes back on the report before her, Laurel waits for his arrival.
Soon, the sound of the door creaking open fills the room and she looks up to see Brett leaning in the open frame. He is propped up on his shoulder, and one ankle is crossed over the other, his foot balancing on the toe of his boot.
“Ready?” he asks, removing his cowboy hat and holding it to his chest.
This isn’t a date; Laurel reminds herself as she rises from her seat and moves to toward him. Brett steps to the side to allow her to pass through the doorway first and she feels a thrill at the brush of his arm. He falls into step beside her as they cross the porch and start down the hill. Laurel looks ahead at the group preparing the food below as they move along the path.
Shifting her gaze to Brett, she asks, “do they all live here? Is this a common thing that happens?”
“Most the team are Monday through Friday and live in town; they typically head home about this time. Floyd and Mary are up in a cabin at the entrance of the ranch, and two guys, Grey and Cooper, stay in these cottages,” he explains with a nod to the smaller dwellings that sit off to the side of the farmhouse. “Every now and again they will plan a cookout and bonfire then they all crash in the barns for the night.”
Laurel notices that he walks closer to her as they talk. And, by the time they approach the others, the space between them has narrowed to mere inches. She also notices her body humming in response.
“Laurel, glad you can join us,” Floyd welcomes her warmly, standing from a table. “This is my better half, Mary.” He motions to the woman seated beside him, her floral dress dancing in the breeze.Mary doesn’t stand, but rather reaches up and clasps Laurel’s hand.
“It is so good to finally meet you! Your baking is just heavenly,” Laurel says, beaming at her.
“Laurel sweetheart, we are very happy you’re here. It’s so nice for our boy to have your lovely company in that big old house. And there’s a rumor that your cooking puts mine to shame.”
Laurel looks over at Brett in time to see him blushing at Mary’s comment. Her mouth falls open in surprise, she can’t believe this manblushes. Noticing her expression, Brett rolls his eyes at Laurel.
“Let’s go get drinks,” he mutters, placing a hand on her elbow and steering her away from Mary. Behind them, Laurel hears the couple’s soft chuckles.