I inspect the contents of the fridge and decide to make us ham sandwiches and salad for dinner, then head to my room to take a short nap.
It’s early afternoon when the sound of chopping wood and hammering carries over through the open window. The dog barks a few times, and Kellan laughs—the sound causing a strange jolt in my chest.
Even though I shouldn’t even be thinking about making an effort, I apply a bit of lipstick and straighten my clothes before I head back into the kitchen.
Kellan seems surprised when he sees me standing in the doorway, juggling two plates and two glasses of lemonade.
“You didn’t have to.”
I shrug. “I wanted to. You’re kind enough for letting us stay.”
He mumbles a “thanks” and we eat on the front porch in silence.
“The mechanic is going to pick up your car later today,” he says.
I swallow the last bite of my sandwich before I reply. “I thought the landline wasn’t working.”
“It isn’t.” He gives me an amused glance. “But the one in the barn is.”
“You have a working phone in the barn and didn’t tell me?”
“I never got the chance because you just took off.”
“You were rude.”
“I was.” He turns his head to me and playfully bumps his shoulder against mine. “I need to apologize.”
“I wasn’t nice either, so don’t.”
“I knew the hill was slippery. It’s my fault you fell. How about I make it up to you?” He takes another sandwich, bites into it, and chews slowly.
“How?”
“I want you to stay for a few more days,” Kellan says.
“I’m not sure I can.”
“Because you know I’ll keep making passes at you?”
I shake my head. “No, that’s not it. I know you will. Strange as it may sound, I think I’ve gotten used to you being annoying.”
A smile lights up his face. “Then stay. I want to see how far I can go with you.”
“You don’t give up, do you?” I roll my eyes in mock exasperation.
“Never.” He grins. “Wait here.” He gets up and rounds the house, then returns with a pair of brown hiking boots. “These are for you.”
I take them out of his hands and turn them around to inspect them. “How did you know my size?”
“I removed your shoes from you, remember?”
The sound of tires hitting gravel carries over, followed by Sniper barking.
“Here, boy.” Kellan grabs his collar and guides him to the garage, locking him inside.
A moment later, Mandy calls out, “Are you guys decent?”
I roll my eyes at her and shoot Kellan an exasperated look. I find him gazing at me, but his expression isn’t quite as irritated as mine.
Because he doesn’t want to be decent with me. He’s made that part pretty clear. And because he’s not a guy who beats around the bush; he seems to like to keep all women informed about his intentions.
“I can’t believe you just said that,” I say to Mandy as we head back inside.
She shrugs and squeezes out of her jacket, tossing it at the foot of the couch the same way she does back home. Kellan glares at the jacket like it’s the poor fabric’s fault, but doesn’t comment.
So, he’s the tidy kind. I add that to my mental drawer of information I’ve gathered about him.
“Did you find the town?” Kellan retrieves the jacket and drapes it over the back of a chair.
Mandy freezes as she hears insistent barking, ignoring Kellan’s question. “Wow. Is there a dog in there?”
“It’s Sniper,” I say.
Mandy watches us with a knowing smirk on her face. “Look at you, guys. You already look like an old married couple.”
“Not a fan of marriage?” Kellan remarks, brows raised.
“Actually, quite the contrary,” I say, amused. “She finds old, married people cute.” I grimace at him. “Don’t get her started, unless you want a rendition of The Notebook with all its literary merits and its relevance to today’s society.”
A blank question mark flickers on his face, and I smile.
He has no idea what The Notebook is.
If he continues to be a big jerk, I’ll let Mandy unpack her all-time favorite movie, which I’m sure is safely stashed in her suitcase because she never travels without it, and dare him to watch it from the beginning until the very sappy ending.
“Did you know there’s a freaking western movie out there?” Mandy ask and plops down on the sofa.
“She’s probably talking about the landscape,” I say and look at Kellan, barely able to hide my smile. Something—is that amusement?—flickers in his eyes.