Following her back out to the kitchen, I ask. “Tonight?”
She stills and I almost walk into her. Her face turns so I only see her profile and she nods solemnly.
Guess I have homework tonight. After she plugs the eReader in, we get back to painting. Her kitchen isn’t overly large, and since we’re not painting the cabinets, of which there are many, it does not take us long to get the first coat up. We share lunch on her screen porch while it dries.
“So what kind of book would you prefer, heavy steam or low steam?”
I drop my elbow on to the table and rest my chin on my hand. “This your way of telling me you edit dirty books?”
She blushes which is a definite yes.
“I want to read whichever one is your favorite.”
We finish lunch and head back inside to do the second coat. When we’re finished, it looks great. Sure, it needs to dry, but a coat of paint is always an easy way to change the look of a place. She pulls the tape as I pack the other supplies up.
“I’m going to go wash the brushes outside.”
“I’ll come along with you,” she says, following me.
I use the hose, the overspray getting her legs, making her dance away with a squeal. Painting has never been fun, but somehow with Bethany, it didn’t feel like a chore. We leave the brushes and roller heads outside to dry and head back into the kitchen. There are still things I need to take care of on the farm, so I start to take my leave.
She stops me, unplugging the tablet and pushing a few buttons. “This eReader has an awesome battery life, so you should be good. The book I want you to read is opened to page one.”
She goes on to point out how to change the font size if the text is too small.
“Thank you, Bethany. I look forward to reading this.”
“Guys who read are sexy.”
Excuse me?
Either the room just got warm or I’m blushing. “Good thing I like to read.”
“I can’t wait to hear what you think of it. Are we still on for dinner Tuesday night?”
Tucking her eReader under my arm, I grin. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
If she still lives here in six months, I’m so asking her out.
***
This book is hot as hell. I realize I am alone in my cabin, but I still glance around to make sure no one can see that words on a page just gave me a hard-on.
Words on a page.
My eyes settle on my alarm clock and nearly pop out of my head. I hadn’t meant to read this late. I’m just having a hard time putting this book down. There’s this guy and a girl who grew up together and fell in love, but some bullshit happened and she left town without a word. He’s still in love with her and sees her again after a few years.
I need to go to sleep but I’m still reading to try and find out why she left in the first place. Every time they’re together, you can tell they just want to tear each other’s clothes off. Sexier than what I was expecting. The digital glow of my clock catches my eyes again and I turn off the eReader. There’s a ton of work I need to do tomorrow so I have to get some sleep.
Even though I’m not running at one hundred percent, the next day I carry Bethany’s eReader around with me. Every chance I have a couple free minutes, I pull it out and read. I’d like to be able to finish it before our dinner tomorrow night.
“What do you have there?” Bess asks, peeking over my shoulder.
I pass the eReader to her. “It’s a book Bethany wanted me to read.”
“And you can read on this thing.” She moves the eReader back and forth from her face, squinting at it.
I shrug as she hands it back to me. “It’s nice for reading without a light. It’s got one built right in.”
She shakes her head. “I like the feel and smell of a book. There’s nothing like turning an actual page.”
There’s no point in arguing with her, so I give her a small smile and nod.
“When are you seeing Bethany again?”
Without even meaning to, I glance in the direction of her farmhouse. It’s too far to actually see from where I’m currently sitting, but no matter where I am on my land, I know where her house is in relation. She’s west, just like the setting sun.
“Tomorrow night.”
“Are you gonna quit sniffing around her and ask her out already?”
My jaw drops and it takes me a moment to respond. “I’m not a dog, Bess, and I’m just being neighborly.”
She snorts, and then chuckles at my raised brow. “Neighborly my rear. You like her and you’re being silly for not telling her how you feel.”
I take a deep breath. “You know not everyone is cut out for farm life. She grew up in a big city. I’m partly waiting to see if she’ll stay.”