As far as the guys, she was feeling like a failure, despite Jolie assuring her they’d come around.
Ha!
The crunch of tires, then headlights flashing across the open barn doors, alerted her that someone was pulling into her driveway. She glanced at her watch. It was after eleven-thirty.
Who would be coming to her house at this late hour?
And what was she doing out in the barn this late alone? Her door was even unlocked and every light in the house was on. Hello—
She’d not realized how late it was. She’d gotten lost in her drawing. Pulling her legs back from the edge, she stood and went to the window to peek out and see who was out there.
Rowdy!
What was he doing here so late?
She’d been relieved when he hadn’t shown up to work two days ago. The boys had relayed the message that he’d had ranch business out of town. It hadn’t made her happy that her first reaction had been to feel let down that he was gone. She’d kicked that out the door in an instant and been more than happy not to have to see him for a few days. It gave her time to think. Time to take control of her circumstances again.
She’d called a contractor and set up a meeting for tomorrow.
Rowdy got out of his truck, stretched and then, looking better than she wished he did, he strode to her back door and knocked on the screen-door frame.
Drats!
He waited, looked at his watch then turned and glanced toward the barn. She knew he couldn’t see her and she didn’t move. But then she realized that maybe since it was so late, there was an important reason he was out there.
“Rowdy,” she called, pushing the window open and waving. “I’m up here. Is everything all right?”
“Lucy! What are you doing out there at this time of night?”
Okay, so maybe she should have let him stand out there all night. “I’m working. What are you doing?”
“Looking for you?” He was steadily heading toward her. The barn’s spotlight showcased him all the way. He looked up as he got closer. “Mind if I come up?”
Yes. “No,” she said instead. Walking over, she sat back down on the edge of the loft and let her legs dangle as she watched him stomp up the stairs.
When he made it to the floor he came and sat down beside her. Too close for comfort, his shoulder brushed hers. Butterflies came out of nowhere and attacked her stomach. There were just some things she was finding out that she couldn’t control. Butterflies were one of them.
Drat and double drat!
* * *
God had been having an excellent day when He’d created Lucy Calvert. Yessiree, it was true. He’d also been on a let’s-torture-Rowdy kick.
He’d missed her.
There, he admitted it. Staring into those amazing eyes, he knew there was no use trying to deny it.
“What did you say you were out here doing? Working?” he asked as the sounds of the night settled in the stillness between them. Through the open barn doors, crickets chirped and he could hear the coyotes in the distance, so far off their lonesome call almost blended with the night.