Read, Write, Love at Seaside(80)

Bella rolled her eyes. “So you don’t say it that way.” She waved her hand in the air and spoke in a higher tone. “Hey, babe. It’s me. I got a great offer from Daisy Chain that’s too good to pass up, but I’d have to be at the Cape full-time. Maybe we should talk about it? Better?”

“Much,” Amy said. “What about this? I got this great offer, but I don’t want to lose you, either. Maybe we can figure this out together?”

Bella leaned across the table and pointed at Amy. “Even better. Nice addition.”

Leanna shook her head. “Maybe you guys can make the call for me.”

They talked for another twenty minutes, until they’d beaten the subject and hypothetical outcomes to death. Amy took Pepper back to her cottage to give Leanna privacy. Leanna gathered her belongings from Bella’s and from her van, then went into her cottage with her heart in her throat and called Kurt.





Chapter Twenty-Nine





IT HAD BEEN almost two hours since Kurt texted Leanna, and he took that as a good sign that her meeting was going well. It was a cool, sunny day in Colorado, and Kurt was enjoying visiting with his family and the Bradens, even though seeing the Jack and Savannah so in love made him long for Leanna. Now he stood by the split-rail fence at the edge of the yard watching Hal Braden down by the barn with Treat and his horse Hope.

Rex joined him and leaned his elbows on the fence, watching his father. Rex, like all of the men, had shed his suit coat and wore his dress shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His bulging forearms twitched as he wrung his hands together.

“Dad and Hope,” Rex said with a shake of his head. He looked up at Kurt. “I think we see them as a couple.”

“The horse?”

“Yeah. Dad bought that horse for my mom when she first became ill. She loved that horse so much, and after she died, I swear my dad began talking to Hope like my mom’s inside her somewhere.”

Kurt cocked his head in question.

“Yeah, I know,” Rex said. “I always thought Dad was a little off for doing that, but now? I’m not so sure. It sure feels like Mom’s around, especially when I’m near Hope.” Rex leaned his hip against the fence and crossed his arms. He wore his thick black hair longer than his brothers, like Sage preferred to wear his, brushing his collar. His powerful, broad frame reminded Kurt of Hal, and when he narrowed his dark eyes, the resemblance was uncanny.

“Do you miss Leanna?”

Kurt half smiled, half laughed. “Look around.” He glanced at Jack and Savannah, kissing by the buffet table. Jack ran his finger down Savannah’s cheek, and she leaned forward and kissed him. “Hard not to miss her.”

“Yeah, I can see that.” Rex said. “When I see love like that, I understand where Dad’s coming from. Have you ever felt that way? Do you feel that way about Leanna?”

Kurt mulled over the question. He’d been away from Leanna for a day, and he had no idea how he’d make it until tomorrow, much less Monday. He couldn’t imagine his life without her. He leaned his arms on the fence and exhaled loudly. Talking about feelings wasn’t something he was used to doing, but Rex made it look so easy, and feel so right, that the words came easily.

“To be honest, until Leanna, I never felt much for a woman. My life was about writing, and family of course, but that goes without saying. I don’t know about the whole spiritual connection thing, mostly because I’ve never really thought about it. But as far as Leanna goes? I think about her every second.” He smiled. “Boy, do I ever. She’s gotten under my skin. I want her with me even when she talks incessantly and barely takes a breath.” He looked at Rex. “So yeah, I guess I do feel that way. I’m going on thirty-one and have never lived with a woman, well, besides my sister, of course. I have no idea if I’ll drive her crazy or what, but I do know that I can’t wait to have her with me every day.”

“That’s love, man.” Rex stood up and put a hand on Kurt’s back.

Kurt’s phone rang, and he pulled it from his pocket. “It’s Leanna.”

“Go ahead, man,” Rex said. “Talk to her. We’ll catch up later.”

Kurt watched Rex walk away, and headed toward the front yard as he answered Leanna’s call.

“Hey, babe. How did it go?” He climbed the porch steps, thankful for the privacy.

“Hi. Wanna FaceTime?”

“Yeah, sure.” A few seconds later, her lovely face—and worried eyes—filled the screen.

The look in her eyes tugged on his heart. He wished he were there with her, holding her, easing whatever disappointment she was feeling.