Serenity Falls(5)

I shake my head, ignoring his comment as I walk back to my chair. “Do you know when Autumn is supposed to have her baby?”

Rummaging through the cupboards, he looks at me, pulling a cup out of the cabinet. “Should be before the summer ends. It’s hard to say, but I know that Mr. Adams wants me to install cameras in her stall so we can monitor her.”

“Do you mind letting me know when she goes into labor? I wanna be there when she delivers.”

He sets the cup down and his hands go to his hips as he turns to me. Brantley stands at least a foot taller than me, which isn’t hard to do since I’m only five foot four. Only two years older than me, his face is fuller rather than defined, but still quite attractive. Wearing a pair of jeans, cowboy boots, and a red T-shirt, his broad shoulders stretch it, fitting perfectly, and his dark brown hair offsets his gray eyes. His eyebrow arches as he asks, “You wanna be there when Autumn has her baby?”

“Yes, I do. Is that so hard for you to believe?” I ask, matching his disbelieving look.

“Now Brantley, you know Kenleigh and Autumn have a special bond. Hell, we all saw it last summer. If it hadn’t been for this lady right here, we would have never been able to get her broken in.” Sandy comes to my defense and pats my hand.

“You’re right, Mrs. A,” he says. Still looking at me, he continues. “I’ll keep you posted and let you know what’s going on.”

“Thanks.”

Getting out of my chair, I carry my glass over to the sink, and look over at Sandy. “Well, I guess I better get my bags and head on over to the volunteer quarters.”

She waves her hand in dismissal, as if what I’ve just said is ridiculous. “Oh no, you don’t. You’re staying in here. I’ve already got a room set up for you.”

“Oh no, that’s quite all right. I appreciate the offer though.”

Shooting me a stern look and narrowing her eyes, she dares me to argue with her. Accepting that there’s no other way around this, I nod my head and smile at her. “Yes ma’am. Thank you for letting me stay here.”

“Now that’s more like it. Go get your things, and put ‘em away and then you can help me make lunch.”

Smiling, I hug her. “Thank you so much. And I am really happy and excited to be back.”

Walking out to my Jeep, I step up on the running board and lean over, pull my three bags out and toss them to the ground. I hear Barefoot Blue Jean Night by Jake Owen blaring in the distance. I cup my hands over my eyes, shielding them from the sun only to see a black Ford F-250 hauling ass toward the house. Deciding it’s none of my business, I pick my bags up as the truck parks next to my Jeep. “Here, let me help you with those.” A man’s voice stops me in my tracks.

“No, it’s all right, but thanks,” I say without looking back at him. I can hear his feet hitting the ground below after he slams the truck door shut.

“I insist,” he argues.

I look back over my shoulder to spout how it isn’t necessary, but I’m not prepared for what I see staring back at me. My mouth runs dry as I take in his black ribbed tank top that accentuates the corded muscles traveling down his thick, tan arms as he jogs around the back of my Jeep. Below the hem of his tan cargo shorts, the sight of his defined legs is a remarkable sight. “Please, let me help you with those,” he says again, grabbing the bags from me.

A shiver runs through me when his strong calloused fingers brush against mine retrieving my bags. “Thank you,” I say as he flashes a full-blown smile at me, displaying his delicious dimples and a set of perfectly straight teeth. My eyes travel up and down his body, finally resting on his eyes. I hope my gasp wasn’t audible because I do not want to be one of those girls. Staring back at me is a pair of the brightest blue eyes I have ever seen, almost piercing like the Caribbean Sea.

“Where to?” he asks.

“Um… there.” I point in the direction of the main house.

“All right,” he says, walking toward the house.

Snapping myself out of it, I follow him. Looking over his shoulder, he asks, “And you are?”

“Kenleigh. Kenleigh Briggs,” I answer.

Nodding his head, I see a faint smile sweep across his face as he turns back to look at the house. Climbing the stairs on the porch, he opens the screen door letting me pass in front of him. The kitchen where Sandy was is now empty. “What room are you staying in?” he asks from behind me.

Hopefully one next to you. “Um… I’m not sure. I mean I don’t know. I mean… I thought I was… You know what? Never mind.” Damn it! I can’t believe I just started stammering like a fool. I take a deep breath and collect myself before I start over. “I wasn’t told which room I’d be staying in.” Turning around, I place my hands on my hips. I know I just caught him staring at my ass. When I clear my throat, his eyes snap up to meet my ‘are you serious’ look.