Aunt Sally had deserved a better end than she’d had, and it used to hurt a lot to talk about her. But Eva had started to heal. Two years ago, watching those ladies jitterbugging their hearts out, would have turned her into a faucet.
Nick handed her into his spotless silver truck like the gentleman he was. She thanked him and settled into the seat. Most of the cowboys she’d met took pride in their trucks, even if they had a lot of miles on them. Nick was no exception.
He climbed behind the wheel, buckled up and started the engine. A country tune on high volume poured from the speakers. He switched it off.
“You can leave the music on if you want.”
“Okay, but that was way too loud.” He adjusted the volume. “I blasted it on the way over because I was so nervous.”
“It didn’t show.”
“Riding fast helped some.” He backed the truck around and drove across the dirt yard to the paved road leading to the highway. “Windows down or up?”
“Let’s put them down, please. It’s a nice night.” As the previous song ended, Keith Whitley’s When You Say Nothing at All spilled gently from the speakers. She cranked her window down and so did he. This truck was an old-timer.
The moon rode low on the horizon and a warm breeze drifted through the open window. Crickets chirped from the roadside. She glanced over at Nick, his hands resting loosely on the wheel, his broad shoulders relaxed.
She appreciated his willingness to let the silence between them just be, filled only with the gentle tones of the song. His calm, supportive mood surrounded her like a soft blanket.
He’d been a considerate friend, coaxing her to enjoy the party and facilitating that by offering her a ride home. He’d almost hugged her tonight when he’d noticed she was upset. She wouldn’t have minded. She’d bet he was a good hugger.
The Keith Whitley song ended and a commercial came on. She turned to Nick. “I’ve been thinking about your schedule tomorrow. Since you have barn duty at five, why don’t you come to my house later in the morning, like ten or eleven?”
“That would mean I’d be there later, too, but if you’d rather follow that schedule, I could—”
“You don’t have to stay until ten at night. You could still leave at eight.”
He gave her a quick glance. “That’s not what you paid for.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“It does to me.” He returned his attention to the deserted road. “I offered twelve hours of manual labor and that’s what I’ll deliver.” He chuckled. “You don’t want to mess with that contract we both agreed to. Deidre will come after us.”
“She might. That sounded like a binding agreement.”
“Sure did.”
“Do you know what she does for a living? My guess is she’s a lawyer.”
“Don’t quote me on this, but I think she’s a real estate agent.”
“That would fit, too. Anyway, regarding our contract, I think it puts me in the power position.”
“It does. I’m yours to command.”
There was that sexy bachelor auction vibe Fiona had talked about. It put sizzle into this conversation. “In that case, I should be free to cut your hours.” The atmosphere in the truck’s cab had shifted to a teasing one and she was fine with that.
“Why would you want me to work less? Last time I heard, you had several things on your list.”
“I didn’t know you were getting up at five for barn duty. Besides, you’re giving me a ride home and you’re planning to give me another ride back to fetch my truck. That takes up any slack.”
“Not in my book. Unless you forbid me to start work at eight, that’s when I’ll begin. I want you to get your money’s worth.”
“I made a charitable donation to a cause I care about. Even if you didn’t do a lick of work, I’d still—”
“Did you just find a chest full of money in that attic?”
“No.”
“You told me on Wednesday that you probably couldn’t afford whatever I’d bring at this auction. At the time, I had no idea the bidding would go so high. Or that you’d hang in there. Judging from what you said during my hair appointment, you can’t have planned to spend—”
“I didn’t.”
“Then why’d you do it? I tried to warn you off. Did you see me shaking my head?”
“I saw you.”
“Why didn’t you back off?”
Because you rode in on a fast horse to a song I happen to love and I couldn’t help myself. She was a sucker for a man with flair. Nick had surprised her by being dashing. She wasn’t ready to say that. “Zane McGavin’s opening speech.”
“I couldn’t hear it.”
“It was very inspiring. I couldn’t resist donating to such a worthwhile cause, but to do that I had to win the bid. Which I did.”
“And you no longer care whether you get stuff down from the attic or rocks out of your yard?”
“Well, I do, but not if you’re working yourself to the bone.”
“Working myself to the bone is what I do. It’s my thing.”
“You’re just saying that to make me feel better.”
“Trust me, I’m not. I’m never happier than when I have a physically demanding job ahead of me.” He pulled up in front of her Victorian and switched off the engine.
“I don’t buy that never happier stuff. I’m sure there are several things you like even better.”
“Like what?”
“For one thing, a plate full of delicious food.”
He laughed.
“I was there, Nick. I saw your reaction to Ed’s buffet.”
“Let’s say good food and a physical challenge are equally appealing. And they complement each other. Working hard makes me hungry and eating well gives me fuel for the tough jobs.” He opened his door and grabbed his hat off the dash. “I’ll walk you to the porch.”
“You don’t have to.”
“Yes, I do. Wait for me, please.”
She did. She even waited for him to open the door and help her down. She got a kick out of his take charge attitude in the short term. In the long term, it might start to chafe.
Her front walk was wide and should accommodate two, although tonight was the first time she’d tested that. When one of the people was Nick, it was a close fit. He jostled her shoulder and apologized.
“No worries. I don’t break.”
“I recognize that about you.”
“Even though I get teary-eyed when two eighty-something women dance the jitterbug?”
“Everybody has a soft spot for something.”
“What’s yours?”
“Baby animals. Foals, kittens, puppies, tiny cottontails, bear cubs, you name it. I get choked up.”
“Children, too?”
“Aw, yeah. Those little shavers when they first learn to walk. So cute and brave.”
“So I’m all about the older folks and you’re all about the kids.” She climbed her porch steps and he followed her up.
“Those two groups are alike, in a way.”
She turned to face him. “How so?”
“They both have gumption.”
“I guess they do. Never thought of that.” She dug out her keys. “Getting back to what you said about fuel for tough jobs, if I can’t change your mind about the hours you work tomorrow, I can cook for you.”
“Oh, that’s not necess—”
“Hey, I’m going along with your plan of twelve hours, so you can jolly well go along with mine.” She lifted her chin, ready to take a stand. His hat shaded his face from the muted glow of the porch light and partially disguised his expression. “You love to eat and I love feeding people. I’ll cook for you or know the reason why.”
He nudged his hat back. The soft light reflected in his blue eyes, making them sparkle. He smiled. “I’d be a fool to pass up that offer.”
Her breath caught. Nick Le Grande was a very handsome guy. How had she missed that? As she held his gaze, the blue of his eyes deepened to navy. Her stomach fluttered.
Then he swallowed, touched two fingers to the brim of his hat and backed away. “See you at seven-thirty, Eva.”
“Seven-thirty? I thought eight was the—”
“I need to drive you back to Ed’s to get your truck, and I do plan to start at eight.”
“Oh, right.” What was up with her breathing? “Seven-thirty it is, then.”
He took the porch steps two at a time and lengthened his stride when he reached the sidewalk.
The growl of his truck’s engine and the flash of headlights snapped her out of her daze. Spinning around, she opened the screen door and jabbed the key in the lock. Took two tries to get the door open.
Once inside, she laid her purse and keys on the side table by the door and stood in the entryway dragging in air. They’d been talking about oldsters and puppies, and then…
What had just happened?