“Are you cold,” he asked, interrupting her self-chastisement.
“A…little,” she lied. She couldn’t tell him it was his nearness that had her trembling.
“Why don’t you grab a sweater while I run in and change?” He dropped his arm from her waist and stepped toward the house.
She instantly missed the warmth of his body beside hers, but smiled broadly, as if his suggestion was the greatest she’d ever heard.
“Yeah, I’ll do that,” she said as she set the bowl of tousled tortillas on the table and placed the lid—that she’d rescued from the ground after stumbling around—on top to keep them warm.
When she turned around, he stood just outside the sliding glass door, a look of concern on his face. “I don’t mind if we eat inside.”
This time her smile was genuine. “No, it’s okay. I’d like to enjoy the pretty weather while we have it. Unless you’d rather…?”
He shook his head. “It’s fine by me. I just wanted you to be comfortable.” He stepped inside the open door. “Be right back.”
Her heart melted a little more at his thoughtful concern.
He’s just being kind, it doesn’t mean anything.
She followed him into the kitchen to grab the rest of their dinner and take it out to the table, then she darted through the house to grab a light sweater. After all, the sun would set and she may need it before they finished the meal.
She made a quick stop in her bathroom to wipe the grass stains from her knees and then dashed back down the hall to the kitchen and out the back door.
Cade stood by the table in dry, faded blue jeans and a gray T-shirt that hugged the muscles of his back and shoulders—oddly, he hadn’t tucked it in. His arms were crossed over his chest, staring at the sky as the sun sank toward the blueish-purple mountains in the distance.
She hustled forward, her bare feet rustling the longish grass. “You didn’t need to wait for me.”
He turned at the sound of her voice, a crooked grin on his lips. “What kind of gentleman would I be if I didn’t wait for a lady?”
Her cheeks warmed and her chest felt light as a feather.
“Well, thank you,” she said. “Please sit and help yourself.”
They tucked into the meal and Addie was glad she’d made the extra chicken. This man could eat, and pride filled her watching him enjoy the meal she’d prepared.
“This is another great dinner,” he said after a long drink of lemonade, poured into a glass from the pitcher on the table. “You’re an awesome cook.”
She inhaled deeply and smiled. “Well, that’s quite a compliment. Thanks.”
“It’s more than deserved.”
She took a bite of her tortilla-wrapped fajita as Cade built himself another one.
“How’s the barn roof looking?” she asked after swallowing her mouthful.
He nodded, chewing rapidly and swallowing.
“Better than I thought,” he said and sipped a little more lemonade. “The dry-rot hasn’t spread far. I replaced four sheathing boards on the deck and I’m going to weave in some new felt and shingles. When I’m done, the whole thing should be good for a few more years.”
“Oh,” she widened her eyes in surprise, “that’s great news.”
He chuckled. “I thought you’d like that.”
His laugh did odd things to her insides, made her warm, fuzzy, and shivery all at once.
“I do,” she said in a low voice she didn’t recognize.
He glanced at her mouth then met her gaze with a raised eyebrow.
She cleared her dry throat and took a drink of lemonade, anything to avoid his eyes.
“Um-hmm…” She waved her hand excitedly, remembering her phone conversation earlier that morning. “I have good news for you, too,” she said once the lemonade was gone.
“Really?” he asked and she heard a low rumble of something hot and steamy in the single utterance.
That tugging sensation inside her was back and she bit her lip, drawing his attention.
“It’s not a big deal,” she said, backtracking a little.
“Please, do share.” Now his voice sounded almost suggestive, and the look in his azure eyes ignited a burning tension between her thighs. She squirmed a little. My God, he’s got me turned on with just a look and the sound of his voice.
“I’m… I…We…W-We’re going to have company on Saturday.”
“Okay,” he said, seeming confused and…disappointed. “I’ll be working all day, but I can fend for myself, eat in my room or in the barn—“
“Oh, no,” she said hurriedly, followed by a nervous chuckle. “No, no, I didn’t mean it like that. My friends from the coffee shop offered to help with the hay baling and stacking.” She tilted her head. “You are going to start baling on Saturday, right?”
“Yeah, if it’s dry by then. I may have to turn it to let the sun dry out all the internal moisture from the stalks for another day or two before baling.”
“You think they won’t be dried out by the weekend?”
“No, I think it will be if the forecast is correct, but anything can happen. The weather’s supposed to cloud up next week, so we’re going to have to get it up and stacked before any rain comes.”
“That should be easy with the three of them,” Addie said, “and Lana mentioned that she might bring a couple of friends, too.”
He chuckled again. “I’ll bet. Are you planning to join us?”
“Of course. I told you I’d be helping when I could. Besides, I need to learn.”
He nodded and took another bite of his tortilla-wrapped fajita meat.
“How’s the writing going?” he asked after swallowing.
Her chest warmed, gladdened by his curiosity in her work, though she wasn’t sure why. “It’s good. I finished one yesterday, I’m almost done with the story that’s due on Monday, and I only need a little more research to finish the one I have to turn in tomorrow.”
“What are they about?”
His interest made her smile. “Well, one is editing and fact-checking a piece on comparing the specs of the top-rated CPUs this year
