Page 44 of Gotta Dig Deep
“Respect for the woman who saved me.” Turning that smile in her direction, she was stunned silent at the way his features transformed from handsome to striking. “Not hard to do.”
“Back in a minute.” Walking faster than normal, she fled the kitchen.
What’s wrong with you, woman?
Nothing was wrong with her. She’d just lost her composure for a moment. He didn’t have any way to know Penn was gone, because she hadn’t mentioned that earlier. And the way he tried to comfort her was beautiful. Her mind drew unwelcome comparisons between his attitude towards her and Cooter’s, and she shoved that discontent aside.
“Sweats, and maybe a pair of jeans with a belt. Another shirt, if there’s one smaller. Socks.” Muttering her list as a reminder, Glenna opened the closet and slowly turned to the side she’d been ignoring for years. Penn had been slightly broader in the shoulders than Graeme, but they looked of a height. His clothes should fit well enough. She pulled the string to turn on the light and stood there, shadow cast at her feet.
Jeans at the front of the rack, folded over hangers. Those were easy enough, and she grabbed the first pair in the row. A belt hung helpfully over the hanger hook, so it was a twofer. Button-down shirts were next, and those were a slower review. Glenna’s fingers ticked across each hanger in turn, memories flooding her of events where each had been worn. She could see Penn standing at the podium of a conference hall in a nearby town, giving a talk on the minutia that made up a small rancher’s life. He’d been proud of that invitation, one of the first. She hadn’t worried about his ability to talk to a large group, but the way he’d held attendees spellbound was something she’d treasured—still treasured.
There was a dark green shirt near the back and Glenna pulled it out. The pattern didn’t evoke any memories, and she nearly laughed aloud when she saw the tag was still attached.
“Perfect.”
Penn’s dresser was pushed against the wall underneath his hanging clothes. The top drawer offered her bundled pairs of socks. She took two of the newest-looking pairs. At one end of the drawer was a never-opened package of underwear, and it joined the other items in her hands. Tees were in the next drawer down, nearly all of them in solid colors, no graphics to be found. Something they’d always disagreed on, because Glenna thought it was a bonus if the saying on a shirt could add to a conversation, while Penn decided his mouth got him into enough trouble.
“Liar,” she said fondly. Penn didn’t have any enemies, not a one. “Hadn’t had any.”
A pair of sweatpants from the next drawer rounded out the pile in her arms and she bumped the drawer closed with one hip, catching the light string in her teeth and pulling sharply, plunging the closet back into darkness.
Depositing the clothing options on the end of the couch, Glenna was surprised Graeme wasn’t in the living room, but then heard his voice from the kitchen.
He must have called his people.
“Naw, Blackie, it’s all good. This gal doctored me up real fine. I’m going to need a ride out of here, but it’s late. You go snuggle with Peaches and talk to that little one. You and Randi can take turns singing to Peaches’ belly.”
There was silence for a minute, followed by a deep, attractive chuckle.
“Yeah, brother. I’ll call you tomorrow. Let everybody know I’m good. Wasn’t no foul play involved. Just careless ridin’. See ya.”
Graeme paused as he walked through the doorway, his gaze catching on hers. “Phone charged, enough anyway. I’ve let my friends know to call off the search parties.”
“If I’d been thinking and had your phone charged, I could have answered it.” She fussed with the hem on the T-shirt, patting it flat. “Sorry to cause them so much worry.”
“Glenna, don’t do that.”
He stopped at the end of the couch, and should have looked ridiculous in bare feet, a shirt knotted around his waist, and the ends of his leather vest swinging against his hips, but he didn’t.
He looks hot.
“You’ve helped me out considerably. No apologies needed, honest.” He reached for the clothing. “These the things you’re lending me?”
“Oh, I don’t need them back. Consider them a gift. The shirt and drawers are brand new.” She flipped the fabric over to show the tag. “Everything else is gently used. It’s all clean, though.”
“I appreciate it. Is it okay if I get a shower? I’m all-over sticky. Combination of sweat and blood, I think.”
“Sure.” She pointed down the hall. “Bathroom is just there. Towels are in the cabinet over the toilet. Feel free to use any razors or anything.” She glanced at his face, taking in the heavy beard lining his jaw. “Or maybe not. Either way, help yourself.”
Flustered, she kept her seat on the coffee table while he gathered up various items and disappeared up the hallway.
“Get your shit together, Glenna.” Shamu pushed his head against her elbow, levering her arm up so he was tight against her side. “He’s handsome, and respectful, and has friends. He’s just a man. Stop being a ninny.”
She bent to smack a kiss against Shamu’s nose.
But he is handsome, and right now is about to be naked in my shower.
“Shammy, your momma’s a ninny.”
