Page 26 of Christmas with the Cowboy
“You okay?”
“No.” The word snapped out and she immediately regretted it. But she didn’t try to pull it back or soften it.
He studied her, waited. He knew her well enough to do that, something her last beau had never figured out.
“I didn’t expect to see you here. If anyone came home after Myers quit, I assumed it would be Spence. Or Cade.”
“A reasonable assumption.”
“It’s been fifteen years, Reed.”
He nodded.
“And…in some ways it feels like yesterday.”
“That’s why I wanted to talk. It feels like that to me, too. And I’m not ready to go there.”
She had the odd sensation of her midsection simultaneously tightening and warming. It was all she could do not to squirm.
“Did Mom tell you about Lex’s stepdad?”
“She did. I was sorry to hear about it.”
“Lex is going through a lot on that front. I’m trying to keep everything else in her life as steady as possible.”
His meaning was obvious, but Trenna stated it anyway, maybe just to prove to herself that she could. “You’re saying that we’re not having a one-nighter for old times’ sake.”
He shook his head, his mouth forming a hard straight line before he spoke. “I don’t know that we could have just a one-nighter.”
Her chin dropped to her chest as she gave him a frowning look.
“I’m avoiding complications,” he said.
Like the complication of them getting back together?
“You’re assuming a lot here, cowboy.”
The look he gave her made her breathing stall out again.Damn man.
“I’m saying I’m not taking the chance. What we had burned bright, Trenn. I think it could light up again.”
“Another big assumption.”
“I don’t think so.”
“You think we, two adults, have no control?” She swaggered up to him, so close that she could draw in his scent, which brought too many memories crashing back, and she felt herself sway toward him. He lifted his chin, looking down at her from beneath half-closed eyelids, and she knew she had to step back before she did something stupid.
“See?” he said softly.
“Unfortunately, yes,” she muttered, putting distance between them. She blew out a breath and jammed her hands into her back pockets. “What now?” The words came out stiffly.
“We carry on, knowing where we are instead of wondering.”
They were on the same page. He’d been smart to do this, to start what had to be a difficult conversation for a guy who wasn’t that comfortable discussing feelings. To make certain she knew his parameters. He still didn’t know hers, which again put them on the same page because neither did she.
“I have to go buy a battery cable.”
A beat of silence passed before Reed said, “I have one in the shop that should do the job.”
