Page 70 of Spencer and the Younger Girl
“Famished.” She winked at Spencer. “Being berated all the time sure helps a girl work up an appetite.”
Spencer followed them. “I don’t berate.”
“Oh right, your style is more grumpy ‘I am caveman’.”
Damien laughed at that, and Spencer shoved him.
Hadley couldn’t wipe the smile from her face. Who knew barn duty could be so much fun?
* * *
Hadley couldn’t stop thinkingabout the kiss, the moment she’d given in to the feelings brewing within her.
She lay on the floor of the Carrigan home with her head in Charlotte’s lap hours after the rendezvous in the Lee mud room, and a smile tilted her lips.
“Yes!” Jesse jumped off the couch, jostling Charlotte who’d been leaning against his legs.
“What happened?” Hadley snapped out of her fog to look toward the TV.
Charlotte combed her fingers through Hadley’s hair. “Tampa scored. You know… in the hockey game we’re watching?” Her brow creased and her lips twitched in amusement.
Cassie slid out from under Roman’s arm and dropped onto the floor beside the other girls. She pressed a hand to Hadley’s forehead. “She’s not warm. You sick, Hads?”
“Why would you think I’m sick?”
Charlotte was the one who answered. “Because you’ve had this stupid grin on your face since you got here after dinner.”
With no work to be done at the ranch, Hadley went home after lunch and spent the afternoon playing cards with her grandfather before Roman dragged her out.
Roman leaned down. “Maybe she’s just annoyed because this is the lamest birthday party ever.”
“Hey.” Cassie shoved him away from them. “Girl talk.” She crossed her arms. “Besides, this isn’t lame.”
Jesse laughed. “Roman just wishes he was one of the girls.”
“Babe.” Charlotte eyed him. “Weren’t you the one who was commenting how you wish hockey jerseys were as soft as my figure skating dresses?”
He shrugged. “And? It’s the truth.”
“Heck yeah it is,” Roman added. The boys fist bumped.
Charlotte looked down at Hadley who still hadn’t sat up. “Ignore tweedle dee and tweedle dumb over there. Tell us what’s wrong.”
Hadley rolled off Charlotte and got to her feet. “I need a drink.”
She walked toward the kitchen where Mr. Carrigan and Cassie’s two younger brothers sat playing a game at the table. Veering out of sight, she headed for the front entryway instead and pulled her phone free.
Disappointment rushed through her to see no message from Spencer. Then she remembered just who she was. Hadley Gibson didn’t need him to text first.
Hadley: I can’t stop…
She erased the message and tried again.
Hadley:I want to kiss you again.
Hitting send, she slid the phone back into her pocket when she heard footsteps in the hall. She didn’t know why she kept Spencer from her friends, but it felt good to have this secret.
“There you are.” Roman grinned when he saw her.
