Page 43 of Ocotillo Kisses
“We’ll figure it out,” he said, and glanced at Britt.
“Why are you going to Del Rio for pottery?” Britt asked.
Poppy’s expression closed off. “For the sidewalks. We want to put a couple of big planters around each side of the square, to kind of tie everything together. I figured we could probably get the best price in Del Rio, or maybe even go into Mexico to get them. And in my mind, the planters need to be pretty big, so we’ll need to take Con’s trailer.”
“But you’ll waste time and money making the drive,” Britt pointed out. “It would be more efficient to just buy them locally.”
“We don’t have a big budget, and I know exactly what I want.” Poppy leveled a look at Britt that she had no trouble interpreting.
“Speaking of town cleanup,” Caleb interjected, his voice louder than it needed to be. “Con, can you come help us on the overhangs this week?
“Yeah, I have meetings Wednesday and Thursday with prospective buyers, and tomorrow, I’m taking Britt and my mom to San Angelo, but I can help the other days.”
“We’ll make sure to leave the hard work on those days,” Beck said with a grin.
Britt quietly excused herself and stood, heading into the rough-looking building that held the bar.
“Hey, where you going?”
She tuned to see Con had followed her. “Just to get a drink.”
He glanced back at the table, where a bucket of chilled beer sat, but she didn’t acknowledge his silent message, just continued into the bar. Those beers didn’t feel like they were for her. She felt like she was here as an afterthought. Besides, she was used to buying her own drinks. She could pick what she wanted, pay what she wanted, and not have to worry about inconveniencing anyone. That was just her way of doing things.
She stepped up to the bar, aware that Con was still behind her. She ordered the beer she liked, waited for the bartender to get it for her, and turned to Con.
“She likes you, you know?”
He didn’t pretend not to know who she was talking about. He leaned on the bar beside her and sighed. “I know.”
“I get the feeling that isn’t new?”
“It’s not recent, I guess, but I don’t know.” His expression was more resignation than delight.
“She is very pretty, and very protective of you.” Britt didn’t know why she was pleased that Con didn’t seem interested in the young teacher.
“Other than being on the bus, and in this town, we don’t have a lot in common.”
Britt wondered if he thought the two of them did, still. She couldn’t imagine what. History, was the only thing she could think of. History, and a deep attraction.
He’d kissed her up against the wall in the barn yesterday and she hadn’t stopped thinking about it. Okay, yes, she kissed him, too, and probably would still be kissing him if they hadn’t had an audience. That chemistry was one thing they had very very much in common. And the way he was looking at her right now, he was thinking about it, too.
What could they offer each other? She was leaving in a couple of weeks. Nothing was going to change her mind about that. She had a life.
But maybe they could enjoy the next two weeks with each other. He had to understand, though, that there would be nothing more than that. No hope that she would stay.
She felt a little bad, because if he had a future with Poppy, and she was inserting herself into his life, would she mess up that possible relationship? And how did she propose this to him?
“After you drink that, do you want to get out of here?”
She nearly dropped her bottle, glancing around to see if anyone else heard his invitation. “And go where?”
“I don’t know. Someplace with fewer people?”
She realized something then. “Your mom and my grandmother are having a meeting now.” And they each had to wait to take them back home.
“Okay. So tonight. I’ll come over there.”
Her pulse picked up. “Do you want to go swimming?”
