Page 39 of Where She Belongs

“I tried. The door is… stuck.”

He frowned, glanced toward the house, then down to his watch. “I’ve got a client coming. Next time I come, I could see if I can get it open for you.” He returned his attention to her, his eyes cutting to the side as he reached up to tuck a few wayward strands behind her ear.

She fought the shiver that threatened to rack her body at his warm touch and forced a smile. “That’s… uh… that’d be great.” Her voice was a raspy whisper. “Then afterward, I could teach you how to make that pie.”

His brows shot up and his smile stretched wide. “Pinky promise?”

Rylee held up her pinky on reflex, but she realized it had been a mistake too late. Tate’s finger wrapped around hers tight enough that she couldn’t withdraw. Then he tugged her hand to his mouth and kissed it. She gasped, but if he noticed her reaction, he didn’t say anything about it.

“See you later, Rylee,” he murmured, releasing her and walking backward. “I’m holding you to that promise.”

All she could do was stare after him as he drove away. What was she going to do, now?

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Tate was still grumbling to himself when he pulled up to Rylee’s home. It had nothing to do with Rylee and everything to do with the pointed stare Jason gave him when he said he had to duck out a little early from their training session with a new client.

He refused to accept that Jason had a point about Rylee turning into a higher priority than his own business. Because that wasn’t what this was.

No, it wasn’t.

Rylee was planning on leaving after the summer unless something changed her mind. That was why Tate had brought chickens and goats to her farm. He wanted to show her what she’d be missing if she left.

Just the simple prospect of Rylee leaving put a knot under his ribs and he couldn’t for the life of him figure out why it bothered him so much. She’d been gone fifteen years and he hadn’t been bothered by it.

Things were different now.

He wanted her to stay.

It was more than simply wanting to ensure her property didn’t get into the hands of the developer.

While he wasn’t prepared to discuss his feelings with anyone—not even Jason—he was finally coming to terms with the fact that he felt something for Rylee.

So, as he strode up the stairs to her home, he told himself to play it cool. He couldn’t scare her off. He wouldn’t push her too far. He’d make sure she had all the facts at her fingertips before she made her final decision. Because he didn’t believe for one second that she was entirely convinced about moving back to the city.

He lifted his hand to knock on the familiar wooden door. The one with the little window in the shape of a sunrise at the top. Footsteps thudded through the house along the hardwood floor. Then the door swung open to reveal the woman he couldn’t get out of his head.

Her eyes widened then she blinked and looked at her phone in her hand. “You’re early.”

Tate rubbed the back of his neck and offered her a chagrined smile. No way would he tell her he’d been impatient to see her again. That would definitely scare her away. “Got done with work a little early.” It was a harmless lie and one Jason would have outed him for if he’d been here.

“Oh,” she said quietly. “Well, I’m just about to put dinner in the oven. Then we can take a look at that door.”

He nodded, stepping inside as she moved to grant him access. “Something sure smells good,” Tate said, taking his hat off and turning it over in his hands.

“Lasagna.” She was behind him, and he turned in time to see her press the door shut with her back. She was wearing another adorable pair of overalls with a white tank top. Her hair was pushed back off her face with a red bandana. There were dark smudges on her cheek and her chin, and he squinted to get a better look.

“Is that…”

Rylee’s hand shot to her face. “What? Do I have something…”

Without thinking, he swiped his tongue on his thumb then attempted to clean the smudge free. She startled and then let loose the most musical giggle he’d ever heard.

“Did you just clean me with your spit, Tate?”

He stared down at his hand with disgust. Why had he just done that?

She laughed again, shaking her head. “You’re totally fine. Come on.”