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“I know that.” The way she continued to snuggle with him was putting him on edge but in the most delicious way. He caught whiffs of her scent. Clean like the earth right after a rainstorm. There were hints of something floral in it, too. He could have stayed with her all afternoon. He couldn’t get enough of her. “I think I want to.”

“You want to what?” he asked.

“Do the training thing. But I don’t want Jason breathing down my back.” She sat up and faced him, her eyes beseeching him, and there was no way he’d ever be able to turn her down. Not when she looked at him that way. Not when she needed him. One word would be all it took. There was no denying her.

It was time he accepted the truth. He didn’t just care for Lydia. He loved her.

More than love if that was possible. And that thought terrified him. He had no idea how to love someone. What did that even look like? He didn’t exactly grow up with the best example of love and affection.

“Chet?”

He blinked a few times. “What?”

“Will you let me shadow you?” There was exasperation in it, but mostly, there was hope and determination. “I think it’ll be easier to work with you than my brother. Heaven knows we’d butt heads more often than not. And the last thing I need is to alienate him so he kicks me out.”

“But you could alienate me?”

She whacked his arm. “I don’t alienate you. And even if I did, there’s nothing you could do. It’s not like you could fire me.”

“No,” he drawled, “but I could threaten to quit.”

Her eyes rounded. “You wouldn’t.” Was that panic?

Chet grinned. It was nice that she cared about him enough to worry he’d leave. What would she do if he told her he couldn’t work for her brother anymore because of a conflict of interest?

Then he completely shut that thought down. Because he’d never be able to walk away from what he had here. This job. His found family. The friendship he had not only with Jason but with Lydia. He couldn’t risk losing any of it. So he’d keep his mouth shut. “No,” he said in answer to her statement. “I’d never threaten anything like that.”

Her eyes narrowed and she shook her head. “You better not. You’re the only person who makes visiting here worth it.”

“You know, you’re not required to come out this way,” he teased. “No one is forcing you.”

“Oh, enough. You like me just as much as I like you. There’s no denying it. I make your days brighter.”

You have no idea.

The thought floated to his mind. It would’ve been so easy to say it out loud, but he’d flirted with her more than he should have lately. Crossing the line wasn’t a step he was prepared to take.

Offering her a smile was all he could muster. When it was clear she wasn’t getting more out of him, she settled back against him.

“Will you be picking me up tomorrow? Or will we meet at the chili feed?”

He snorted.

“What?” she demanded.

“You don’t want to offer to pick me up? I thought we lived in the modern world.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she muttered. “You know what? You say all the time how well you know me. Well, I know you, too. And I know you wouldn’t be caught dead being chauffeured around town by a woman. Even if she were your best friend.”

She wasn’t wrong. That was one lesson his father had instilled in him. He was nothing if not a gentleman, and that meant he’d drive any girl around, allowing them to be the passenger princess. It was the same reason he opened doors for them or walked on the edge of the sidewalk closest to the street. That’s what gentlemen did.

“I’ll drive,” he offered. “What time did you want to leave?”

“It starts at six, but food will be served until eight. What works best for you?”

“How about seven? It’ll give me enough time to wash up after work.”

“Deal.” She stood up and dusted off her pants. Then she grinned at him. “It’s a date.”