Reclaimed (30 page)

TWENTY-EIGHT

Paul finished measuring grain and lifted the bucket to take it through the first stall. The snow had cleared, and the early morning sun was chasing the remaining shadows of night across the prairie. His breath puffed white in the pale light as he whistled “Oh! Susanna,” which made him chuckle on the inside. Giddy was such a happy, juvenile feeling. He’d forgotten how it tickled.

Bronco nuzzled his shoulder before he dumped breakfast in the trough. Buck nipped at the other horse, demanding first dibs. The pecking order stood. Took something pretty significant to shift the lead in a herd.

True to life. What was it going to take to turn things in town? Even if the magical vision of Chuck didn’t catch the fact that Paul and Suzanna had gone out last night, which was highly unlikely, it wouldn’t take too long to figure out they’d become more than neighbors, more than friends. Because Paul wasn’t going to hide it.

“Morning, Paul.”

He spun around. Tom strode toward him from the house.

“Didn’t hear you pull up.” Paul hung the feed bucket on a post and moved to hop the corral fence.

“Too busy whistling.” An eyebrow arched as Tom grinned.

Paul grunted a laugh, hoping the chill of the morning air had already made his face red before the blush crept into his cheeks.

“Everything okay?” Tom shoved his hands into his coat pockets. “Saw Suzanna’s Jeep out front.

“Yeah, everything’s fine.” Paul started to the house, and Tom fell into step. “Could use your help though. Are you heading in to work?”

“I am, but I can call in late if you need something.”

Paul cleared his throat. Good grief, Tom would hang on to this one, and Paul would never live it down. “My pickup’s stuck in the ditch.”

Tom’s eyebrows climbed up his forehead while a knowing smile spread across his face. “How’d it get there?”

Paul kept walking.

Tom chuckled. “It’s been at least fifteen years since you’ve put anything in a ditch.”

“Yeah, so?”

“Didn’t have our neighbor with you at the time, did you?”

Paul took the three steps up his back porch and turned to Tom. “Are you gonna help me?”

Tom folded his arms over his chest. “Did you take her out?”

Paul rolled his eyes and tried to tuck his grin. “Good grief.”

“’Bout time.” Tom slapped him on the back and laughed. “Did you kiss her?”

Paul shook his head. “What are you? Fifteen?”

Tom continued to laugh, taking Paul by the shoulder and moving toward the back door. “Come on, old man. Let’s get Suzanna’s vehicle out of your drive before Stanton’s all-seeing eye catches sight of it.”

“Yeah, about that—” Paul pushed the back door open. He moved toward the front entry and snagged Suzanna’s keys from the hook on the wall. “Do you know where Chuck gets his info?”

“Not sure. Dre and I were talking about that Sunday. The Hansens still lease his ground out this way, but we only see Jake pass by once a week or so.”

“He’s got to have something set up somewhere. Something that gives him a daily report.” How bizarre. And creepy. “Which means he probably already knows about Suzie’s Jeep.”

“Probably.” Tom sobered entirely. “It won’t look good.”

Suzanna’s fingers fumbled over the computer keys. Her typing pace was just sad this morning.
Focus, girl. This isn’t rocket science.

Maybe if she’d slept the night before. Why did she continue to chase a futile point? What was done was done. She’d kissed Paul. Really kissed him, with every emotion she’d been fighting against for the last month. And he’d kissed her back. There wasn’t a way to undo that, and she wasn’t about to backpedal on it. He’d been heartbroken once. She wasn’t going to be the next source of pain in his life.

She couldn’t be. This was so much more than a crush on her handsome neighbor.

Her hand moved to her neck, and she tugged on her chain. Jason’s ring slipped from beneath her collar, and she slid it over her finger.
I was married, Paul.

She had to tell him. She’d slipped into his arms under false pretenses. Surely, it wouldn’t change how he felt—he wasn’t shallow. But he should know about it.

She blinked, realizing she’d been staring blankly at the computer screen. She’d missed at least two minutes of data. Great. Now she’d have to start over. Warning—long day ahead. The caution warranted a fresh pot of Joe. Then she’d start over.

Paul parked Suzanna’s Jeep in her usual spot and hopped from the vehicle. He walked to Tom’s pickup and waited for Tom to roll his window down. “Be right back. Just gonna tell Suz.”

“Make it quick.” Tom teased. “I don’t have all day.”

Paul shook his head and bumped the pickup with his fist. Good grief, how long was this going to last? Oh, just wait ’til Dre got the word. The blunt little fireball was sure to have him heated like a wood-burning stove for a good week.

Whatever. Could be worse. Scratch that—it probably was going to be worse. Seething whispers of fornication were bound to double in town. Supported by the fact that he was, indeed, smitten with the object of their scorn.

He’d handle it, but shielding Suzanna from it didn’t look possible. Talk was bound to touch her, and she’d jam her little back straight and take it all on with cold anger set hard in her soul.

Pain squeezed sharp inside his chest. She sure had an armor of steel, but it wasn’t who she really was deep down. If people could only see the beauty beneath. See her endearing expressions when she opened up, see the way she loved Kelsey with tender understanding. See the way pain really affected her underneath the mask of rage.

The mask needed to come off. Removed completely and destroyed.

Paul knocked on the kitchen door but didn’t wait for an answer before he pulled it open. “Suz?” he called, poking his head in the entry. “Brought your Jeep back. Going to get my pickup.”

She stepped in the archway that separated the kitchen from the entry, her hand clasped around whatever she kept on the end of her necklace. “Do you want some coffee first?”

“Naw.” He smiled. “Tom’s helping me, so I’d better get. I’ll be back though.”

She tucked the chain back under her collar. Something gold flashed before it disappeared. A locket? Perhaps a picture of her dad.

“Tell Tom he’s welcome to stay for a cup when you’re done.”

“I doubt he will,” Paul said. “He’s bound for work.”

She nodded, her little smile tickling his heart.

“Hey…” He caught her before she stepped back into the kitchen. “You look beautiful this morning.”

She looked to the floor with a shy smile while her face shaded a lovely pink. Dang, if that didn’t make her completely kissable. Things to do, cowboy. Things to do.

But he’d be back for some coffee and sugar.

Suzanna dove into her work with fresh energy. Who knew how long it’d take Paul and Tom to drag the truck free from the ditch, but she needed to get at least one file done before they got back. For heaven’s sake, she’d be typing until dark if she didn’t get something done.

Coffee with Paul had become a new normal weeks ago, but her anticipation of it now felt different. More intimate. She remembered breakfasts with Jason when they were first together, how special they felt. How it made her feel like they were family. She missed that.

And now she might have it again. With Paul. For keeps?

Please, God… I cannot beg you enough. If you’re listening this time, please let me have this.

Daft woman. Hope is dangerous. It cuts to the marrow and leaves a jagged wound. Except… it hadn’t with Paul. Maybe this time would be different.

Paul kicked his boots off just inside the door and cuffed his jeans so mud wouldn’t flake onto the floor. He stood, inhaling deeply. Oh, Suzie’s magical brew. A man could get used to that.

One date sealed it. He was definitely gone, and he was after this for keeps.

“Did you get it?” Suzanna called from the other side of the house.

Must still be working.

“Yep.” He made his way through the small entry and met her as she walked into the kitchen. “Made a heck of a mess out of the ditch, but we got ’er done.”

Suzanna looked him over, and a smile lit her face when her eyes reached his sock feet. “Made a mess of more than the ditch, I see.”