but it came out more like a nervous chuckle before she replied, “I have no doubt about that.”
“The auction is what, in two weeks?” I asked.
“Yes! I’ve been keeping an eye on your schedule to make sure it stayed open.”
“I’m not racing anymore, so it won’t be a problem. We only have three active cars in the shop, and we’re ahead of schedule. Will we be spending the night in Austin like we usually do when the event is over?
She nodded as she stared at me with an intense look I hadn’t ever seen before. When she reached up and brushed her fingers through my hair, I tensed.
“You should…um…get a haircut before the auction,” she said. “Your hair has gotten a bit longer from how you normally wear it.”
I reached up and grabbed her wrist to get her to stop running her fingers through my goddamn hair. She sucked in a breath and our eyes met, and there went that crackle in the air again.
God, how I wanted to pull her in for a kiss. Knowing that I couldn’t drove me mad.
“I’ll get it cut,” I said as I dropped her wrist and she took a few steps back. She looked as confused as I felt.
I cleared my throat and got off the stool. “I need to go and pick up the wine for dinner tonight. Did you want to ride with me, or are you driving separately?”
Emmerson stared at me for a beat too long before she shook her head. “I’ll ride with you as long as you don’t mind dropping me back off at home.”
What was going on with her odd behavior?
“I don’t mind at all,” I replied. “You ready to go?”
She nodded. “Let me just take Lady out once more before we leave. Is it okay if she comes with us?”
“Sure, I don’t mind.”
After taking Lady out, Emmerson grabbed her purse and a lead for Lady, while I picked up the dog and carried her out to my truck.
“If you even think of pissing in my truck…” I whispered to the dog, who took advantage of how close my face was to lick it.
“Stop that, Landon Lewis! She is a good girl and doesn’t go potty in the house or in cars.” When she caught up to us, Emmerson scratched under the puppy’s chin once again. “Isn’t that right, Lady?”
Lady answered back with a bark as Emmerson and I both laughed.
Emmerson
THE MOMENT LANDON pulled up to the large house we had both grown up in, a rush of warmth and happiness came over me. I knew it was because I was going to be with my family.
I was still a bit shaken by what had happened back at my place. When I had hugged Landon and then saw him staring at my mouth, my eyes drifted down to his soft lips…and I had desperately wanted him to kiss me.
Kiss. Me. I wanted Landon to kiss me. What in the hell was up with that?
I mean, it wasn’t like it was the first time. I’d had plenty of naughty thoughts when it came to the man sitting next to me. But those were in my dreams, and when I woke up I quickly pushed them away. I had never actually fantasized about physical contact when I was with him. In his arms. Inches from those soft, plump lips of his that made my insides want to melt just thinking about them.
Oh my God. Emmerson. Stop this. He doesn’t feel the same way.
I shook my thoughts away and focused back on family dinner night.
“I love dinner at the ranch,” I said as I opened the door to Landon’s truck and jumped out.
Landon came around the front and chuckled. “It’s a fun tradition. I’m glad our folks still do it.”
I looked up at him and smiled. “Me too. Now, the big question is, how will your wine be?”
He held it up and winked. “I have a feeling I’m going to take the title with this one.”
I smirked and started up the steps to the front door of my folks’ house, a bubble of excitement causing an extra pep in my step. Lady clearly felt the same way as she bounded ahead of us.
Dinner at the ranch was something I looked forward to each Sunday. I wasn’t sure if it was the excitement of what new wine would be discovered that month, or simply the fact that I loved being surrounded by my family. It was really the only time me,