even think it was worse that he was out on the porch waiting for her to get back. The only place he should be was in his room.
His phone buzzed in his back pocket—the alarm he’d set for ten-o-five when he was still high on jealousy. AJ tipped to the side to retrieve the device and turned off the alarm. Kate was right, he wasn’t her father. He wasn’t her anything.
AJ got to his feet and stretched. He’d wanted to see her more than anything—still did. But there were more important things, like not becoming a stalker. He scoffed as he wandered to the front door. What was wrong with him? Usually it was the girls he found waiting by his trailer door, not the other way around.
His hand wrapped around the cool metal knob just as the sound of tires rumbling over the dirt road filled the air. Headlights flashed on the main house as the car came around the bend. AJ stilled and turned, squinting at the bright light. He lifted his hand to block the beams. Shoot. He should have gone inside when he could have. At least then he could have pretended not to know when she came home. Maybe he still had a chance.
The car pulled around the circular drive and parked in front of the guest cabin. John opened his door and jogged around the front. His eyes met AJ’s and he gave a little wave. AJ’s chin lifted in acknowledgment and he twisted the knob on the door. He really hadn’t thought this plan through. John would help Kate to the door and then they’d do the dance with the keys while discussing what was so fun about the date. One or both would lean in for a kiss.
AJ’s stomach churned. He couldn’t see Kate kiss that guy. His heart was already on a completely different level than it had been days ago and watching that take place would cut him off at the knees.
He pushed through the front door and let it shut behind him. The hat on his head was suddenly itchy and in the way. His hand flew to grasp it and he threw it on the ground. After he kicked off his boots, he wandered to the kitchen. What he needed was a good stiff drink. But after his grandfather passed away from heart disease linked to his whisky, Hazel had banned the stuff.
Instead he settled for some iced tea. He grabbed a tall glass, filled it, and situated himself at the table. His fingers rotated the glass as the orange-amber liquid swirled around the inside. If John had seen him, Kate had too. Maybe she’d be mad enough to storm over to the main house and give him a piece of her mind.
A soft smile touched his lips. At least he’d be able to see her again. He might even get a few digs in about her new boyfriend. The longer he waited, hoping she’d stop by, the more disappointed he became. After finishing about half the beverage, he glanced at the clock on the wall. Ten-thirty. She’d be settled in by now. Would it be too late to wander over to her place and see how things went?
His scowl returned. No. He wasn’t going to be that guy. He’d made his offer; if she wanted to take it, she’d have to make that decision all on her own. He flicked off the kitchen light and wandered through the foyer toward the stairs. A light spilled through the window by the door. What in the world?
AJ hurried over and pulled the sheer drapes aside. John was still there? What were they doing? Squinting, AJ moved closer and bumped his forehead on the pane. The light pointed toward the road but was bright enough to light up the whole area. Dumb energy-efficient, blinding nuisances.
Two figures stood in front of Kate’s door. She hadn’t let him in. Both a chill ran through him—concern and hope at the same time. Maybe the date hadn’t gone well—or it could have gone too well, and it was safer to be out in the open. The awning above them cast their faces in shadow.
The cool glass against AJ’s forehead did nothing to soothe the growing pounding in his skull. It didn’t matter if he couldn’t see their faces. The fact that they were still out there talking was proof enough things had gone well. His heart sunk.
He groaned and released the drapes. They slid