I would keep to myself.
“Do landlords generally lurk around in the shadows, listening in on conversation of their tenants?” Leaning back against the tall back of his bench seat he didn’t look away from me, which made me nervous. “I’d say there’s something there, something maybe you both are too scared to talk about or explore.”
“Nothing but old memories I’d like to forget.”
“Sadie,” Levi moved forward, getting closer as he looked around to ensure no one was close. The thing was in Mason Creek even the booths seem to have ears so whatever he’d had to say would be front page news tomorrow. “He made a choice, the wrong one. He knows that, we all know that. Hell, we all saw his life fall apart because of that wrong choice.” What happened that I was missing? I was too stubborn to ask, because then it meant I was interested. And I couldn’t be. That would be like jumping into a burning building knowing that I was going to get burned.
“Did you bring me to lunch just so you could be a Nosy Nelly and gossip like a girl?”
We faced off, him staring at me, me staring right back refusing to give in. Then without warning, we both broke out in laughter and the seriousness of our lunch date had quickly passed.
After that, the conversation flowed nicely. We talked about his family, and mine. Talked about his job and the shop. I told him about my interest in photography and he pushed me to pursue that interest.
But right now, with everything that was going on, I knew that would have to wait. But maybe one day, we’d see.
Chapter Thirteen
Wyatt
* * *
“Damn, boy, hold on.” I tried to climb up off the couch, but Gus continued to jump over my lap onto the cushions and back again. Whining and whimpering, followed by a bark indicating that he’d needed to go outside.
I’d only been home long enough to take a shower and throw on some sweats, before getting a beer and sitting down when the show for attention started. It was a Saturday, a long one at that. I’d bitten off a little more than I could chew and was attempting to play catch up on all my side jobs. I was able to finish drywalling the small addition on the back of Water Morgan’s house and that was after I’d completed the last three steps off Harris Reeds deck and forming up the sidewalk that would be poured early next week.
Like I said, overbooked.
Finally able to get Gus off my lap, I stood and started to walk away from the couch. He didn’t let me get far before he started tugging on the pant legs of my sweats, practically tripping me over and over as we moved toward the back door. It was raining out and I knew whenever he’d come back, he’d be nothing but a muddy mess. Guess that meant it was bath night.
“Go.” I motioned while pushing open the back door and shacking my head. Playful shit, constantly tormenting whoever got in his path. He had a bigger personality than most people I knew.
Knowing that he’d paw at the door when he was ready to come back inside, I walked back to the kitchen and pulled a fresh beer out of the fridge. Pausing near the couch, I became invested in the current sports recap and sat down on the arm.
I wasn’t sure how much time had passed but when I heard pounding on my back door I jumped up and hurried down the small hallway. Right outside the door, looking pissed and soaking wet stood Sadie. Her hair was plastered to her forehead, the thin material of her shirt fused to her chest. The cold, wet weather did absolutely nothing to hide her braless appearance.
Taking in a slow deep breath I opened the door and that is when I saw the rest of her. Muddy, the entire left side of her and what looked like the back as it wrapped around her. Trailing my eyes over her slowly I find Gus, sitting at her side, looking up at her and then at me. He was playing innocent but I had a bad feeling whatever took place, he caused.
“This looks bad.” Nothing like stating the obvious but what else was I supposed to say? Her nostrils flared as she stared at me.
“Really? What makes you say that?” Sarcasm oozing from her words and I laughed before I had the