Chapter Twenty-Six
THURSDAY MORNING FOUND them, despite Leanna’s wishes for a few more days with Kurt. She held Pepper’s leash so tightly that her fingernails made moon-shaped crescents in her skin as she watched Kurt put his bags in the trunk of his car. She thought she’d prepared herself for his leaving. They were going to be apart for only a few days, and she hadn’t even known him a month ago. She should be fine.
She was nowhere near fine.
Lonesomeness coiled low in her belly, and her heart ached for him. She memorized the sound of his voice, the smell of him. She missed his touch, and he wasn’t even gone yet.
Kurt closed the trunk and hugged her for the millionth time that morning. “You’re going to do great. Daisy Chain’s execs will love your products, and they’ll love you, and…And I love you.” He kissed her softly. “I’m going to miss you so much.”
“I’m…” Oh no, really? Don’t cry. Please don’t cry. She swallowed past the lump in her throat that had choked her voice. “I’m going to miss you, too. I’ll call as soon as the meeting’s over and let you know how it goes. Oh wait. I can’t. You’ll be at Jack’s wedding. You should call me when you’re done. When is the wedding? What time?” She ran her finger in circles along the door of his car as she spoke.
He pulled her close again and brought her hand to his lips, kissed it, then held it tightly in his. “Babe, take a breath.”
She did. A deep one.
And then another.
Nope. Her throat still wanted to close, and those stupid tears still wanted to fall.
“The wedding is Friday at ten, and I’ll text as soon as I can break away. Then you can call when you’re free. But today’s only Thursday, so I assume we’ll talk tonight once I’m in and settled, right?”
She nodded, still untrusting of her voice.
Bella, Amy, and Jenna walked out of Amy’s cottage and joined them with solemn faces.
“Aw. It’s so sad to see lovebirds part.” Amy pulled at the hem of her sundress.
Leanna nodded.
“Don’t worry. We’ll take care of her,” Amy continued. “We’re all leaving Sunday, so you’ll only have one night to be sad, Leanna, and Tony’s here, so you can cry on his shoulder.”
Kurt shot a curious look at Leanna.
“Don’t worry. They’re just friends,” Jenna said as she patted Kurt’s arm. “Unfortunately, Tony would never fool around with a woman he’s known as long as he’s known us.”
“Or with a woman who lives so close. Trust me. I’ve tried.” Amy’s cheeks flushed pink.
“You have?” Leanna’s eyes widened.
“Once. Remember that night we each drank a bottle of Skinnygirl margaritas?” Amy crossed her arms. “I wasn’t exactly at my best that night. Or the next morning.”
The memory of the morning after came back to Leanna, and she almost smiled, save for the sadness that gripped her emotions and tugged her smile back into a frown. “I remember.”
Kurt squeezed Leanna’s hand. “I want to grab some ice water. I’ll be right back out. You ladies hug or reminisce about making moves on Tony, or whatever.” He smiled at Amy.
Leanna watched him walk away in his jeans and white linen, button-down shirt hanging perfectly from his broad shoulders—the shoulders she’d clawed at so desperately the night before that she’d left scratches on his tanned skin.
Bella brushed against her shoulder. “Forget to close the windows last night?”
Leanna’s eyes widened. Her hand flew to her mouth. “No. Oh my gosh! Shoot.” She spun around and saw Tony’s curtains blowing in the breeze inside his cottage. “Oh no, you guys!”
Jenna stifled a laugh. “Remind me to put a lock on the outside of your windows, and when we see Kurt’s car in the driveway, the girls and I will be on mission control.” She winked. “We’ll have your back.”
Leanna covered her face. “That’s great, but. Oh. My. Gosh. You know Tony heard us.” She dropped her hands and searched her friends’ amused faces. “Did you guys hear us?”
They shared a knowing glance.
“Everything?” Leanna asked with a thin voice.
Bella laughed. “Well, not everything. He must whisper or something, because we couldn’t make out anything he said.”
Leanna shook her head. “You were actually eavesdropping?”
“No!” The smile on Bella’s lips betrayed her. “I was bringing ice cream to Jenna because she had a freak-out over a rock being out of place or something—”
“It was sand all over my floor.” Jenna tucked her hair behind her ear. “I couldn’t get it clean no matter how hard I tried. It was sticking to my feet.”
Bella rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Anyway, we really just heard something like, Oh Kurt. Oh…My…Go—”
Kurt joined them with a wide smile. “Did I hear my name?”
“No!” they all said in unison.
Leanna’s throat tightened again, and she pushed past the embarrassment. “So you’re sure that guy will take your car back to your cottage and everything? I can do it for you.”
“No. Don’t be silly. I wouldn’t waste your time on that. Besides, Savannah’s brother Treat hooked me up with Smitty, his caretaker, a few months ago. He and his wife are wonderful, and they’ll take care of it. Enjoy your time with the girls, and…” He glanced down at Pepper, panting happily at his feet. He crouched and picked up Pepper, who made quick work of licking his cheeks. “And Pep.”
He pulled Leanna close and kissed her again. “I love you, and I’m so proud of you for what you’ve already accomplished. Enjoy the next few days.”
Leanna nodded, concentrating on keeping the tears burning her eyes at bay.
Kurt set Pepper down and embraced Leanna again. “I wish I wasn’t leaving.” He embraced Bella. “I’m so glad Leanna has you guys here with her.”
“So are we,” Amy said.
He hugged Amy. “Don’t worry. You’ll find your own Tony.”
Then he moved to Jenna, who opened her arms wide and grinned. “I have been waiting to have this man against my body since Leanna first brought him home.” She laughed.
Kurt shook his head and squeezed her tight. “Not so thrilling, is it?”
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Jenna teased.
Amy swatted her.
He hugged Leanna again. “Don’t cry, babe. It’s only a few days, and we can do a few days. We can do anything knowing we’ll be together at the end of it.”
Ten minutes later, Leanna watched him drive away, and a single tear escaped down her cheek. She felt Bella’s arm across her shoulder, then Jenna’s around her back. Amy opened her arms and walked toward her. The group hug was exactly what she needed. If only it could last until Monday.
“Come on. You can tell us all about the oh my gosh moment.” Bella took her hand and led her inside the cottage.
“I’ll do no such thing, but…oh my gosh. That’s all I’m saying.” Pepper ran into the bedroom before Leanna could take his leash off, and she went after him. She stopped cold at the sight of a Shop Therapy bag in the center of her bed. She found a card inside with a picture of a big red heart on the front and pressed it to her chest.
“Hey, do you have any—” Amy came to her side. “Aw. He left you a card? What does it say?”
Bella and Jenna joined them in the bedroom.
Leanna eyed them, wondering if she needed privacy, in case he’d written something intimate inside the card.
“Open it,” Jenna urged. She reached for the bag, and Leanna snagged it.
She’d never have privacy with her friends around, and that was okay. She needed them more than she needed privacy.
“One sec.” She opened the card close to her chest and read the handwritten note.
My sweet, smart, not at all awkward Leanna,
I didn’t realize that leaving you for a few days would mean leaving my heart behind, but apparently it is now tied so closely to yours (and Pepper’s) that it refused to come with me. Keep it safe and warm until we’re together again.
I love you,
Kurt
PS: Don’t be nervous about Daisy Chain. You’re perfect in every way, and if they don’t see that as clearly as I do, then they don’t deserve your Sweet Treats. I hope you feel as beautiful and confident in the dress as I know you’ll look. Xox
Dress? She reached into the bag.
“What did the card say?” Bella took it from Leanna’s fingertips and read it aloud.
“Aw, that is so sweet.” Amy’s hand covered her heart.
Leanna held up the aqua tie-dyed dress she’d admired while they were in Provincetown. “I can’t believe he bought it. When did he even have time?”
“That is wicked cute!” Jenna rubbed the cotton between her fingers and thumb.
“When he told you he was writing, I bet,” Bella said. “That man. Mm-mm-mm. He is something, Leanna.”
Clutching the dress to her chest, she glanced at the bed, then the card, then Pepper. “Tell me something I don’t know.”
IT WAS ALMOST nine when Kurt finally arrived at the Braden’s house in Weston, Colorado. Savannah’s older brothers Treat and Rex had made arrangements for Kurt’s family to stay near her father’s ranch. Earlier in the day he’d confirmed with Blue that the renovations were progressing well, and he’d received several texts from Siena confirming his arrival time throughout the day, as if the plane might suddenly divert and take him to Timbuktu.
He sat in the rented Lexus in the driveway and pulled out his cell phone. He and Leanna had texted throughout the afternoon, and she’d sent him a picture of her wearing the dress he’d bought her. He pulled it up before calling her. The aqua color and her wide smile lit up the screen. The scooped neckline exposed a sexy path of tanned skin, and the dress fit perfectly over her curves—not too tight, not too loose—and ended midthigh. Luscious Leanna. She sure was, and he missed her so much his heart ached.
He pressed her speed-dial number, and she answered on the first ring.
“FaceTime. FaceTime,” she said excitedly.
He laughed and pushed the FaceTime icon. Her beautiful smiling lips and hazel eyes filled the screen.
“There you are,” he said.
“We all are. Look.” She turned the phone, and on the screen he saw Bella, Jenna, and Amy waving. He could hear their laughter as if he were there with them.
He wished he were.
“This is Tony,” Leanna said as she moved the phone toward a handsome man’s face that filled the screen.
Kurt took stock of him in three seconds flat. Wide smile, dark tan, longish, sun-streaked, brownish blond hair that fell almost to his eyes, broad shoulders, and eyes that didn’t hold a threat. Kurt had never been a jealous man. He assumed that not having a steady girlfriend helped in that regard. Despite the lack of threat in Tony’s eyes, his gut clenched.
Tony waved. “Hey, man. Sorry we didn’t get to meet while you were here. I slept for, like, two days. Jet lag, man, it’s a killer. I was whipped.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m sure we’ll connect the next time Leanna and I are up.” He couldn’t help it; he had to claim her.
“Great. I’m looking forward to it. According to these goofballs, you’re, like, Mr. Perfect. I’d be glad to break you of that nasty habit.”
Tony laughed, and Kurt couldn’t help but like his easy nature.
“I fear they have a limited stock of men to compare me to. I’m far from perfect, and trust me, they think the world of you, too.”
Tony lifted his beer with a nod, and Leanna’s face appeared on the screen again.
“Hey, babe. I just got to Treat’s, and I just wanted to say hi before I went in. I don’t know what they have planned for tonight, but I’ll text you when I settle in for the night, and if you’re still up, you can call me.”
Three hard knocks on the car window drew his attention away from Leanna as she spoke.
“Sounds great. Thank you for the dress, and I love the card.”
“Hold on, babe,” he said as he stepped from the car, and Siena flew into his arms.
“Oh my gosh! I’ve missed you so much! I can’t believe you’re finally here. I’ve waited all day to see you. Look how tan you are. Everyone’s inside and—”
“Siena.” He held up his phone and wiggled it.
“Hi, Siena!” Leanna said loudly.
“Oh my goodness! Leanna?” Siena’s baby blues widened as she took the phone from Kurt’s hand. “Hi. It’s so nice to see you. Wow! You’re really pretty.” Siena wore a pair of white shorts and a pink T-shirt. She looked happy and full of life, reminding him of Leanna.
“Thank you. So are you. I’m sorry I didn’t make it to the wedding, but I was honored to have been asked.”
Kurt shook his head and smiled at the instant kinship between his sister and the woman he loved. He heard the smile in Leanna’s voice, and despite wanting to give them time to talk, he was anxious to see her face. He grabbed his bags from the backseat and leaned against the car until Siena and Leanna paused to take a breath; then he reached for the phone.
“I’ll give you back to Kurt, but I can’t wait to meet you.” Siena held a thumbs-up at Kurt.
“Me too.” He heard the smile in Leanna’s voice.
“I love her,” Siena whispered when she handed him the phone. “I got your house all set up. She’ll love it.”
“Thanks, Siena. I’ll be in as soon as I’m off.” He turned his attention back to Leanna. “So, now you’ve met my sister.”
Siena waved over her head as she hurried inside.
“And I love her. Kurt, she’s so nice.”
“Yeah, she’s a pistol.” He wondered if his siblings could see how much he adored Leanna. He couldn’t imagine how they could see anything else.
“I know you have to get inside with your family. I wish so much I was there with you. I feel like I’m missing out on such an important event, and I miss you like crazy. I can’t imagine going to sleep alone tonight. I’m going to have to cuddle up to Pepper.”
Oh, I love you. “At least you have Pepper. I’ll have to be content thinking about you.” He saw the front door open, and his younger brother Sage stepped onto the porch of the two-story, stone and cedar-sided home and waved. Kurt waved back, watching Sage approach in his cargo shorts and tank top. He was as religious about his exercise as Kurt was, and it showed in his powerful frame. “Sage just came out on the porch, which means he either wants a peek at you or he’s anxious to see me, and since he’s walking across the driveway, I have a feeling—”
Sage snagged the phone from his hand.
“Dude,” Kurt snapped, although he knew his smile betrayed him. He was enjoying this new and different attention from his siblings, and he was proud to show off Leanna. He knew his family would love her as much as he did. She was easy to love.
“Leanna? Hi, I’m Sage. I wanted to meet you for myself, even if over FaceTime.” Sage’s dark hair had grown in thick and wavy over the summer.
“Hi, Sage. It’s nice to meet you,” Leanna said.
“You, too. Sorry to interrupt, but, well, what else are brothers for?”
Leanna laughed as Sage opened his arms and embraced Kurt. “Sorry, bro. Just wanted to say hi to you both. I won’t let anyone else come out, but I couldn’t resist.” He picked up Kurt’s bags and carried them inside.
“Sorry, babe.”
“It’s okay. Have fun with your family. They seem really nice.”
He heard Bella shouting in the background. “Send one of those brothers over here for me.”
He laughed. “Tell Bella I’ll put a good word in.” He thought of Blue working on the studio and debated telling Leanna about the work he was having done, then quickly decided to surprise her with a trip to the Cape once the renovations were complete. A nice long weekend with no writing. Just us. And Pepper. He couldn’t even believe he was looking forward to not writing, but the thought stuck with him like glue.
“Ignore her.” Leanna rolled her eyes. “I love you. Have fun with your family.”
“I love you too. I’ll text you later.”
Kurt ended the call, and as he crossed the driveway, he braced himself for the razz of a lifetime.