Free Lost Memories (Honky Tonk Hearts) by Sherri Thomas Page B

of you.”
    “Did he now?”
    This was news to Nick.
    The past year, Chris acted as if he didn’t care a scrap about his oldest brother.
    “Mmm-hmm. Hey, wait for us, will ya? You have four legs, we have two,” Darcy called out as Dakota ran ahead.
    Beside him, she skidded to a stop, her head whipping from one direction to another.
    Her skin paled beneath her tan. The expression marring her face resembled the day he’d hosed her off by the barn.
    He searched the area noting nothing out of the ordinary. What made her so jumpy?
    Her hand squeezed his bicep. “You ever feel like someone’s watching you?” she whispered.

Chapter Six
    “Come again?”
    “You know, the hair on your neck standing up type sensations.” Her wide eyes stared at the tree line.
    On alert, he followed her gaze, curious over her odd behavior. “I don’t see anyone.”
    “Sorry. Must be my overactive imagination again.” She shrugged, but lingered for a moment, examining the area.
    “You need food.”
    He steered her toward the house and trudged up the steps of the wooden porch, holding the door open for her, but uneasiness gnawed at his gut at her sudden mood change.
    “Let me grab a shirt out of the dryer, and we’ll get some breakfast.” He crossed to the laundry room off the kitchen and pulled on a dark gray T-shirt.
    “Where’s Ms. Liz?” Darcy looked around the large kitchen and leaned on the center island.
    “I’m sure she’s around.” He opened one of the large refrigerators, removed the bacon, sausage, fried potatoes, flapjacks, and scrambled eggs. At the last minute, he grabbed a jar of strawberry jelly.
    The cook gave him an ear full on how his new employee put the stuff on everything she ate.
    “If you come in after a meal, she always keeps extra in the fridge.” He set out to warm up the food and pointed to the island. “Can you grab the silverware? Center drawer.”
    “Sure.” She carried the utensils into the spacious dining room.
    Nick followed behind her and placed the food on the buffet table located in the center of the room. Smaller booths sat in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows. “Why in here?”
    “I like the atmosphere. The fireplace is beautiful.” Darcy scooped a spoonful of eggs on her plate, three strips of bacon, and a pancake.
    Her calm demeanor a total contradiction from her paranoia moments ago. His narrowed glance followed her movements.
    Not sure what to make of her, he viewed the ceiling to floor, stone-encased hearth and was reminded of the many fall months they’d spent cutting, splitting, and stacking wood with their father. One day in particular haunted him to this day. His father had carried an armload of wood into the house and told Nick to keep an eye on his brothers. Minutes later, they rushed Sam to the hospital for slicing his palm open on a chainsaw.
    “Your family’s lucky to have such a great place. I love working here. Your brothers have been very patient teaching me everything I need to know.” She shifted in her seat, her leg brushing his.
    His groin instantly tightened.
    Don’t go there. Relationships do not mix with business . To distract himself, he shoveled a forkful of eggs into his mouth while she dug into her own food.
    “Are you excited about going on the camping trip?” he eventually asked.
    “Yes.” She broke off a piece of bacon and popped it into her mouth.
    “It’s an experience you won’t forget.”
    “What happens on these overnighters?” Darcy spread strawberry jelly on her pancake. One by one, she placed the digits in her mouth and sucked the sticky mess off her fingers.
    He imagined her tongue swirling around each one. The blood ran rapid through his veins, his heart pounded in his ears.
    “You, ah—” He cleared his throat. “You ever go camping?”
    She coughed, choking on her food.
    Nick reached over and pounded her on the back. “You okay, darlin’?”
    “Mmm-hmm.” She took small sips of her coffee and stared at her plate.