Free Weekends in Carolina by Jennifer Lohmann Page B

actually. Worn a low-cut T-shirt, donned her most flattering pair of jeans and put on lip gloss in the hopes that he would notice. His eyes had warmed when she’d taken off her coat, so she was pretty sure he’d taken a peek. He was leaving tomorrow morning and that was all the more reason for her to take a chance on him tonight. When they reached her door she let Ashes in then stood on her porch with Trey.
    “I imagine you’ll be working when I leave tomorrow.” He was looking at her lips when he said the words.
    Taking a step closer to him seemed like a good first move. Give him a chance to make a second move without the risk of two different sets of expectations bumping into one another. “I work a little on Saturdays, but I’ll be around. You should come find me.”
    Their two evenings spent watching basketball and eating dinner together had been fun. When he let go of his anger, Trey managed to walk the line between serious and goofy without falling into the abyss on either side. She didn’t want him to come find her tomorrow morning; she wanted him to be next to her when she woke up. Just this once.
    He shrugged, not taking his eyes off her lips—and he didn’t take a step back when she took another step closer. “It will be a pleasure being your landlord.”
    She cocked her head. The cold air between them warmed with their shared breath and there didn’t seem to be enough oxygen for them both. Would he be okay with kissing his tenant? Would communication between them be awkward if they spent the night together? God, what if he thought she wanted something else out of this night besides good sex?
    What if I do want something else out of Trey? That last thought was stupid. He was leaving in the morning and wouldn’t come back to North Carolina unless forced.
    “Well, good night, Max.” When she pulled herself out of her thoughts, she could see he’d stuck his hand out for her to shake. “I hope to see you tomorrow before I leave.”
    She blinked, wondering when her expectations and her reality had gotten so far out of whack. She was supposed to have reached up to kiss him, not stuck out her hand for a solid shake. She took his hand in hers, because really, what else was there to do? “I’ll try to stay near the farmhouse to say goodbye.”
    “All right, then.” He nodded.
    Would that goodbye be as awkward as this one, or would the sunlight enable her to see how silly her expectations had been? More likely, she would go over every detail of the night and wonder if she could have been more forward in what she wanted. Or maybe he just wasn’t interested—wasn’t that a lowering thought?
    Trey cleared his throat. She’d been standing there holding his hand for who knows how long. Long enough for their hands to get warm together. “Thanks for dinner,” she said, reaching up to press a kiss to his cheek. What she’d intended to be a light kiss turned deeper when he pressed his cheek against her lips before pulling away.
    “Good night.” Without even a backward glance, Trey marched down the stairs and back to the farmhouse. She must have imagined him leaning into her lips.
    Max stood at the door for several seconds, cursing herself. She’d dolled herself up and all but puckered her lips for a kiss. But she had to go and think too much until she’d darn near talked herself out of making a move, and she’d sure as hell communicated “go away” before kissing him on the cheek, passing the mixed messages she was getting from her head onto his face.
    “Ashes,” she said as she shut the door, “why do I have to think so damn much?”
    * * *
    I N THE END , it didn’t matter if Max stayed close to the farmhouse to say goodbye. She may have been up with the chickens to get started on farm chores, but he’d been awake with the owls. Whatever time he’d packed up his stuff and driven off, she’d been fast asleep.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    T REY WAS SITTING at his desk in his office, trying to down enough