Free What She Wanted by Julie Anne Lindsey Page B

to the kitchen for coffee. She poured herself a cup and leaned against the counter. “Dean and I have both told him to kick stones. Do you think he’ll stay away this time?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “What are you going to do if he corners you alone?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “You need a plan.”
    I pressed the hot mug to my lips. “I think I should take a beat and process this, maybe get some sleep.” There was no way I’d sleep.
    “Sleep is nice.” She blew ripples over the smooth surface of her drink. “I slept all afternoon yesterday. It was marvelous.”
    “Must be.”
    “It was. I just said so.”
    I dropped my head forward, feeling the weight of the week on the back of my neck. “I’m so jealous. I need a nap more than oxygen right now.”
    Heidi unloaded my travel mug from the dish rack and poured my cup of coffee inside. “You can nap as soon as we get back.”
    I snapped upright. “Where are we going?
    “To cheer you up. I saw something fun on my way through town.”
    I followed her out the front door. “Can I have a hint?”
    “No.”
    Curiosity plucked at my weary mind. “Okay, but this had better be good.”
    “Oh, it’s very good.”
    * * * *
    The excitement of our trip wore off in a hurry. We were waylaid by a gaggle of geese on the corner. Heidi honked and revved her engine. They ignored her.
    “Maybe I can nap in the car.”
    “Nope.” She clucked her tongue. “Be patient.” The geese moved and we reached our destination two minutes later. “Behold the glory of our town square.” She dragged her cat-eye glasses to the end of her pointed nose. “Hello, lovers.”
    I followed her gaze to Dean and a crew of muscle men shoveling mulch around trees outside the courthouse.
    She made a right and cruised past him from the opposite side of the square. “Good grief. You were alone with that until midnight. I’m not sure if I hate you or worship you now.”
    He stretched the hem of his shirt to wipe sweat from his brow. Lines of sweat-laced abdominal muscles winked at us in the sunlight. His shorts hung low enough on his hips to reveal the waistband of his briefs. Oh my Lord, he wears briefs.
    A stupid smile stretched across my face. The harder I tried to erase it, the bigger it grew.
    Heidi swung the car around and parked on the curb, ten feet from the landscape crew.
    “What are you doing?”
    She leaned across my lap and waved through the open passenger window. “Hello.”
    “Are you insane?” I hissed through locked teeth.
    “No, but I think I’m in love. Ask him about the one with the red bandana for me.”
    “No.”
    Dean dropped his shirt back in place and strutted our way. “Hey, Katy. What are you up to?”
    “Hi.”
    Heidi stuck her hand under my nose. “Hi, Dean.”
    “Hey, Heidi.” Their entwined hands bobbed near my nose.
    My eyes crossed.
    “We’re just out enjoying the view,” she said, waggling her eyebrows at Red Bandana.
    Dean slid his gaze my way. “Is that right?”
    I gave Heidi a pointed look. “We shouldn’t keep you from your work. It was nice seeing you again. Be sure to thank your mom for dinner.”
    “Will do.” Dean patted the car roof. “I’ll see you tonight.”
    I scooted low in my seat.
    “Bye!” Heidi drove away with her mouth hanging open. “He’ll see you tonight? What’s this? Are you dating now?” She slapped her steering wheel in complete joy. “The minute you kiss him, I have to know.”
    I craned my neck to watch Dean and the crew disappear from sight. “We’re not dating. There’s no kissing. We both eat dinner and he practically lives in my backyard. Why not eat together?”
    “Why not?” She wiggled her shoulders in a little dance. “I love this summer so much.”
    That made one of us. Aside from sharing pizza with a lifelong crush, my summer sucked pretty hard so far, and I didn’t have high hopes for the rest of it.
    She cranked the radio, and I settled in for the short drive home. Sunlight warmed my arm on