the crunch of stones being ground into the dirt drew his attention. Through the cloud of dust, he recognized Lexi’s tan SUV. He caught himself sighing in relief. This wasn’t going to be as hard as he’d imagined.
The vehicle pulled to a stop in front of the steps. Lexi jumped out and peered up at him through her dark sunglasses. “Hi. Are you on your way out?”
His gaze skimmed over the beautiful slip of a dress that revealed her bare shoulders. She looked different—way different. This casual outfit made her appear more approachable, more attainable. He swallowed the newly formed lump in his throat, but when he went to speak, the words utterly failed him. His gaze skimmed over the dipping neckline that showed off her creamy white cleavage.
Not wanting to be accused of staring, he forced his gaze back to her sunglasses. On second thought, her boring business suit wasn’t so bad after all. At least with it he was able to keep his thoughts straight. With her dressed in this flirty little outfit, business was the last thing on his mind.
“Cord, are you listening?”
“Uh…no, I mean, I’m not going anywhere. We can talk.”
“Are you sure?”
He nodded. “I was actually on my way into town…to find you.”
Her eyes widened. “Me.” Her pink lips lifted at the corners, making him wish their circumstances were different. “Does this mean you’ve changed your mind and are ready to sell me the land?”
“Possibly.”
“Great. Now before I forget, I have something for you.” Lexi reached into her pocket. When she withdrew her hand, her fingers obscured the object. “Here.”
She reached out to him. Her fingers brushed over his. The heat of her touch caused his breath to catch in his throat. His fingers instinctively closed over hers. Her gaze met his and locked. His heart pounded in his chest. He assured himself that this strong reaction was due to his long dry spell when it came to female companionship. Yet, he couldn’t break the connection. His thumb stroked the silkiness of her wrist.
All too soon, she pulled away, jarring him back to reality. Keep it together, Cord. She’s just passing through town. She’ll be gone soon.
“Aren’t you even going to see what it is?”
He gazed down at the familiar brown wrapper. He couldn’t remember the last time someone had made the effort to give him a present—even something as small as a bit of candy. The gesture warmed a spot in his chest.
“What’s this for?” His voice came out thicker than normal.
“Consider it a peace offering.” Her lips lifted into a cautious smile.
“A peace offering?”
“I was hoping we could start over.”
Guilt gnawed at him. He had been a bit abrupt with her. But even now his gut was telling him that she was holding back something big. He needed to move cautiously with her. Still, he needed to make an effort to smooth things out between them if they were going to talk business.
Still, apologizing wasn’t something he did often. His palms grew damp. He’d rather eat his hat than grovel, but his entire future rested on him making peace with her.
He sucked in a deep breath and exhaled. Okay. Here it goes.
“I’m sorry for yesterday.” He forced his gaze to meet hers. “I’d like to start over—”
“I’m glad to hear you say that.” She smiled, easing his tense muscles. “Guess I didn’t need to come bearing gifts after all.”
He waved the chocolate bar in front of her. “Already changing your mind about parting with this?”
“Nope.” She sent him an ornery grin, reached inside her small black purse, and pulled out another candy bar. “I got myself one, too. So you’re safe to eat yours.”
He couldn’t help but chuckle. The tension in his shoulders eased. He felt lighter than he had in months.
“Now that you’re smiling,” she dropped the chocolate back into her purse, “how about we talk a little business?”
Though he’d meant his apology, questions continued to poke and
The vehicle pulled to a stop in front of the steps. Lexi jumped out and peered up at him through her dark sunglasses. “Hi. Are you on your way out?”
His gaze skimmed over the beautiful slip of a dress that revealed her bare shoulders. She looked different—way different. This casual outfit made her appear more approachable, more attainable. He swallowed the newly formed lump in his throat, but when he went to speak, the words utterly failed him. His gaze skimmed over the dipping neckline that showed off her creamy white cleavage.
Not wanting to be accused of staring, he forced his gaze back to her sunglasses. On second thought, her boring business suit wasn’t so bad after all. At least with it he was able to keep his thoughts straight. With her dressed in this flirty little outfit, business was the last thing on his mind.
“Cord, are you listening?”
“Uh…no, I mean, I’m not going anywhere. We can talk.”
“Are you sure?”
He nodded. “I was actually on my way into town…to find you.”
Her eyes widened. “Me.” Her pink lips lifted at the corners, making him wish their circumstances were different. “Does this mean you’ve changed your mind and are ready to sell me the land?”
“Possibly.”
“Great. Now before I forget, I have something for you.” Lexi reached into her pocket. When she withdrew her hand, her fingers obscured the object. “Here.”
She reached out to him. Her fingers brushed over his. The heat of her touch caused his breath to catch in his throat. His fingers instinctively closed over hers. Her gaze met his and locked. His heart pounded in his chest. He assured himself that this strong reaction was due to his long dry spell when it came to female companionship. Yet, he couldn’t break the connection. His thumb stroked the silkiness of her wrist.
All too soon, she pulled away, jarring him back to reality. Keep it together, Cord. She’s just passing through town. She’ll be gone soon.
“Aren’t you even going to see what it is?”
He gazed down at the familiar brown wrapper. He couldn’t remember the last time someone had made the effort to give him a present—even something as small as a bit of candy. The gesture warmed a spot in his chest.
“What’s this for?” His voice came out thicker than normal.
“Consider it a peace offering.” Her lips lifted into a cautious smile.
“A peace offering?”
“I was hoping we could start over.”
Guilt gnawed at him. He had been a bit abrupt with her. But even now his gut was telling him that she was holding back something big. He needed to move cautiously with her. Still, he needed to make an effort to smooth things out between them if they were going to talk business.
Still, apologizing wasn’t something he did often. His palms grew damp. He’d rather eat his hat than grovel, but his entire future rested on him making peace with her.
He sucked in a deep breath and exhaled. Okay. Here it goes.
“I’m sorry for yesterday.” He forced his gaze to meet hers. “I’d like to start over—”
“I’m glad to hear you say that.” She smiled, easing his tense muscles. “Guess I didn’t need to come bearing gifts after all.”
He waved the chocolate bar in front of her. “Already changing your mind about parting with this?”
“Nope.” She sent him an ornery grin, reached inside her small black purse, and pulled out another candy bar. “I got myself one, too. So you’re safe to eat yours.”
He couldn’t help but chuckle. The tension in his shoulders eased. He felt lighter than he had in months.
“Now that you’re smiling,” she dropped the chocolate back into her purse, “how about we talk a little business?”
Though he’d meant his apology, questions continued to poke and
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