And that was true. But I could see something in his eyes that told me this was a bigger problem than he was letting on, and after what Mikey and Tiller had told me about the cause of the ski resort shutting down, I suddenly wanted to know how this guy was able to stand living in a town that held so many bad memories and grudges.
If Truman was regularly harassed by people in this town, why didn’t he have friends protecting him? Mikey had never met a cause he didn’t like, so why hadn’t he taken it on himself to help Truman?
Was it possible he didn’t realize what was going on?
“I’d like to fix your gate.” The words didn’t surprise me as much as they should have. I didn’t do well with extra time on my hands, and the projects over at Rockley Lodge could keep. I didn’t have much time in town, but what I did have could be put to good use here at the farm.
Not because I had an inexplicable desire to spend more time with Truman, but because I was never really good at sitting still, and working outside in such a beautiful location would be a great way to pass the time until my bike was ready.
My traitorous brain tried reminding me working on the Rockley Chalets would accomplish the same thing, but I squashed those thoughts down before they could take root.
Truman turned to face me again, and this time he leaned the tool against the wheelbarrow and put his hands on his hips. “That’s not necessary. I was going to agree anyway.”
Now I was confused. “Agree with what?”
“To file a witness report for the bike crash.”
This seemed like a sudden about-face. But why? If Patrick bullied Truman regularly, why would Truman agree to bear witness against him?
“Thanks, but I don’t need you to do that,” I said before thinking it through. Surely my insurance company would need a police report, but I wasn’t sure they’d need proof of fault in order to cover the damages.
“Why not?” He looked at me with suspicion in his eyes.
“There was another witness,” I said stupidly. Why? Why was I making shit up? Why not just say I had plenty of money and didn’t need to bother with insurance?
Truman’s forehead crinkled in confusion. “Who?”
“Frank.” I wanted to slap myself on the forehead. What the fuck was I doing?
“Frank Young from the real estate office? Or Frank Mosley who works at the nursing home?”
Shit. I remembered there was a real estate office next to the diner. Maybe I could find someone in there who’d cover for me if push came to shove.
“First one. Anyway, see? It’s fine. I don’t need you. It’s all settled.”
“Oh no! No, no, no,” Truman groaned. “If Frank Young saw me planting flowers out on the highway, I’m done for. He’s going to ban me from county council meetings forever. This is awful.”
He stumbled to a nearby bench and sat down, burying his face in his hands. I stared at him. Guilt churned in my gut.
“Maybe… maybe it was the other one. I don’t remember. Young… Mosley… who can tell the difference really?”
I shifted from foot to foot.
Truman threw back his head and wailed. “That’s even worse! Frank Mosley is legally blind. Everyone in town knows it. His eyewitness account will be tossed out the minute he submits it.”
What the actual fuck was happening right now?
I threw up my arms in defeat. “What do you want me to say? It’s taken care of. That’s all that matters. You don’t need to worry about it.”
Truman dropped his emotional act and stood up, pointing a finger at my chest and then striding close enough to actually poke it. “I want you to stop lying. Neither of those Franks exist. I don’t know what Mikey told you, but I don’t need you feeling sorry for me or trying to protect me out of some sense of—”
I couldn’t stand it anymore. His feisty response lit a fire in my belly. I lurched forward and grabbed his face before leaning in to taste that sassy mouth.
6
Truman
The first few seconds of the kiss, I was still angry Sam had lied to my face about another witness. The next few seconds, I was shocked to discover Sam Rigby was kissing me full on the mouth.
Why? Why was he doing it? And, like… why?
Then… then there were lots and lots of seconds where I didn’t think much of anything. Regardless of what my brain would have chosen, had it been given a vote, I was at Sam’s mercy. One of his giant hands spread across the middle of my lower back, and the other one held the front of my throat. His fingers and thumb tilted my jaw in whatever angle he wanted while he took complete ownership of my mouth.
I stood on tiptoes even though I really wanted to climb his body and wrap my legs around his waist. He felt so good. Strong and possessive, but gentle and sweet at the same time. It was a dangerous combination, dangerous for me anyway. The last thing I needed was to develop a crush on a guy who was going to breeze right back out of town as soon as the weather turned.
But that didn’t mean I was going to end this kiss, because… well, I wasn’t stupid. He was a darned good kisser, and I was going to drink in this experience as much as he would let me so I could replay it later like a favorite video clip on my phone.
The only warning I got before he ended the kiss was a slight tightening of his fingers on my neck before he let me go and gently pushed me away from him.
“Fuck,” he muttered, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “Fuck. Fuck.”
My heart was racing like a rabbit, and my mind was worse. Why was he so upset? Had it been a bad kiss? Had I disappointed him? Clearly, Sam was having regrets.
“Sorry,” I said, spreading my feet a little wider and standing up straight. I wanted to be ready for the emotional blow when he full-on rejected me. I could take it. I was used to it.
“Why are you sorry?” He squinted at me in the afternoon sun. “Are you sorry?”
I firmed my jaw. “No, actually. I’m not sorry one bit. But you looked like you were, so I was sorry you didn’t like it as much as I did.”
I was surprised to discover myself more annoyed than insecure.
Sam’s face softened, and he stepped closer again, leaning in until we were almost nose to nose. “Who said I didn’t like it? I liked it, okay? I liked it plenty. I more than liked it.”
For some reason, his growled words, spoken almost against his will, made me feel stupid. Like I’d made him angry by being kissable. My body flushed hot, then cold, and I began to feel numb. Ahh, here was the insecurity at last. It was a feeling I was familiar with. It meant I needed to get away from him before I did any more apologizing.
I flashed him a big smile. “I have to go,” was all I managed to get out before bolting for the house. I heard him call my name, but I ignored him. In my mind I came up with all of the words I wish I’d said to him. That if he’d enjoyed kissing me, he wouldn’t have scrubbed at his mouth like my lips had been poisonous. That if he recalled, he was the one who’d kissed me. It wasn’t like I’d asked for it.
Had I?
Only with every fiber of my being. But unless he was a mind reader, there’d been no way for him to know it.