Page 41 of We Redeemed the Rain

“Tag…man, I still don’t feel right?—”

The side door banged open. Jesse did a double take, words dying off.

Bea ambled down the porch steps, wearing my t-shirt and sweats. Her dark hair was a wild mane, contrasting against her fair skin. Last night, I thought her hair was black, but now, wearing my black clothes, it was clear the color was chocolate. Milk chocolate. Matched her eyebrows and set off the pink in her lips.

She walked toward us, one arm tucked around her breasts, the other attempting to tame her hair. “Good morning. I would’ve called you, but I left my charger in the Prius.” She spoke with a gentle smile.

Jesse, finally waking from a trance, said, “Morning!” He stepped around the truck and offered her his hand. She quickly shook it then tucked that one around her chest, too, hiding what fabric alone would not. I swallowed, working hard not to let my brain snag on the fact that one of my favorite t-shirts was wrapped around her soft body.

A frown pulled into my brow.

After introducing himself, Jesse made oblivious small talk. “Sorry to hear about your trouble getting in last night.”

He needed to shut up and let the woman go get properly dressed.Please.

Bea shook her head. “I don’t know what I was thinking, driving off into the mud like that.”

Jesse puffed a laugh. “We got it out just fine.”

She perked up, eyebrows raising. “You got it?”

Jesse pointed around the house. “Yes ma’am.”

She turned to look. “Oh, thank goodness. I hate you guys had to do that.”

“It was no trouble.”

Liar. It took us forty-five minutes and the damn Prius almost lost a bumper.

He said, “We put your bags on the porch.”

“Cool. That’s what I was coming out here to see about.”

“Need help getting them in?”

She waved him off. “No, I got it.”

“I can grab your charger.”

I rolled my eyes his direction. Jesse was coming off a hair eager. I glanced at Bea again and noted the sweet smile she offered him. Hell, couldn’t really blame the guy.

She finally looked to me, her dark eyes curiously roaming over my cowboy hat. “Good morning, Tag.”

Tag.

Hearing her say my name didn’t affect me. Not at all. I lifted my chin in greeting.

Jesse watched her as she drifted back up the stairs, grabbed her belongings, and ducked inside. Then he turned to me, quiet disbelief in his wide eyes. “She’s going to be here for threeweeks?”

“Yep.”

“You said you know her.”

“Mmhm.”

“How? Old friends or something?”

“Something.”

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