Page 55 of Kyle

I try to clear my head to rest, but it’s hard knowing a sexy man is so close to me I could reach out and touch him. I wonder if I’ll get any sleep at all.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Sutton—

When I finally wake, it’s to the pitter patter of rain on the camper roof. I rise, yawning, and immediately note Kyle’s empty bed. My eyes shift to the bathroom, but that too is empty.

Grabbing my phone, I realize it’s late afternoon.Shit.He must have let me sleep in. That’s sweet, but I am here to work. He should have woken me up.

I rush to get ready, throw my hair into a messy bun, then dash out the door.

I’m immediately greeted by a long line, winding its way down the pathway.

As I enter, Kyle calls over his shoulder. “How’d you sleep?”

“Are you serious? How can you be so calm when you’re elbows deep in orders?”

“Meh.” He shrugs. “These people have all been real understanding with the fact that I was a one man show.”

“Sorry,” I moan as I rush over to take orders.

“I wasn’t criticizing you. I was just letting you know everything’s good.”

I nod, but still feel a pang of guilt.

It takes nearly two hours to get our heads above water.

“Gosh, it’s really coming down.” I lean out the order window and watch the festival goers trudge through the mud, holding jackets over their heads. “I thought the desert didn’t get rain.”

“I didn’t think we’d get any, either. Thank God Green gave me the plywood. It’s the only thing keeping us from being stuck.”

We serve a few more stragglers, and then Kyle closes for our own lunch break.

“Want to just eat some chicken chili?” He gestures to the large pot.

“It seems like the perfect meal for a rainy day.”

“Yeah, everyone seems to think that. But I’m not complaining.” He grins.

I climb from the truck and immediately slip, landing on my ass in a pile of mud.

“Sutton, are you okay?” Kyle jumps down next to me, laughing.

“I’m not hurt, if that’s what you’re asking,” I grumble at the mud covering my legs and shorts.

“Good, then I don’t feel as bad about laughing.”

I narrow my eyes. “This isn’t funny.”

“You’re right.” He sobers. “It’s fucking hilarious.” He rears his head back and belly laughs.

“You’re an ass. At least help me up.”

“Okay, okay.” He reaches down to pull me up, but instead, I give him a good yank, and he falls flat into the mud next to me.

“Who’s laughing now?” I squeal over my own laughter.

“Did you really just start a mud fight with me?” He cocks an eyebrow, then lifts a handful of mud and tosses it at the side of my head.

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