Page 35 of Finding Chloe

With Kyle sitting on a log, I came up and perched myself on his lap. I wrapped my arms around his neck, leaned in, and placed a kiss on his cheek. “Hey.”

Now, here I was, almost feeling like I was putting a claim on Kyle. Matt and Hunter had openly kissed me, but I knew Kyle wouldn’t do that. I felt the need to let everyone know Kyle was also mine.

I nodded to the other guys in the group. They were all relaxing in the shade, taking a break from their hard work.

“Hey. You getting everything you need done?” Kyle smiled.

“Actually… that’s why I’m here. I need your help.”

“My help?” He shifted under my butt, and I straightened while wiping sweat off my brow.

His eyebrows furrowed, and he immediately held out his water bottle. “Drink first.”

I took a few sips.

“Nope, all of it.” He nudged the bottle.

“Oooh, bossy.” I winked, loving the slight flush that stained his cheeks. I lifted the bottle to my lips and drank the last of it, then sighed. “Thank you.” He was so good at knowing what I needed.

“Can you guys make sure the girls have water too?” Kyle called out, melting my heart a little more.

Ryder was up before he finished the sentence. “On it.”

“So what do you need my help with?” Kyle gently held my hands.

“I started sketching, but you mentioned different places around here that would be good to utilize. I was hoping you could show me so I can map them out.”

Kyle reached up and swiped a water droplet from the corner of my mouth.

Butterflies swarmed in my stomach. With Kyle, everything was so different. I knew Hunter and Matt wanted me. I’d already slept with them. But it was exciting to have this new thing with Kyle.

“Okay, let’s go.” We stood and stepped over the log, and he slid his hat on his head.

My phone dinged in rapid succession.

Holly: It’s “complicated?”

Lacey: All 3 of them?

Holly: You owe us DEETS.

I swiped the messages off my screen and opened the app where my map was started. Turning the tablet around, I made sure it was in the right direction, lining up with the land. Kyle studied it over my shoulder.

“This side is pretty good.” He pointed around on the screen. “But on this side, you’re missing the tree stump. The one I told you about earlier. It’s a little hidden right now with the grass, but it’ll be visible soon.”

“Okay, do you see anything else I’m missing? I have to the tree line.” I waved my hand at the large cottonwood trees.

“There’s a set of bushes we were going to trim up. You can get rid of the log, if you want. We’ll drag it out of here by the end of the day.”

I made the corrections and looked up to see Kyle not studying the screen, but me. Thank goodness I was already red from the heat, or he would’ve noticed my massive blush. “What is it?”

“Nothing. Just admiring your beauty.”

Oh hell. I could feel my ears flaming.

“Right. I am a hot, sweaty mess, and you think I’m beautiful.” My hair was likely frizzy, and a bead of sweat slipped down my spine, following the thousand others before it. Where was that breeze from earlier?

Kyle tucked my hair behind my ear. “You really are beautiful, inside and out.”

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