Page 36 of Call It Love

“You don’t need to be, in case you’re wondering.”

“I’m not,” she snapped.

Oh, she definitely was. I might have laughed, but I didn’t want to tease her anymore. I couldn’t take the look of pain in her eyes. “The pie is from Wanda Claypool. Old Doc Claypool’s wife. She fell and broke her leg last week. I sent her some flowers as a get-well gift.”

Her features relaxed. “Oh.”

Just one syllable, but it said plenty. The kitchen suddenly felt smaller. I kept my eyes pinned to hers, taking in every detail, from the way her breath caught to the flush that spread up her throat to her cheeks.

Did she feel it too? I could see her breath hitch as a flush crept up her neck.

It would only take a few steps forward to reach her. To see if she’d let me close the distance. If I reached for her, would she pull away?

One step. Then two.

Her eyes never left mine.

Then—

“Hey, Bodie said it would be all right if I…”

Jordan’s voice shattered the fragile moment, like a hammer to glass.

Anna startled, blinking as if waking up from a trance. I clenched my jaw, frustrated with Jordan’s timing, but not with him. Maybe it was for the best, anyway.

“Um, sorry. Should I come back?” His voice wavered with uncertainty.

To her credit, Anna recovered swiftly. “It’s okay, honey. You’re not interrupting. What did Bodie say?”

Jordan shifted his weight, still standing in the doorway. “Just that I could grab something to eat before I worked with him today. But I can go and?—”

“No, don’t go.” Anna nodded toward the fridge. “Help yourself.”

I was glad Bodie also recognized that Jordan looked like he needed to eat more than work. I dragged a hand over my face and stepped away, forcing a welcoming smile at the teenager.

Jordan nodded, but didn’t move right away. His fingers twitched at his sides. I knew he was still trying to find his place here. My gut told me he needed stability as much as he needed food. What the hell was going on with the family he lived with?

Anna must have noticed as well because she grabbed a plate and opened the fridge. “There’s some leftover pot roast in here. Do you like carrots? Potatoes?” She started pulling out container after container before rummaging through a cabinet. “Do you like honey? You can put it on some biscuits. Or I can make you a sandwich if you’d like.”

Jordan watched her with wide eyes. I smothered a smile. I didn’t think Jordan knew what to do with all the attention.

She finally stopped long enough to move to where Jordan was still standing. “Help yourself to anything you want. And,” she leaned a little closer and dropped her voice to a false whisper, “if you have any favorites, let me know and I’ll add them to the menu. But don’t tell anyone, because they’ll all be in here putting in requests, and I don’t trust someone not to say liver. And that’s one thing I won’t make.” She winked.

Jordan peered at her, then cast a sideways glance at me as if he was seeking approval. His shoulders relaxed a little, and for the first time since he’d been working here, I saw a genuine smile. “Thanks,” he whispered, then added cautiously. “Do you know how to make sloppy joes or lasagna?”

Her eyes lit up like she’d won the lottery. Jordan had never asked for anything before. “The best there is,” she answered. “Consider it done.”

His face flushed with pleasure, he busied himself with loading up a plate. While Anna helped him work the microwave, I studied the two of them.

Mason may have done everything he could to silence Anna. But he hadn’t been able to change her. She was so effortlessly warm and caring. Jordan unknowingly brought that out in her while she made him feel cared for.

And while I didn’t want to take anything away from Jordan, that used to be me.

Watching Anna be herself again messed with my head more than I cared to admit. It reminded me of everything we could have had. And just how badly I still wanted it to be again.

I needed space. Not from her, but from myself and the noise in my head.

The sun would sink behind the mountains soon, but I jumped in my truck anyway, knowing I had enough time before it was completely dark.

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