Page 23 of Loved By Tandy

“About working with you? Zach knows, which means Haley knows.”

“And that means Cami knows, and there is no way she hasn’t told Joji. I’m surprised the ranch ladies haven’t shown up to interrogate me.” The wind blows, and she shudders, then leans back against me. “Maybe I should just invite them to lunch and update them on ourbusinessarrangement.”

“You probably should. We wouldn’t want any rumors flying around town.”

She lets loose a sharp laugh, drowning out the spattering rain. “I have a young man sleeping in one room, and you sleeping in the other. There will be rumors, I think. But I guess that depends on who spots y’all’s trucks. And I don’t know why I’m bothering to ask who you’ve told because Hank and Nacha have probably noticed your truck over here. You’ve been here a lot lately.”

“Didn’t know I was supposed to keep us a secret.”

Her muscles tighten, and she stills. “There is nous, Matthew. That ship sailed a long time ago.”

“I meant us as in busin-US. That kind of us.” I’ve barely gotten the words out when the hairs on my arm stand up. Knowing what’s coming, I wrap an arm around Tandy and tug her toward the door, far from the edge of the porch.

A booming clap of thunder rattles the house just as a flash of lightning brightens the entire sky for a split second.

Tandy jumps and leans into me.

So I tighten my hold on her. “Inside is probably safer.”

She nods against my chest. “I liked it better when it was just rain.” After stepping away, she looks back. “Let me grab my laptop out of your room, and I’ll be out of your hair. The linens on the bed are clean, and there are—oh no!”

I survey the porch, trying to ascertain the problem. “What?”

“Colt’s clean sheets are still in the dryer. That poor man.” She rushes inside.

“Tandy.” I catch up with her as she reaches the dryer. “He grabbed them. When you went back to your room earlier, he came into the kitchen and asked. And since there were warm clothes on the couch and the dryer was going when I arrived, I figured that’s where we’d find his sheets.”

She props her fists on her hips. “You let him put his own sheets on the bed?”

“He’s a full-on adult. I think he can handle it.”

Shaking her head, she wanders down the hall and into the room where I’ll be sleeping.

“Hey, are you okay?”

I’m ignored while she crawls around on her hands and knees, unplugging the power cable. But when she starts to get up, I offer my hand.

Surprisingly, she accepts my help. “I’m not used to having company, and I hate having stuff go wrong.”

“Nothing went wrong.” I squeeze her hand, a little surprised she didn’t immediately let go. “Want to talk about it?”

She perches on the edge of the bed, cradling the laptop to her chest. “You lived with a houseful of kids, and now I’m sure your place is always full of grandkids and great-grandkids. I never had that. When I found out Colt was paying so much for that motel, I jumped at the chance to have him here and feel needed. But I’m not very needed if he’s having to do everything himself.” She blows out a breath. “I don’t know why I’m telling you this.”

“Because we’re friends. At least I hope that’s the reason.”

Her smile is small but vulnerable. “I’ve missed you too, Matthew. Or maybe I miss the younger me.”

“For the record, I have two grandkids. You’ve met them both. My daughter decided early that she wanted her life to be child-free, and my boys only had one each. And the great-grandkidsaren’t over all that often. My house isn’t very child-proof.” I sit beside her. “I don’t think Colt is here because he needs you. I think he appreciates you. And he might feel like you need looking after even though he says that’s not the case.”

“Weakness is not a virtue.”

“But vulnerability is.” I reach over and pull one of her books off the shelf. “Did you really name the villains after me?”

“Only sometimes. The one the most people hate is in book one. He’s the ex who told the main character that she looks better with clothes on.” Tandy lifts her eyebrows, daring me to argue.

“I never said that. Didn’t even think it.”

“The books are purely fiction, Matthew.” She stands and walks to the door. “Holler if you need anything.”

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