Page 28 of Lead Me Knot

“Have a good one.”

I start for the house again but stop and turn back when I reach the porch. “Hey, Tagger?”

Turning around, he takes a few steps back from where he was heading. “Yeah?”

“When you and Christine were dating, was the long distance an issue?”

He studies me, then sets down the bucket. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he replies, “It was because of the woman. It wouldn’t have bothered me with anyone else I’d dated. With Pris, the distance was brutal. Have you met someone?”

Do I lie to him?

He’ll suss out the truth. He knows me too well to fall for my lies. I say, “There’s a woman of interest.”

Grinning, he rubs his chin. “There’s a lot of miles between Peachtree Pass and New York City. Dating long distance isn’t something I’d recommend, especially with a job as busy as yours is. But for the right woman . . .” Tagger just picks up his bucket and says, “I’ll see you later, man.”

“See ya.”

Why am I even asking questions that I already know the answer to? Guilt? Lauralee’s mad. For now. She’ll be fine with her miles-long line of guys who’d kill to date her. I’m probably the last person she wants to be in a relationship with anyway.

I sneak into the house only to be greeted by my dad sitting at the breakfast table with a cup of steaming coffee. “Morning,” he says.

“Does anyone sleep around this ranch anymore?”

He laughs, which turns into a cough that he finally clears. “Did you see Chris or Tag out there?”

“Tagger.”

“He’s been a good addition to the ranch.” He sips from the mug. “And to the family.”

I shut the door behind me and hang the keys on a hook beside it. “Are we talking about Tagger now?”

Sitting back in the vinyl chair, he slides his mug closer to him across the yellow Formica-topped table with metal trim. Other than a few corners I nicked off growing up, that table will outlast us all.

“We’re talking about you, son.”

I run my fingers through my hair. “I just want to get some sleep.”

“We’ll talk later, then.”

Oh joy.Should I get it over with now or take his offer? “Yeah, probably best.” I walk to the stairs and head up.

When I reach the top, I hear him say, “Sunday is for resting. Get some good sleep, son.”

Before I close the door to the bedroom, I reply, “Thanks, Dad.”

Time slows here in Texas. It’s nice to embrace that effort, even if only for today. My dad seems to get that even if hehas other things he wants to discuss on his mind. No use talking when tired. Nothing good will come of it.

Learned that firsthand.

After settling in, I lie in bed with my eyes closed, but my mind stirs too much to rest. I’m taken across the Pass to where I left, remembering how she moved on top of me, her hair falling over her shoulders, those brown eyes locked on mine. The smile that played between the angel and the devil on her lips, her mood tempting her one way or the other with each rock of her body as she got closer to the reward.

I scrub a hand over my face.She’s so fucking sexy.Lauralee’s the kind of sexy that gets noticed in a room the moment she walks in, an unclaimed trait that she seems oblivious to possessing.

Yet she knows how to work when she wants to. I’ve seen her down at Whiskey’s in a good pair of fitted jeans, a halter top showing off that midriff, and even a short skirt a time or two. Lauralee Knot is an anomaly, that’s for sure.

Opening my eyes, I stare at the ceiling and the poster I hung when I was sixteen of a hot chick in a pink bikini and heavy makeup wielding a giant wrench. Did I actually believe she was a mechanic? Clearly, I could suspend belief back then when necessary. The woman is hot but not really my type these days.

I close my eyes, this time keeping my mind off the one I want to think about, and try to get some sleep.

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