Cowgirls Don't Cry(59)

“Get it together before I see her?”


She nodded.

“Thanks. I’ll be right there. Just give me a minute.”


“Don’t take too long, because she will come looking for you first thing.”


Not an accusation; a fact.

She left.

Despite the agony in his arm and the muscles screaming in his back, he lifted the sledgehammer. But it was a half-hearted swing at best.

He wasn’t calm, but he wasn’t in that dark place either. He snagged his coat off the floor and walked outside, breathing in the fresh air to cool him down.

Jessie waited for him by the steps, wearing an anxious expression.

He couldn’t muster a smile, but he went on the offensive. “Didn’t you get my text?”


“Yes. That’s why I’m here.”


“Because I said I was gonna be late?”


“No, because I knew something was wrong.”


“You got that from my text message?”


Jessie placed her hand on his chest. “I had a feeling something wasn’t right, and seeing you, I see my gut instinct was dead on.”


Far as he knew, no woman ever had a gut feeling about him. Certainly no woman had never cared enough to follow through with it and make sure he was all right. He held her face between his gloved hands and kissed her. “Jess. I’m fine. Now let’s go inside. It’s cold out here.”


“Then how come you’re sweating?”


Woman was too damn intuitive for her own good. Brandt pressed his lips to hers, bestowing several soft smooches. “Because you’re so hot, baby, just lookin’ at you makes me sweat.”


She smooched him back. “I don’t buy it, cowboy charmer. I’ll let it slide for now, because I’m sure your mom is anxious to get home.”


“I highly doubt that,” Brandt said dryly. He took Jessie’s hand and led her inside.

His mother put her finger to her lips. “Landon just went down a half hour ago. I know it’s late for a nap, but he had so much energy today. I tried to get him to lay down with me on the couch, but he wasn’t having any of it.”


“I know how that goes, so no big deal,” Jessie said.

“Thanks for watchin’ him today, Mom.”


“I enjoy him. He reminds me so much of you.”


“Me? Not Luke?”


“In looks he’s nearly identical to his father.” Joan slipped on her coat. “But in temperament, he could be your son.” She leaned over to kiss his cheek. “Take care of yourself, Brandt. If you need anything, call.”


Brandt ditched his outerwear and headed to the refrigerator. Might as well have a beer if he was sticking around until Landon woke up. But he hadn’t been here much the past few weeks and he was out of beer.

Whiskey?

Nah. In his mood that’d lead to trouble.

He exited the kitchen and said to Jessie, “If you wanna head home, I’ll hang out until kidzilla awakens.”


“You trying to get rid of me, Brandt?”


“No. But I’m not the best company right now.”


She sauntered forward. “So maybe we shouldn’t talk.”


Brandt didn’t move. “Not a good idea, Jess.”


“You’re tense. I have a remedy for that.”


“I’m not in the mood.”