Page 28 of Truly

My cheeks flush, matching the color of Kennedy’s shirt I’m wearing. I don’t have to answer him. He knows I do.

“Do you need anything from town?” he asks, moving to the driver’s door.

I stare at him, curious.He’s really just going to go to work and leave me here?

It’s not that I expect him to stop his life for me, the disruption he didn’t necessarily want. But I thought, or maybe just hoped, he would want to catch up a little. And maybe he’d want to stick around to ensure no one inadvertently shows up.

But I guess not.

Maybe I’m wrong about all of this. Maybe he’s just too nice to make me leave.What if he doesn’t want me to stay?I cringe.Of course, he probably doesn’t want you to stay. He has his own life going, and I just plopped in the middle of it.

I take a shaky breath. “No, I don’t need anything from town. Thank you, though.” My throat is dry, making the words hard to get out. “By the way, when I talk to Stephanie, I’m going to have her make some calls for me so I can get out of your hair.”

Luke squares his shoulders to mine. A flicker of irritation and impatience shines in his eyes.

“Where the hell are you going to go?” he asks, his brows pulled together.

“I’ll pick a house and make sure security is there, and it’ll be fine.”

“Will it, though?”

“Sure,” I say, hoping he believes my nonchalant tone. “I can’t just stay here indefinitely. Like you said yesterday, I’ll cramp your style.”

“Like you said yesterday, I don’t have a style.”

“I woke up this morning and felt guilty for imposing on you like this. I?—”

“Laina.” He steps to me, cutting the distance between us in half. “Stop talking.”

Nerves flutter in the pit of my stomach. I’m torn between falling into his arms and stepping back so I don’t do something ridiculouslike fall into his arms.

My lips part as I drag in quick breaths. Goose bumps prickle my skin. Luke stands in front of me, peering down at my face.

“Stay here,” he says.

What?

He looks over my head, running a hand down his jaw. “Nothing will happen to you here. I can guarantee that.” His gaze drops to mine again. “Even if someone discovered you were here, I don’t have a neighbor that’s gonna allow anyone to trespass on their property, and I’ll be damned if they get on mine. You can walk around outside. Nap. I mean, think of all the drawers you haven’t gone through yet.”

A smile pulls my mouth higher.

“Stay here a few days,” he says. “See what happens. I’d really like you to stick around.”

“Really?”

He leans forward, his eyes twinkling. “Yes, really.”

“Okay,” I say, trying not to squeal. “But if it goes too long, I’ll pay you rent.”

“Oh, you’re going to pay.”

“Excuse me?”

He moseys back to his truck and opens his door. His swagger tells me he’s about to screw with me. It’s the smirk that guarantees it.

Luke grips the top of the truck with one hand and leans against it. “In exchange for your room and board, you’ll help me in the barn.”

I blink once. Then twice.