Leanna nodded, concentrating on keeping the tears burning her eyes at bay.
Kurt set Pepper down and embraced Leanna again. “I wish I wasn’t leaving.” He embraced Bella. “I’m so glad Leanna has you guys here with her.”
“So are we,” Amy said.
He hugged Amy. “Don’t worry. You’ll find your own Tony.”
Then he moved to Jenna, who opened her arms wide and grinned. “I have been waiting to have this man against my body since Leanna first brought him home.” She laughed.
Kurt shook his head and squeezed her tight. “Not so thrilling, is it?”
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Jenna teased.
Amy swatted her.
He hugged Leanna again. “Don’t cry, babe. It’s only a few days, and we can do a few days. We can do anything knowing we’ll be together at the end of it.”
Ten minutes later, Leanna watched him drive away, and a single tear escaped down her cheek. She felt Bella’s arm across her shoulder, then Jenna’s around her back. Amy opened her arms and walked toward her. The group hug was exactly what she needed. If only it could last until Monday.
“Come on. You can tell us all about the oh my gosh moment.” Bella took her hand and led her inside the cottage.
“I’ll do no such thing, but…oh my gosh. That’s all I’m saying.” Pepper ran into the bedroom before Leanna could take his leash off, and she went after him. She stopped cold at the sight of a Shop Therapy bag in the center of her bed. She found a card inside with a picture of a big red heart on the front and pressed it to her chest.
“Hey, do you have any—” Amy came to her side. “Aw. He left you a card? What does it say?”
Bella and Jenna joined them in the bedroom.
Leanna eyed them, wondering if she needed privacy, in case he’d written something intimate inside the card.
“Open it,” Jenna urged. She reached for the bag, and Leanna snagged it.
She’d never have privacy with her friends around, and that was okay. She needed them more than she needed privacy.
“One sec.” She opened the card close to her chest and read the handwritten note.
My sweet, smart, not at all awkward Leanna,
I didn’t realize that leaving you for a few days would mean leaving my heart behind, but apparently it is now tied so closely to yours (and Pepper’s) that it refused to come with me. Keep it safe and warm until we’re together again.
I love you,
Kurt
PS: Don’t be nervous about Daisy Chain. You’re perfect in every way, and if they don’t see that as clearly as I do, then they don’t deserve your Sweet Treats. I hope you feel as beautiful and confident in the dress as I know you’ll look. Xox
Dress? She reached into the bag.
“What did the card say?” Bella took it from Leanna’s fingertips and read it aloud.
“Aw, that is so sweet.” Amy’s hand covered her heart.
Leanna held up the aqua tie-dyed dress she’d admired while they were in Provincetown. “I can’t believe he bought it. When did he even have time?”
“That is wicked cute!” Jenna rubbed the cotton between her fingers and thumb.
“When he told you he was writing, I bet,” Bella said. “That man. Mm-mm-mm. He is something, Leanna.”
Clutching the dress to her chest, she glanced at the bed, then the card, then Pepper. “Tell me something I don’t know.”
IT WAS ALMOST nine when Kurt finally arrived at the Braden’s house in Weston, Colorado. Savannah’s older brothers Treat and Rex had made arrangements for Kurt’s family to stay near her father’s ranch. Earlier in the day he’d confirmed with Blue that the renovations were progressing well, and he’d received several texts from Siena confirming his arrival time throughout the day, as if the plane might suddenly divert and take him to Timbuktu.
He sat in the rented Lexus in the driveway and pulled out his cell phone. He and Leanna had texted throughout the afternoon, and she’d sent him a picture of her wearing the dress he’d bought her. He pulled it up before calling her. The aqua color and her wide smile lit up the screen. The scooped neckline exposed a sexy path of tanned skin, and the dress fit perfectly over her curves—not too tight, not too loose—and ended midthigh. Luscious Leanna. She sure was, and he missed her so much his heart ached.
He pressed her speed-dial number, and she answered on the first ring.
“FaceTime. FaceTime,” she said excitedly.
He laughed and pushed the FaceTime icon. Her beautiful smiling lips and hazel eyes filled the screen.
“There you are,” he said.
“We all are. Look.” She turned the phone, and on the screen he saw Bella, Jenna, and Amy waving. He could hear their laughter as if he were there with them.
He wished he were.
“This is Tony,” Leanna said as she moved the phone toward a handsome man’s face that filled the screen.
Kurt took stock of him in three seconds flat. Wide smile, dark tan, longish, sun-streaked, brownish blond hair that fell almost to his eyes, broad shoulders, and eyes that didn’t hold a threat. Kurt had never been a jealous man. He assumed that not having a steady girlfriend helped in that regard. Despite the lack of threat in Tony’s eyes, his gut clenched.
Tony waved. “Hey, man. Sorry we didn’t get to meet while you were here. I slept for, like, two days. Jet lag, man, it’s a killer. I was whipped.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m sure we’ll connect the next time Leanna and I are up.” He couldn’t help it; he had to claim her.
“Great. I’m looking forward to it. According to these goofballs, you’re, like, Mr. Perfect. I’d be glad to break you of that nasty habit.”
Tony laughed, and Kurt couldn’t help but like his easy nature.
“I fear they have a limited stock of men to compare me to. I’m far from perfect, and trust me, they think the world of you, too.”
Tony lifted his beer with a nod, and Leanna’s face appeared on the screen again.
“Hey, babe. I just got to Treat’s, and I just wanted to say hi before I went in. I don’t know what they have planned for tonight, but I’ll text you when I settle in for the night, and if you’re still up, you can call me.”
Three hard knocks on the car window drew his attention away from Leanna as she spoke.
“Sounds great. Thank you for the dress, and I love the card.”
“Hold on, babe,” he said as he stepped from the car, and Siena flew into his arms.
“Oh my gosh! I’ve missed you so much! I can’t believe you’re finally here. I’ve waited all day to see you. Look how tan you are. Everyone’s inside and—”
“Siena.” He held up his phone and wiggled it.
“Hi, Siena!” Leanna said loudly.
“Oh my goodness! Leanna?” Siena’s baby blues widened as she took the phone from Kurt’s hand. “Hi. It’s so nice to see you. Wow! You’re really pretty.” Siena wore a pair of white shorts and a pink T-shirt. She looked happy and full of life, reminding him of Leanna.