“You could tell me that you’re not interested in destroying a perfectly good working relationship and—”
“Constance,” he said firmly, “it’s clear to me that we have feelings we’d both like to explore. How about we do that? No strings. Just a date.”
She couldn’t hold back the smile any further as she clenched and shook out her hands. “Yeah, okay.”
“Yeah? How about next weekend?”
Constance nodded. “I’d love to go on a date with you.”
“Great.” He walked around his desk and sat in his chair.
She hovered awkwardly. This was when she should say something cute and leave—leave him looking forward to seeing her again. Think. What could she say that would do just that?
James glanced up at her as he picked up the document he’d been reading when she’d interrupted. His eyes shifted to the door and back to her. “Was there something else?”
Constance shook her head. “No, nothing.”
“Alright. Well, I’ll see you on Monday, I guess.”
“Yep. Bright and early.”
“Goodnight, Constance.”
“Goodnight, James. Love you.” She spun around and took two steps before realizing what she’d just said. Slowing, she cringed, then glanced over her shoulder at him. “I didn’t mean to say that. It was just—”
He shook his head, a small smile touching his lips. “See you Monday.”
“Right.” As swift as her feet could carry her, she was out of his office and into her truck. Her face was still flushed and her hands shook as she gripped the steering wheel. Constance’s lungs didn’t seem to want to cooperate with her as she sucked in breath after unsteady breath. That had to have been the most embarrassing and terrifying thing she’d ever done. The fact that she hadn’t reacted to Shane like that was proof enough that she wasn’t meant to be with him.
James was the one she’d wanted since before she could remember. He was always so nice to her when he’d come over to help Brielle with her homework when they were younger. He was smart, sweet, and he’d matured in a way that she couldn’t resist. There was nothing that could change the way she felt about him.
13
James
James’s eyes locked with Constance’s for what felt like the hundredth time as they worked with Clio in the corral on Monday morning. Tension between them still hung thick, wrapping around them, pulling them closer and tying them together.
She’d smile and pull her hair behind her ear. He’d return her smile with one of his own. They shared this small secret—unless she’d told her sister about it. That didn’t seem likely considering he hadn’t had a visit from Brielle since he’d arrived. They’d simply spent the morning in the middle of their usual routine.
He wiped his brow with the back of his hand. “I think that does it today.”
Constance knelt down beside Clio and rubbed her hand up and down his leg, massaging it. “It looks like he’s all better.”
“He’s improved a lot. I think we’ll be able to cut back on the exercises, but we’ll want to keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn’t regress at all.”
She rose to her feet and rubbed her hands down his back. “You hear that, buddy? You’re getting nice and strong.” She moved toward his head and hugged his neck. A breeze drifted between them, offering a cool reprieve from the hard work they’d accomplished.
James could say a thousand things right now—bring up their conversation from last weekend or talk about their upcoming date. He could even ask her to elaborate on the crush he’d had no idea about.
But he thought better of it. If Brielle were to happen upon them, he’d get another earful. It was better to pretend that everything was status quo. Then if their first date went well, they could figure out how to tell everyone that they were dating.
He frowned. Wait a minute. When she’d accepted a date with Shane, she’d been very upfront with wanting to keep her relationship a secret.
James glanced at her as he coiled the rope around his arm. Would she desire the same thing when she went out on a date with him? A familiar sense of uncertainty roiled in his stomach. He didn’t want to go through that again.
Constance wasn’t Brielle. Just because she wanted to keep her date with Shane under the radar, didn’t mean she felt the same about him. She’d been the one who had told him that she was interested. This was different.
They took Clio back to his stall and then spent the remainder of the day checking up on other animals. Every hour he spent with her seemed to add just a little more weight settling over him. There was a heavy instinct that he should bring up his concerns before this went even further.