Once Bitten, Twice Shy

The screen door squealed and slammed, and then Alex spoke.

"I thought you were going to check the water. Aren't you headed in the wrong direction?"

She froze with her back to him. "If you came out here to rub it in, you can go back in the house. I got your point. I'm out of your hair - that's what you wanted, isn't it?"

Boots crunched on gravel behind her. "I came out here to apologize for airing my dirty laundry on your kitchen table."

"Apology accepted." She kept her back to him.

"And I haven't shown up on your doorstep so often because I want you out of my hair."

"I know. You came up to see Katie. I'm handy, that's all."

He laughed shortly. "Katie couldn't care less whether she sees me or not."

She turned and stared up at him. "Sure she does. And you care."

He nodded and grimaced. "That I do. But Katie isn't the one responsible for my visits."

Her heart skipped a beat. "No, the goats brought you the first time."

He quirked a brow. "Is that a fact?"

She stared at him. "I thought you said . . ." But he hadn't said anything. It was Katie who had said he was coming up to watch the goats kid. And it had been Katie who sent him that picture - to lure him up here?

Alex smiled. "I was intrigued by the girl Katie kept telling me about. When she sent me the picture, I had to come see for myself. You looked so innocent and sweet."

Warmth returned to her face. Was that all he saw in the picture? "I didn't know . . ."

"I know," he interrupted, "and it made you that much more irresistible. But you kept . . . keep, pushing me away. Don't you know by now that I'm in love with you?"

Her heart was pounding. Finally. "But why didn't you say something earlier. It would have made things easier."

His brows arched. "I thought three days was being a pretty bold. Anyway, I was causing enough trouble between you and Josh as it was - and I wasn't sure where you stood with him." He touched her cheek. "I'm still not sure."

She put her hand over his. "Do you honestly think there could be anything between Josh and me after that scene in the barn yesterday?"

He gazed down at her somberly. "I could tell him it was my fault - that I was forcing myself on you. He'd believe me."