With the whiskey still in one hand, he tapped his other against his jeans. “I know we did, and I know I left you that note, but I never technically apologized in person, and it’s been bugging me. Today made me realize I’m glad you didn’t stoptrying even when I gave you a hard time. I’m glad you spent the day out on the water with us, with me.
“The cabin had been empty for a while, and I didn’t realize Lily was renting it out. That used to be one of my responsibilities before my parents passed it to her. A few years ago, I’d rented the cabin out to a travel photographer for a magazine. Gretchen.”
I didn’t have a right to be jealous—and I wasn’t—but my stomach flipped at Wesley’s mention of another woman’s name. I didn’t like how I wondered if he still had feelings for her.
“She spent time in the area on and off for about a year, taking photos of Golden Falls and the surrounding towns in northern Wisconsin.” Wesley let out a deep sigh, and I couldn’t tell what came over him. Sadness? Regret?
“I was different back then,” he continued. “Less closed off. More open to meeting people. We hit it off immediately, and I don’t know if you’d call what we had a relationship, but we had something. She wanted it all to be a secret, though. She told me it was because of her job, which I respected, but then I realized there was more to it.
“She told me she was divorced, but the truth was she wasgoing througha divorce. She was technically still married when we were together, and that’s why she wanted to keep things a secret. Why she never wanted to meet my family or friends and never wanted to be where people would see us together. She then said her time with me made her realize she wanted to fix her marriage. That she wanted a life in the city with her rich husband over a life here. That I couldn’t offer her anything beyond an escape.” Wes was looking out at the water but slowly shifted his gaze to me. “When I saw you with your pink suitcase and all those boxes, I assumed you were running from something, too. And I thought I was even more right whenI found out you were on a show. I compared you to her without knowing anything about you, and I’m sorry for that, Juliette.”
The pieces of our first handful of interactions were clicking into place, and while it wasn’t fair, a sense of relief came over me knowing it wasn’t anything I did.
“I couldn’t figure it out,” I said slowly, “why everyone was willing to give me a chance except you.”
Wes frowned, his eyes softening. “It had nothing to do with you and everything to do with me. I shouldn’t have let my past cloud the future. You’re the first person I’ve told the full story to,” he said. “Cooper knows bits and pieces, but I haven’t been able to bring myself to explain what happened. Explain that things ended because I wasn’t enough for?—”
“Because she wasn’t the right person for you,” I interjected. “You have so much to offer someone, Wes. You just need to find her, and she’s going to be a lucky woman.” I firmly believed that as I started to see more of the real Wes. “What Gretchen did and how she treated you says so much more about the person she is than the personyouare.”
He let out a huff, shaking his head. “I don’t deserve your kindness, Juliette.”
“What makes you say that? Of course, you do. You’re a good man. Maybe we got off on the wrong foot, but you’ve made up for it. I appreciate you apologizing again and opening up to me. Things between us are good.” But there was one more thing on my mind. I swallowed before asking, “Do you…still have feelings for Gretchen?”
“No, I don’t,” he responded quickly, without any hesitation. “The way things ended was frustrating, but even then I knew she wasn’t the person for me.”
I exhaled a breath I didn’t realize I had been holding.
“You seem relieved.” That half-smile of his was back, and he knocked his knee against mine.
I shook my head with a laugh, appreciating how, even though our conversation was raw and vulnerable, there was an ease to it, too. “Only because I’d hate for you to be hung up on someone who doesn’t deserve you.”
“And are you? Hung up on someone who doesn’t deserve you?” His hand clenched around the whiskey glass before he set it on the side table, flexing his fingers at his side. I would’ve given anything in that moment to know what he was thinking. “You were upset earlier today, and no one should be making you feel that way.”
I looked into his dark-brown eyes with golden flecks. Eyes that noticed more than I wanted him to. “I also know a thing or two about falling for the wrong person, but no, I’m not hung up on him.”
After Wes gave me a piece of himself, I wanted to tell him my truth. Maybe I did come to Golden Falls as a distraction, but it’s turned into so much more. “You know that I was on a reality show, right? Do you know anything beyond that or have you read any of the articles?”
“Articles?” He shook his head. “No. I figured if you wanted me to know something, you’d tell me yourself.”
That meant more to me than he realized. I went on to tell Wes about why I’d gone on the show, falling for Tony, the breakup, the audio, my vulnerabilities. How Tony said I was a handful. It all felt like a lifetime ago now.
“And then the same tabloid that ran the article with the audio did an interview with Tony, who said I knew about his intentions from the beginning and was using the show to benefit my career, too. He even said he did me a favor by breaking things off.”
“Fucking bastard,” Wesley muttered. It wasn’t the first swear he said as I recounted what happened. “He didn’t deserve you. If the guy you’re with doesn’t worship the ground you walk on,he’s not it. Plain and simple.” He was clenching his jaw so hard, I thought he was about to crack a molar.
I sighed. “I’m starting to think I trust peopletooeasily.”
“Not a bad thing, but I can imagine that comes with its own challenges. I like how open you are with the people you meet, but not everyone deserves your light.” Goose bumps formed on my skin. The low rumble in his voice both soothed and awakened something in me.
“You don’t think it’s stupid I went on the show? Thinking that things would turn out well?” I untucked my legs and stood, walking over to the deck railing.
He stood, too, bare feet hitting the wooden deck as he took a few steps to stand next to me. When I didn’t look his way, he reached over and took my chin between his thumb and forefinger, tipping it up. He slowly moved his fingers from my chin, cupping my face instead and running his thumb over my cheek. A shiver ran up my spine at the warm contact of his calloused touch.
“You’re fearless, Juliette. I can’t imagine many other people who would pick up their life and sign up to go on a reality show not knowing the outcome. Or who would pack up their car and drive to a new town. And fully embrace both experiences.” His gaze searched my face. “You’ve brought new life into this town. Golden Falls is better with you in it. And today was one of my favorite days because of you.”
“Because of me?” It was unusual how quiet my voice was, but I didn’t shy away from it. I wasn’t looking for his approval—I knew I didn’t need it—but I wondered if he felt the connection building between us. “So, you like me, then?”
“It’s impossible to not like you.” His thumb moved along my cheek once more before he dropped his hand.
