But none of it is true.
Metaphorically, it’s been a cold evening, not having her by my side for more than a few minutes. But I can’t help the feeling ofwarmth when I shut down for the evening. The locks, the lights, the drapes, and finally, starting the shower for her.
I check the water temp to make sure it’s just right, then turn back to her as she undresses.
She looks up at me. It’s not playful or seductive, it’s just tender. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
I like how in tune she is with me. Seems to always be. I like it a whole lot more than I should. Even when I didn’t like the idea of her here, I noticed the way she saw me. Knew when I was bothered by something.
I run my thumb gently across her soft cheek. “I am now,” I rasp out. “I hate not touching you when he’s around.”
The thought hits me hard. Thesefeelingshit me hard.
It’s not just sexual. My hands—and, hell, maybe even another part deep inside me—naturally seek her out, even in public. In stressful situations.
“I know,” she sighs. “And I know you don’t like lying to people either. Especially your friends and family.”
I rub the back of my neck; I have to tell her that Dallas isn’t the only one who knows about us. “About that .?.?. Dad and Silas can pretty much read the room when we’re in it together.”
She covers her face, but there’s a smile behind it. “I can only imagine what they think of me.”
“That you’re the first girl in years to make me smile.”
She searches my eyes. “They didn’t say that.”
“No,” I admit. “The men in my family don’t talk like that. But I can read them too.”
Her mouth opens, but she doesn’t say anything. She doesn’t tell me she feels the same. But maybe that’s for the best.
I swallow down the disappointment. “Shower. I need to make a call to Dallas about tonight. Then I’ll join you.”
I stand outside the bedroom door, dialing my older brother. The one who—before he lost himself in grief—was a hardasscowboy willing to kill for this ranch.
I need to see where his head is at about all this. “Hey,” he answers on the first ring.
“You home?”
“I’m at my house,” he says, like it’s obvious.
“Hell you doing over there?”
“Painting.”
“It’s after midnight,” I point out.
“Unless you’re offering to help, I’m hanging up.”
“A warning would’ve been nice about the boys,” I tell him, even if it isn’t the reason for my call.
“I know. But I can’t focus on that right now.”
“Right.”Ellie.Which meansIhave to focus on it enough for the both of us. “I’ll put an ad out,” I tell him. “Get some part-time help. See if Levi can recommend someone he trusts.”
“What about the senior group we got staying at the end of the summer?” Dal asks.
“Still on. We’ll make it work. Rose and I will rework the schedule.”
There’s a beat before he comments. “If my calculations are correct, she’s leaving next week, isn’t she?”
