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“She definitely is,” Billy agreed. “We were in kindergarten together.”
“Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth?”
“About then.” He tried to smile. “We’ve certainly known each other a long time.”
“Is there something wrong?” Avery asked shyly. “I mean, not that there should be, but you just look so sad.”
“Nothing for you to worry about, Avery,” Billy said. “I’m just trying to come to terms with how relationships can change and surprise you.”
“You mean like between you and Bella?”
Billy grimaced. “You’ve been talking to Ruth and Chase, haven’t you?”
“I have heard them discussing certain things about you—you know what they are like.”
“And what are they saying?”
“Just that you seem to like her—a lot.” Avery paused. “Not that they think that’s bad, just that they’re surprised.”
“Not half as surprised as I am,” Billy muttered. “I don’t know what to do.”
“About what?”
“About liking Bella,” Billy confessed. “And I do like her.”
“Then why don’t you ask her out?” Avery looked at him expectantly.
“On a date?”
Avery grinned at him. “Isn’t that what you old folks call it?”
“We’re hardly likely to be hooking up, being friends with benefits, tindertweeting, or all the other stuff you guys use to knock boots these days,” Billy pointed out.
“Good to know.” Avery was obviously trying not to laugh. “Take her out to dinner, or bring her up here and cook her dinner.” She studied him seriously. “What have you got to lose?”
“Her friendship?” Billy was long past thinking it was weird to be having a heart-to-heart about his current romantic predicament with his son’s fiancée. “Neither of us are planning on leaving this town, so if things go wrong, we’ve got to live with the consequences.”
“You’re both reasonable people,” Avery pointed out. “I don’t see either of you making everything into a big drama if things don’t work out. You’d both carry on being the nice, sweet people you are.”
When Avery said it, it all sounded so reasonable.
“You think she’d like it if I cooked for her?” Billy said slowly.
“What woman wouldn’t?” Avery asked. “Especially seeing as Bella spends her whole life cooking for other people.”
“It might work. . . .” Billy nodded his head. “I have to get her up here to pick a menu for the wedding party. I could cook her a proper dinner after that.”
“And I’d make sure the rest of the family stayed over in the ranch house,” Avery promised. “Because otherwise they’d all be over here sticking their noses in your business.” She hesitated. “I think you should go for it.”
Billy nodded slowly. “Thanks, Avery. Then maybe I will.”
* * *
Bella got out of Billy’s truck and took in the silence and immediate sense of space around her. Spending her days in a busy kitchen made her happy, but coming out here where the skies rolled endlessly above your head and you could hear a pin drop was a whole ’nother world of peace.... She’d left Jay in charge of the bar and her newest team member, Sonali Patel, in charge of the evening shift.
Sonali had impressed Bella with her quick ability to understand the menu and serve up the food in a fast and furious manner. It was also midweek, so the volume of customers was lower and more centered on the local fries-and-burger clientele than the more fussy tourists.
Bella checked her phone, but there were no texts either from Jay or Sonali, so she could proceed with her meeting with Billy without a care in the world. Well—apart from the whole wanting to jump his bones thing, and him wanting to think about it. Bella retrieved her purse from the backseat and waited for Billy to come around the truck.
Maybe he had an answer for her tonight, and the meeting wouldn’t all be about choosing cake.... Bella smiled at her own absurdity. If Billy didn’t want to commit to a more complex relationship, then she was fine about it. She liked him just the way he was.
