Rhys drove to the old Dunn place. Summer’s husband had grown up on this ranch. She’d dated Jonah’s younger brother in high school and college, so my sisters and I had visited this place before. Jonah’s brother had gotten killed drinking and driving, almost taking Jonah out with him. Due to the injuries, Jonah had stopped helping his dad ranch. A couple of years ago, I’d heard Jonah’s parents were moving and that Rhys had bought the place.
“This is our new ranch,” Hannah said.
“It’s not new,” Bethany said, sounding exactly like Summer used to when we were kids and she’d barely tolerated her sisters’ helpful comments. “We’ve lived here since I was seven.”
Rhys parked by the back door. The garage was detached—for now. Support beams were erected between the house and garage. He was enclosing them. Was he doing the work himself?
What’d he look like all sweaty? If it was hot, did he work with his shirt off? I used to love catching him with his shirt off.
But that was then. I’d seen lots of men without their shirts since. Professional athletes. Country singers. Random men at the bar who thought their muscles were tip enough. Muscles didn’t affect me.
Would he wear a really tight shirt or take it off entirely?
Nope. I was done with men for more than a little while. I wanted a guy who wanted me, and only me. Two standards that had been lacking in my dating history.
“Girls,” Rhys said, “it’s way past your bedtime. I know we have a guest, but you both need to brush your teeth, get into pajamas, and crawl into bed. I’ll be there to tuck you in after I get Miss Kerrigan settled.”
“Junie,” I said on a sigh.
He didn’t acknowledge me and got out. I folded the blanket and left it on the seat when I climbed out. The girls took off inside, screeching about the cold rain.
I ducked through the downpour and went to the back of the pickup to get my stuff.
“I got it,” he said through gritted teeth. We weregetting pelted with fast, tiny drops. The storm had grown in strength.
Grateful I didn’t have to spend the night waiting for an empty cabin to heat up while I was starving, I lifted my guitar case. “I’m already here.”
We carried my stuff in.
Inside the door, I set the case down on a long rug, and he put my luggage next to it and ran back out, probably to park in the garage.
I wiped rain off my face and inhaled. The place had a homey smell. Baked goods. A hint of cedar and fresh linen from the laundry room behind me. The kitchen was square, with a squat dining room at one end. Modern cabinet doors updated the whole look. Either Rhys or Jonah’s parents must’ve switched them out.
If Rhys had done it, had he been shirtless?
I was tired. Policing my thoughts was too hard right now.
At my feet, polished hardwood stretched through the kitchen and into the living room on the other side of the wall. A square table butted against the far wall and a tiny island on wheels sat in the middle.
I peered into the living room. I could make out pictures of the girls, furniture upholstered in earth tones, and more blankets than I had in the whole cabin.
Footsteps pounded down the stairs on the other side of the living room wall.
Bethany peeked out. “Do you know where your room is?”
I didn’t know a whole lot about my life at this point. “No. Is it upstairs or down?”
“Daddy’s room and the guest room are downstairs.Me and Hannah sleep upstairs.” She beamed. “We each get our own room.”
I smiled. I had been terrified at first to have my own room when my sisters and I had gone to live with the Baileys. “Awesome.”
Bethany straightened and swept her arm toward the kitchen. “Help yourself to a muffin.”
My stomach clenched at the mention of food. “Thank you.”
I toed off my sandals and crossed to the counter. A round serving plate of muffins was piled high under a clear plastic dome. Stress baking. Rhys had barely ever turned an oven on when we dated.
The muffin was full of shredded carrots and coconut. The thing was like a ripe orange, much heavier than it looked. I continued to inspect the handiwork of a man I no longer knew as I leaned against the counter and kicked the heel of one foot against the ankle of my other leg.
