He continued to follow her. “You’re running out of time.”
She shoved her feet into her Chuck Taylor’s, lacing them quickly. “Don’t you think I know that?”
“You’d rather lose the bar altogether than agree to my offer?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
His phone continued to vibrate in his back pocket, and he ignored it.
She stepped outside into the brisk morning air, and he followed in his bare feet. “If I do accept your offer…” she paused, motioned between them, “this is gonna end. I can’t do both. Iwon’tdo both.”
Her words were like a blow to his chest, and he fought for air. “Fine. Then I choose this. I choose us,” he finally said, attempting to swoop her into his arms but she resisted him. His chest deflated at her rejection.
“I need some time.”
As much as he didn’t want to respect her wishes, he had to. He’d been patient, waiting for her to heal after losing Ricky and waiting for her to open herself up to him.
Taking a step backward, he nodded.
“I’ll see you later.” She turned and hurried down the walkway toward her minivan.
He watched her go, his heart aching. Cooper came alongside him, nudging his wet nose into Davis’s hand.
Which mistake had been the biggest? Coming up with the offer to begin with or not presenting it to her?
And was he doing this just for her? The bar seemed to be thriving. But did that mean he wanted to invest in it? He didn’t know the first thing about running a restaurant. He knew wood. He knew home designing.
Maybe Kelsey was right, maybe he’d acted on impulse and this decision was a bad idea.
CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN
KELSEY
An afternoonwith her Izzy was exactly what Kelsey needed. Isabella and Leo had invited her and the kids over to roast marshmallows and make s’mores. When she arrived at their log home off the mountainous road, and next to part of the river that ran through town, June and Zach ran ahead of her.
Charlotte clung to her neck, just like she always did until she’d had some time to warm up to her surroundings, as Kelsey trudged across the soggy terrain. By the time she reached the firepit, Leo was already helping her kids stuff marshmallows on the end of poker sticks. Charlotte gave a squeal when she noticed the fire.
“I can see my children have made themselves right at home,” Kelsey stated, giving them a look of warning.
“Don’t worry, they used their manners,” Izzy assured her.
“They better have.” Kelsey adjusted Charlotte on her hip, but she wasn’t quite ready to be put down just yet.
“Mama, look, Auntie Izzy said I can have two mallows,” June said with delight radiating off her face.
“Lovely, is that so?” Kelsey replied.
“You can have two marshmallows too, if you want?” Izzy held them out like a peace offering.
She snatched one from her palm, rolling her eyes playfully at Izzy as she gave it to Charlotte. When the baby kicked her legs, Kelsey set her down and watched while she happily took a giant bite of the marshmallow.
“Charlotte, wanna cookie?” Leo knelt in front of Charlotte, handing her a graham cracker and she grinned as she accepted it.
“And that’s how it’s done,” Leo said.
Izzy waved him off. “Stop bragging. Once she’s old enough to appreciate shopping, who do you think she’ll be coming to?”
