He tried to smile. She tried to as well, but her mouth couldn’t seem to hold it. The air seemed heavy with what was between them.
“I should let you go inside.” He didn’t make a move to stand, however. “You still haven’t told me your number, but we’re talking. When you do that with me, I know everything will be all right.”
This time, he rose and held out his hand before tucking it quickly to his side. She noted the old-time gesture. Her throat tightened as she clutched her flowers in her hand. Suddenly, things between them felt filled with a lot more than justall right. She could feel another chance blossoming before them.
“Get some sleep,” she said quietly, noting the exhaustion lining his face. “Someone was up late last night giving me several thoughtful presents.”
He laughed ruefully. “You know I’d go days without sleep just to be with you again.”
Her heart began to hammer in deep, aching beats. All she wanted to do was put her head against his chest and feel his arms around her again.
“Do you remember that picnic I asked about?” he asked softly.
She nodded, knowing she was going to say yes.
He cleared his throat. “Would tomorrow be good?”
The hesitancy in his voice, along with his searching gaze, had her trying to smile again. “That works.”
“Good.” He flashed her a quicksilver smile.
This time, she felt her mouth tip to the right before smoothing out and holding the smile that had failed her until now. Her heart was tripping in her chest, and she felt deeply and completely happy looking at his handsome face and his masculine presence.
Jolene had said Ben made her light up like the sun.
Seeing him now, his exhaustion was gone. His whole being looked younger.
I light him up too.
Maybe he knew how close to the edge they both were, but he steered her toward the front door. “Sleep tight. And lock the door behind you.”
She almost dropped her flowers. “Are you being funny? You never lock the doors out here.”
“I’m only being cautious.” He opened it and nudged her inside. “I can handle a shipment of lumber going missing. You’re way more precious. ’Night, now.”
If she hadn’t been so shocked, her heart would have spun at hearing his deep voice call her precious. Shivering, she decided to lock the other doors. A moment later, she heard his boots clomp down the porch steps.
She remembered him meeting with the sheriff today. Did he expect more trouble? Ben didn’t spook easily.
Jolene calling her part fighter tonight came to mind. She supposed she was when she needed to be.
But, please, don’t let it be necessary.
She was really starting to enjoy being home.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Their neighbors were bringingextra lumber by.
Truck after truck, their neighbors drove up the main road to the ranch, dropping off extra lumber for the cause in the yard. Ben lifted his hat and scratched his head every time. He'd known these people all his life, and still, he couldn't get over their kindness.
One thing was certain: no one was surprised they suspected Taft was behind the “mix-up.”
Ben answered question after question from his friends. No, they hadn’t figured out yet how it happened. What did it mean for them and Wild Mountain? He had no idea. What did it mean for Sanctuary Springs? Ask him another question.
By noon, he was rubbing the base of his neck as he watched Cooper talking with Amber’s father, who’d generously brought a whole store of lumber they’d had on hand to build a new horse barn at the Flying K. The town was upset, his ex-father-in-law included. Worse, they were worried.
If James Taft was going to play dirty, what were they supposed to do? Not everyone had reserve funds for a mishap, nor lawyers to involve if any justice was possible.Ben didn’t have enough answers for himself, least of all his friends.
