Page 64 of Just One Chance

"Will you have time in your schedule to do the work?" Kennedy asked.

"I can do it now." I was just starting new marketing efforts, and who knew how busy I would be in a few months? It wasn't exactly what I was hoping for. I wanted to make the furniture in the rooms, but it was something. The important thing was that I wasn't depending on work from my family anymore.

"We would love for you to make the outdoor furniture for the brewery, picnic tables, and the rocking and Adirondack chairs," Beck said.

"I already included that in my plans." We always planned that I'd do all the brewery furniture.

Beck checked his phone. "Clara's on her way home. I'd better get going."

"I'll walk you to your truck."

Beck paused by Kennedy's stump. "I'll see you around, I'm sure." Then he continued around the building to his vehicle.

"Thanks for stopping by," I said to him.

"Don't forget to tell her how you feel. It's the most important thing and will save you a lot of heartache."

"Sure thing." It was also the hardest option. I wasn't great at expressing my feelings unless it was displeasure with having to socialize. Telling a woman that I enjoyed spending time with her was outside of my wheelhouse. Especially one that was leaving sooner rather than later.

"You'll do the right thing," Beck said, climbing into his truck.

I wasn't so sure about that. But I was glad he had confidence in my abilities. I was fairly sure that I was going to screw everything up.

It would be easier to let her walk out of my life. If I told her how I felt, there was a possibility that she could reject me. She could say that she didn't feel the same, and that would suck.

18

KENNEDY

Ihadn't expected to see a truck when I pulled up to Boone's. In all the times I stayed the night, no one had dropped by. But Beck already knew about us, so I didn't have to pretend that the visit was professional.

Were they talking about our relationship?

I heard the tires of Beck's truck move over the gravel drive as he pulled out, and then Boone's footsteps a few seconds later.

"He didn't have to leave," I said as Beck came around the corner of the building.

"He'd already been here for a while and wanted to get home to Clara. Trust me, he can't be apart from her for long." Boone sat in the seat that Beck vacated.

"Is it okay that I stopped by? I didn't realize he'd be here."

"I want you here."

That settled deep in my chest. It wasn't a declaration of his feelings, but it was something. Probably the deepest admission I'd get from a man like Boone. One who wasn't used to discussing his feelings. "What were you guys talking about?"

"Work. Relationships. The usual."

I snagged on his reference to relationships. "You were talking about us?"

"He wants me to be careful. He doesn't want your business to be hurt."

A chill ran through me. "That's why I wanted to keep it a secret from your family."

"I trust Beck not to tell anyone. He was in his own secret relationship with Clara, and none of us found out until they wanted us to know."

"If you're sure⁠—"

"You can trust Beck. He's a good guy."