Page 42 of Mountain Dreams

Wyatt must have asked where she was staying, and she replied, “It’s really none of your business.”

Would she have kept her whereabouts a secret if she’d gone to one of her sisters’ houses? Was there a reason she didn’t want Wyatt to know she was at his house?

“I’ll get someone to help me,” she said.

The longer the conversation went on, the more frustrated she sounded. He hated Wyatt for making her feel this way, and he would have liked to grab the phone and give him a piece of his mind. Instead, he forced himself to sit still and finish his coffee.

“You don’t have a right to ask me that anymore. I’ll let you know when I’m coming to get my things. Goodbye.”

He didn’t want her to think he’d been listening, so he stood, gathered the empty dishes, and took them to the sink. His back was to her when she returned to the kitchen. “Everything okay?” he said as he rinsed his plate.

When she didn’t immediately answer, he turned and faced her.

“He offered to move the rest of my things today. Can you believe that? Like I want to see him on Valentine’s Day!”

Cody was somewhat surprised too, but he didn’t want to add insult to injury. “What did you say?”

“I told him I’d get someone to help me on another day. He also asked where I’m staying, but I didn’t say.”

His curiosity got the best of him, and he had to ask. “Were you afraid to tell him you were with me?”

“I wasn’t sure how he’d react. You guys were friends before I put you in the middle of this mess.”

Wyatt had made his own mess as far as Cody was concerned, but he understood where she was coming from. “You were right—it’s none of his business.”

“So, you heard that?”

He nodded. “I didn’t mean to.”

She flapped her hand. “It’s not your fault. This whole thing is on me. I shouldn’t even be here.”

She turned and started to walk away, but he crossed the kitchen in two strides and put his hand on her arm. She slowly turned to face him, and this time, there were tears in her eyes.

He reached up with his other hand and cupped her cheek. “Stop blaming yourself for everything. You haven’t done anything wrong.” Except love the wrong guy.

“I must have done something wrong; otherwise, I’d still be engaged right now.”

He shook his head and rubbed her cheek with his thumb. “Wyatt was in the relationship too. He’s not completely blameless.” If she only knew.

“Logically, I know that, but emotionally…” She glanced down at the floor.

“I can’t pretend to understand how hard this is for you, but you deserve to be happy, and you will be again. I promise.”

She lifted her head and met his gaze. Suddenly the kitchen felt uncomfortably warm, and he wondered if he’d left the stove on. Their eyes locked and held, conveying messages that were impossible to voice. He knew she was hurting, and he didn’t want to take advantage of her vulnerability. On the other hand, she hadn’t pulled away from his touch, and it didn’t seem like she wanted to. He realized it was up to him to do the right thing.

He started to pull his hand away from her face, but she reached up and placed her hand over it.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

He shook his head. “You don’t have to keep thanking me.”

“How else can I express my appreciation?”

His blood heated as he thought of numerous ways, though none that he could say.

“You’ve done so much for me, letting me stay here, taking me apartment hunting, feeding me. Not to mention the flowers and chocolate. How can I ever repay you?”

You already are just by being here. “You don’t have to.”