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His bear had been considerably less interested in the weather. Most of his thoughts since waking had involved Kate. Wes had managed to work anyway. Now he straightened and followed his bear’s attention.

Kate and Penny were walking along the grassy track between the orchards. Kate carried two travel mugs and a small basket over one arm. Penny had acquired a stick somewhere along the way and was dragging it through the fallen leaves behind her. Wes put down the wrench. Kate saw him and smiled.

Last night came back with enough force that for a second he stood there looking at her. Her hands on him. Her body warm beneath his. The way she had stayed curled against his chest afterward, then sat downstairs with him far later than either of them had intended because neither had seemed ready to end the evening. He had driven her home eventually.

This morning, she had come back.

Wes walked toward them. “Morning.”

“Morning.” Kate held out one of the mugs. “Coffee. And Mom sent provisions.” She lifted the basket slightly.

Wes took the coffee, but Kate’s fingers were still around the cup. For a second neither of them let go. Their eyes met. Something warm and private passed between them.

Kate’s mouth softened. Wes’s attention dropped to it before he could stop himself. He wanted to kiss her. Judging by the way her gaze moved briefly over his face, she knew it. Neither of them did anything about it.

Penny was three feet away, using her stick to investigate something beneath the hedge.

Kate finally released the mug. “Hi,” she said, softer now.

“Hi.”

Penny crouched suddenly. “There’s a hole.”

Kate turned. “Please don’t put the stick into it.”

“I wasn’t.”

Wes came closer and looked. “Rabbit, probably.”

Penny’s head came up. “A real rabbit?”

“Most likely. See where the grass is flattened going into the hedge?”

She leaned forward. “There?”

“That little run. They use the same routes often enough to make paths.”

Penny immediately lowered her voice. “Is it in there?”

“Probably not now. But if you stay quiet, you might see one moving along the hedge.”

That was enough to transform the rest of the morning. Penny abandoned the hole, tucked the stick beneath one arm and began following the hedge slowly, convinced a rabbit would reward sufficient patience.

Kate watched her go. “Can you spare ten minutes?”

Wes looked toward the crew. Nobody needed him. The trailer could wait. “For you? Yeah.”

Her smile made it clear she heard the distinction. They walked a little farther beneath the end trees where the grass was dry and the branches spread wide enough to give them shade. Kate lowered herself beside one of the trunks and set the basket between them. Wes sat beside her. Not opposite. Beside. Close enough that his leg rested lightly against hers.

Kate opened the basket. Janice had packed two slices of apple pie in a container, along with forks and folded napkins. “Mom said she had pie left from yesterday and there was no point keeping it when you were working out here.”

“Your mother is very good at making things sound practical when she’s actually taking care of people,” Wes said.

“That’s exactly what she does.” Kate handed him a fork. “She likes you.”

“I like her.”

“And Dad.”