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“A brand-new library is a great addition to Love,” Joshua said, admiring the structure. “I’m not sure if I would have spent a lot of time here as a teenager,” he said with a chuckle, “but it’s great for the town.”
“A lot has changed in six years,” she noted. The town of Love had gone through a recession, lost beloved members of their town, created a lucrative company, Lovely Boots, and created the innovative program, Operation Love. They had gone through some difficult times, but the town was still standing. The town of Love had endured. Yet, Joshua had missed all of it. The tragedies and the triumphs. The townsfolk coming together to rebound from financial ruin. And he hadn’t been aware of Bud’s determination to bequeath the Diamond R to his beloved hometown.
Both she and Joshua had changed. They were no longer the high school sweethearts who had been head over heels in love with one another. They were two strong-willed people who might be headed for a legal showdown in court over Bud’s property. They didn’t believe in the same things. She sighed. No matter how fantastic their kiss had been, it couldn’t alter reality.
“It really has,” he agreed with a nod. He locked gazes with her, his eyes filled with intensity.
Honor bowed her head. She was beginning to think kissing Joshua hadn’t been such a good idea. Looking into Joshua’s eyes complicated matters. They were pulling her in. “We should be getting back. Violet will be looking for you,” she said in a brisk tone.
He nodded his agreement. They began to walk down Jarvis Street toward the Moose Café. Joshua’s mood seemed contemplative. Perhaps he, too, was coming to the realization that the kiss between them had only served to complicate an already messy situation.
Silence reigned as they walked back toward the café. From this point forward, Honor was determined to avoid being alone with Joshua. She didn’t need any more trips down memory lane with him or tender kisses in the moonlight. Joshua had the ability to make her forget all of the reasons why they shouldn’t be kissing in the first place.
Honor needed to focus instead of getting distracted by Joshua. She wasn’t going to allow a tender kiss to deter her from the main objective—preventing the Ransom brothers from selling the Diamond R to the Alloy Corporation. If Joshua Ransom thought he had softened her up tonight with his boyish charms, he had another think coming.
* * *
On the ride home to the ranch after Hazel’s party, Joshua had plenty of time to reflect on his impulsive decision to kiss Honor. Kissing her had been an act of sheer nerve on his part. And, although it had felt good in the moment, he was having deep regrets. Honor wasn’t the type of woman a man should casually kiss. Everything about her screamed home, hearth and forever. But he couldn’t give her any of those things. Their one shot at a happy ending had fallen apart six years ago. He clenched his jaw and let out a ragged sigh. It had been foolish to give in to nostalgia. There wasn’t a single thing tying them together in the present.
Theo kept giving him curious sideways glances. He knew his brother wanted to ask him about his mood, but so far Theo hadn’t peppered him with any questions.
He began tapping his fingers on the steering wheel. Suddenly, he was a bundle of nervous energy. Irritation bubbled up inside him. If he had been alone in the truck, Joshua knew he might roar with frustration. Life wasn’t fair.
Theo grumbled. “All right, already. What’s up with you tonight?”
Joshua feigned ignorance. He didn’t need Theo coming down on him about the foolishness of kissing Honor. His brother had made it clear years ago he didn’t care for her. Theo had always believed Honor hadn’t loved him as much as he’d loved her. And he had been of the belief that they had been way too young to commit to a future together.
“I’m just tired. It’s been a long day.”
Theo scoffed. “Gimme a break, Joshua. I’ve known you all your life. It’s not simply fatigue. Fess up.”
Joshua sighed. “Honor and I shared a special moment.” He was trying to be discreet, while at the same time letting his brother know they’d connected in a meaningful way. Joshua needed someone he could trust to confide in.
“A special moment?” Theo asked. “What does that mean?”
“I kissed her,” he blurted out. “And she kissed me back.”
Theo began to mutter in an angry tone. “What in the world did you do that for? Are you a glutton for punishment or what?”
“Whoa! Take it easy. Haven’t you ever acted on impulse?”
Theo shook his head and muttered angrily. “Why are you doing this to yourself? She demolished your heart six years ago. What do you think is going to happen this time around? Roses and moonlight?”
Joshua looked away from the road for a quick moment, shooting Theo a deadly glare. “I made a mistake by kissing her. I’m already kicking myself for doing it. If you can’t say anything supportive, don’t say a word. Okay?”
Silence stretched out between them. The radio was the only sound in the car. Violet was peacefully sleeping in the back seat.
“I’m sorry, Joshua. You know how I am. I shoot from the hip. I’m sorry if it sounded harsh.” He quirked his mouth. “I’m only watching out for your best interests. I’m worried about you. And you know I always have your back.”
Joshua knew how difficult it was for his brother to apologize. It always had been, ever since they were kids. “It’s all right. I know you’re trying to protect me, but I’ve got this under control.”
“Do you?” Theo pressed. “Because it seems to me that despite all reason, Honor still has a hold on you. It makes no sense to me! Her main goal is to prevent us from selling the ranch. What happens if the injunction holds and we can’t sell the Diamond R?”
Joshua swallowed past the huge lump sitting in his throat. “We’d have to accept it. I would try to see the bigger picture and find meaning in the judge’s decision.”
“How do you think this town will react if we get the green light to move forward with the sale of the ranch? It won’t be pretty.”
He felt his jaw tighten. Why was his brother so intent on hammering his point home? It wasn’t as if Joshua was dreaming of a happily-ever-after with Honor. Their opposing views on the future of Bud’s property represented the huge chasm between them. And he wasn’t putting down roots here in Love, no matter what the judge decided.
