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“No. I just got the call.”
Ridge reached over and clasped a big hand on Everly’s shoulder and squeezed. “We’ll figure this out.”
There had been few constants in Everly’s life, but her parents and her brother had always stood by her. It didn’t matter where they were or how many times they moved. Now, Blake had fallen into the same unwavering role. He felt as sure and steady as her family.
Every thought of Blake had Everly’s heart racing. She definitely needed to get a new place. Living with Blake had her thoughts all messed up. Was it possible to have too much of a good thing? She loved being close to him, but the overexposure had her heart rushing to claim a relationship when her head knew it was too soon.
Was it? She’d broken up with David weeks ago. Was she eager for a rebound?
No. Blake wasn’t a rebound. He’d always been there for her, and the new feelings weren’t really so new. Trust, loyalty, and friendship had simply grown, letting in a new and exciting factor–love.
At home, Ridge scarfed down leftovers before heading to the downstairs gym, while Everly settled in with her laptop in the living room. The house always felt empty without Blake. He embodied the space with his laughter and larger-than-life personality, but he was on a pack ride and wouldn’t be home until later. Logic said she should use the time to catch up on editing, but her thoughts were a tangled mess.
After editing ten pages, she gave up on the task. She’d be more focused in the morning when she wasn’t so worked up about the house. She opened the document containing her most recent book. It was a completely unrealistic story about a celebrity musician and her bodyguard, but Everly had always been drawn to heroes in protector roles.
Protectors and cowboys.
The cowboy allure was a recent development. Blake had played a huge role in her unconscious shift to cowboy romances. She enjoyed reading them, and now she enjoyed writing them. The bodyguard story was an attempt to push the cowboy in her real life out of her head.
So far, it wasn’t working.
After two hours of writing, she shifted back to editing. She’d just started chapter ten of the cozy mystery when Blake walked in. She turned around to see him as he came in the door leading from the kitchen to the garage. He hung his hat on the hook and tossed his keys into a bowl on the counter.
Everly pushed her laptop aside and stood. There was a shift in him the moment he saw her. His gaze locked on her, and his tired eyes filled with energy. The light-hearted smile he gave her made her forget the way things were between them before they’d confessed their feelings. Blake had always been her friend, but she knew they were meant for more than friendship.
“Hello, gorgeous.” Blake opened his arms to her as he stepped into the kitchen.
Everly met him and fell into his embrace. There was no denying him or the pull between them.
“Hey, cowboy.” She propped her chin on his chest to look up at him. “Did you have a good day?”
A slight wrinkle formed between Blake’s brows. “It was good. What about you? You look like something’s wrong.”
Trying not to sulk, Everly exhaled. “I got outbid on the house.”
Blake wrapped his arms tighter around her. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. I’m just ready to get back on my feet. I feel stupid for spending so much time and money on that other house that I just had to leave.” She looked up at him. “Don’t get me wrong, I know it wasn’t where I was supposed to be. It’s just that I still don’t know where Iamsupposed to be. It’s frustrating.”
Blake backed up, but he didn’t let go of her hand. She was grateful because she needed that link between them.
He was looking down at her hand when he asked, “Why did it take David so long to propose?”
Everly’s brows rose. Not because Blake’s question was unwelcome, but because they never talked about David.
“I kept telling him I wasn’t ready whenever the topic came up. Then I started thinking I wouldn’t ever be ready.”
So much doubt. So much indecision. Those fears were still crystal clear in her memory. Yet, there was none of that hesitation between Blake and herself.
Everly squeezed Blake’s hand. “One time when he asked, I said yes. Mostly because we’d been together for years, and it seemed stupid that we would be together that long and not be heading toward marriage.”
Blake stood straighter. “Wait, did he ask more than once?”
“Twice. The first time was early. We’d barely been together for six months. Then every time the subject of marriage came up, I would say something about how I wasn’t ready. One time he said something along the lines of ‘I can’t wait forever,’ and I felt bad for holding out for so long.”
Blake tucked his chin to look her straight in the eye. “I hope you never feel like I pressure you.”
Everly shook her head. “Never. Never. Not you.”
