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Constance probably wouldn’t want flowers. She was a romantic, but she’d want something more meaningful. The problem with that was coming up with something that was as priceless as she was.
James stiffened as the door opened and the one person he hadn’t wanted to see strode in. Zeke stood in the doorway and glanced around the room until his focus landed on James. His features were tight and he looked about as exhausted as James felt.
Don’t come over here. Please don’t come over here.
Zeke headed over in James’s direction.
Shoot.
James straightened, his back stiff against the booth as Zeke took a seat across from him. James didn’t take his wary eyes off the man. Rifle or no rifle, this man wasn’t to be trusted.
Zeke’s focus bounced up to James and he tapped his finger on the menu that had been left behind by the waitress. “I’ve had some time to think about what you said last night.”
Eyes widening, James couldn’t drag his attention away from Zeke if he wanted to. The man was going to string him up by his toes. He’d take him out into the woods and let the animals get to him.
“And I admire your courage.”
Wait, what?
“It took a lot of guts to come tell me I’m raising my seven children wrong.” He raised one bushy brow.
“I never said—”
Zeke held up a hand. “It takes even more guts to stay in town after being poked by my rifle.”
James blinked. Was the man making a joke? None of that was funny.
Zeke’s steady gaze locked onto James and he went quiet. Time slowed down and James’s breathing all but stopped. “I’ve been convinced to change a few things about the rules of my house.”
It was at that very moment that everything started back in motion. James glanced around the room, his gaze seeking out anything that would make it clear this was a dream or some kind of practical joke. People didn’t just change their ways that fast. Something else had to have happened. Did Constance finally speak to him?
James focused on Zeke once more. “What exactly are you saying?”
Zeke got to his feet and set his steely eyes on James. “I’m saying that if you break her heart, I’m more than happy to get some hunting practice in. Have a good day, Dr. Pratt.” He gave James a short nod and headed for the counter.
This had to be a dream. He hadn’t slept well last night. Now he’d managed to fall asleep in his booth. Someone was bound to come poke him to wake him up. James set his head in his hands.
But if this was real, it meant there was nothing standing in his way of being with Constance. Nothing but the woman herself.
He shot out of his seat only to come face to face with the woman he couldn’t get out of his mind.
“Hi, James.” Constance gestured toward the booth. “Chloe said you might be here. Mind if I sit?”
His hand reached for the table and he lowered himself slowly into the booth. His gaze shot toward Zeke who he found giving him a warning look. James dragged his attention to Constance once more. “After last night—”
Constance reached for his hand across the table. “Can I go first this time?”
He clamped his mouth shut. If she was willing to talk now, he wasn’t going to fight her on it. She was here, sitting in front of him. What more could he ask for in this exact moment?
She worried her lower lip and traced her finger on the back of his hand, causing fresh chills to overwhelm him. When she looked up, her eyes shined with emotion. “I wanted to say I was sorry.”
James stiffened. “But you didn’t—”
“I didn’t stand up for what I wanted, and it wasn’t fair to either of us. I should have known better from the start that if I planned on dating someone, I’d have to figure out how to make it okay with my dad.” She glanced over her shoulder to where her dad sat, but he wasn’t looking their way anymore. “I tried once, but I gave up too easily.”
Constance brought her focus back to James and offered him a sad smile. “There are still a lot of things that I have to work through, but there’s one thing I know I wanted to tell you.”
The way she was speaking, he could tell she wanted to put their relationship on hold. Maybe it wasn’t a complete breakup. But it still wasn’t a rekindling. “Constance, before you say anything—”
