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I bit back a curse. Exactly what had she heard? If she’d heard what Wyatt had been saying to me, I would kill him.
“I’m going out to the stables,” I said quickly and hurried out the front door. “See ya.”
I ran my hand through my hair as I made my way around the side of the house. I wasn’t going to go to the stables because I knew Wyatt was going to check on his new prized possession, and I didn’t want to have any more conversations with him. I needed to figure out exactly what was going on. I needed to figure out exactly how I felt about Arya and what I wanted from her.
I liked her. I liked her for more than just sex, but I wasn’t sure how she felt. I knew that she wasn’t interested in anything short-term. I knew that she wasn’t the sort of woman who could have a casual relationship. But as much as I wanted to be able to give her more, I just didn’t know that I was in that place.
The ranch was struggling, and now three of my brothers were getting married. That was three weddings we’d have to pay for, though I wasn’t sure if Sadie’s parents were going to put in money for her and Wyatt’s wedding. But I knew Arya didn’t have anything, and how was I going to pay for a wedding and to take care of her and Eloise? I just wasn’t in the right stage of life to take on that responsibility. They deserve the best, and I wasn’t able to give them the best just yet.
I sat on a pile of rocks and stared out at some of the buffalo. If only life could be as simple for me as it was for them.
You like her, my voice whispered in my ear. “I know I like her,” I mumbled back to myself. No, you really, really like her. The voice in my head was getting louder. “I know I like her,” I growled. But as I sat there thinking, I knew it was more than like.
Arya and Eloise had been growing in my heart for quite some time, and I was falling in love with Arya. The previous night, the way her body had felt against mine, it was more than just sex. It was more than just two bodies coming together for mutual satisfaction. She had fit against me as if she were made for me. When I’d woken up this morning and realized she’d gone, I’d panicked, and when I’d seen her walking down the corridor towards her room, that sweet little smile on her face when she saw me, I’d felt overjoyed.
I needed to figure this shit out. I needed to figure out exactly what I could offer Arya before it was too late because one night with her was definitely not going to be enough.
Chapter One Hundred Seven
Arya
I drove into town, listening to Shania Twain on the radio and smiling. As she sang about wearing men’s shirts, I thought about Chet and wondered what it would feel like to wear a piece of his clothing. I knew I shouldn’t dwell on the idea too much. I didn’t want to feel like I was too close to him, which was a little bit too late, because now that I’d slept with him I already felt like there was a closeness there that hadn’t existed before.
But I wasn’t going to let myself think about Chet and our night too much. I had more important things to do.
I pulled up outside of a coffee shop and took a deep breath as I got out of the car. I’d love to work in a coffee shop. I’d love to learn how to make espressos and cappuccinos and lattes. I walked through the door and looked around. There was a lone cowboy sitting at a table, drinking a cup of coffee with his back to me. There was no one behind the counter.
“Hello?” I called out.
“Just a second,” a voice called back to me from the back of the store.
“Okay,” I said, standing patiently.
The cowboy turned and looked at me for a few seconds and then turned back to his paper. a moment later, an elderly woman with bright blue hair popped out from the back. She had flour all over her face and a big smile.
“Hi,” I said. “I’m Arya.”
“Hi, Arya. My name’s Betsy Lou.”
“Nice to meet you, Betsy Lou.”
“What can I get ya? A tea, a coffee, hot chocolate?”
“Actually, I was inquiring whether or not you were hiring.”
“Hiring? You mean to work here?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I’m looking for a job.”
Betsy shook her head with a resigned smile. “Oh, deary me. I don’t get enough business to hire anyone else, I’m afraid.”
“Oh, okay,” I nodded. “Thank you.”
“Well, I don’t mean to disappoint you, dear. Would you like a cookie to go on your way?”
“No, that’s fine, thanks.” I smiled and left the coffee shop.
One down, but hopefully someone on this main road would be hiring. I walked up a couple of blocks and then stopped outside a bookstore. I loved books. I didn’t know much about books, but I could learn. I walked in and plastered a smile on my face.
