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“Just let me be.” I haven’t heard vulnerability in my voice in a long time. Yet Ian has a way of getting to me.
“Give me a minute, please.” His arm reaches out, but he pulls it back, sensing I don’t want to be touched. “I’ll leave you alone after.”
“We meet at the shop tomorrow afternoon, Ian.” I feel a small smile force its way onto my face.
“Thatconversation can be strictly business.” He rests his hands on his hips, and I fight like hell to not stare at his body. When I nod, he continues. “I just wanted to say that I’m proud of you, Emery. Your cooking has come a long way.” I can’t hold back a small giggle, remembering how I first started out burning water. “There’s the bit of light brought to your eyes. Is Aspen treating you right?” He glances down at my body again, and I’m starting to get annoyed.
“Why do you keep looking at me?” I glance down at myself and toss my hands to my sides.
“Hallie and Savannah went to Aspen about eight months ago for an engagement party.” My tongue pushes to the roof of my mouth to hold my breath.
“Yes, they did.” I don’t have it in me to talk about that right now.
“I was just looking for a pretty ring.” Thankfully, they have proven to be tight-lipped about what actually happened.
“You’re good atlooking, aren’t you?” I want to scream what has been eating at me the past few years. “My life today isn’t any of your business.”
“I don’t deserve this hostility, Daisy Girl. Especially after putting you first.” Bullshit.
“This conversation is on hold until further notice.” I notice Hallie walking up the trail below. “Or we just forget it happened.” I head toward the rocks to venture down to meet her.
“Oh, I’ll be bringing it up again.” Ian winks as he walks past me. But not before turning back with a smirk that I’m tempted to smack off. Hallie appears at the bottom of the rocks, and Ian jumps off the last rock to meet her. They greet each other as I cautiously make my way down. Ian faces Hallie, but his awareness to protect me is almost instinctual. His arm reaches to the side just in time to brace me as I nearly slip on the last rock. I swallow my pride and take his hand.
“Thanks,” I mutter, hopping onto the safe ground. Ian nods before taking off in a jog down the path.
“What was that about?” She glances up at the falls and back behind her.
“Nothing. He just helped me down.” I step closer to the water.
“No, at the top of the falls.” Her sly smile wants a deeper answer.
“Just trying to plan your party and him being too nosy. He’s lucky I didn’t push him into the swimming area.”
“Right.” She smiles wide. “Ask Ian to show you all the things he built for the wedding when you visit him at the shop tomorrow.”
“That is…a really nice thing for him to do.” He’s still selfless, I see.
“His heart might be too nice.” She searches my eyes. “He went out of his way to try to help you find yourself again. And on top of that, he was juggling his little niece, working full time, and his father having a heart attack that summer.” Hallie shakes her head, and it almost solidifies this man is too good for anyone.
Especially me.
“Which is why I didn’t want to burden him after his father needed him.” I swallow and desperately want to continue down the trail.
“I wish I knew what you were thinking at the time.” She huffs with a sadden tone. “Or what you’re currently thinking.”
“I’m thinking about how you’ll make a beautiful bride and how I can make this shared bach party exactly the way you want it.”
“It would be perfect if you just moved back here.” A lot of walls would have to come down and I’m not ready for that.
“Hallie, I can’t. But I’m here to celebrate your wedding. Then I’m out of this town until Savannah decides to get married.”
“Or a baby is born?” Hallie’s cheeks hold a tinge of red as her eyes alight with a mix of excitement and fear. Her hand touches her stomach as her lips roll into a straight line.
“You’re not.” Giddiness cracks a smile on my face, and I have no idea where this elated feeling is coming from. Even though I grew up babysitting, I’ve never thought about having children. Hallie nods as her eyes glass over.
“I’m late and took a test this morning. I haven’t had a chance to tell Justin yet, but this whole morning has had my mind buzzing.” She takes a shaky breath, and I realize I should hug her. I open my arms and pull her in. Oddly, she doesn’t hug me back.
“Were you two trying?” My eyes widen as realization kicks in. “We were out at the bar drinking the other night.” Hallie was an only child as well, and we never talked about babies. Savannah did enough obsessing over them for all of us.
