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While there had been the things I’d noticed throughout the week—particularly with the way he responded to me or the way my body responded to different parts of him—what was happening tonight was completely different.
Because I got to see a new version of Wyatt. At least, it was new to me. I didn’t think the way he was behaving was anything different from the way he always was around his family, and the way they were around him.
And that was what did it.
The Westwood family wasn’t much different from my own. Sure, they were a much larger family with far more money than mine, but from what I could tell, it was their family that mattered most to them. I couldn’t fault them for that. In fact, I found it endearing.
After the family had had several discussions that I’d mostly just listened to, I looked at Wyatt’s mom and said, “You have a lovely family.”
“Aw, thank you so much for saying that. I can’t tell you how happy I am that we got to meet you today,” she said.
I smiled back. “I feel the same. Though, I will admit, I wasn’t expecting all of this when Wyatt told me you were having a party for his sister.”
“My brother didn’t prepare you for all of this?” Jules asked me.
I glanced up at Wyatt and offered an apologetic expression. When I returned my attention to his family, I clarified, “He did tell me that the Westwoods tend to celebrate everything in a big way, but I guess I misunderstood just how extravagant it would be. I mean that in the very best way.”
“It’s always been this way in this family,” Wyatt’s dad chimed in. “My parents did stuff like this all the time, and we’ve all sort of followed along that path, too.”
“What about you, Rhea? Do you have a big family?” Ava asked.
I turned to the woman Wyatt mentioned had become an honorary member of their family and replied, “I’m the only child, so when we have any sort of celebration, it’s just my parents, grandparents, and me.”
“And it’s just the five of you who run that farm?” Cooper asked, seemingly shocked.
I smiled and shook my head. “No. My grandparents are basically retired, and my parents are putting in all the hard work. They’ve got a staff of employees who come every day to help run the farm with them. They could never do all that on their own.”
“What about you?” Tate pressed.
“Oh, I have an ice cream shop. It’s called The Sweet Landing.”
“Wait a minute. If we were to have another party at some point down the road, do you sell bulk ice cream?” Wendy asked.
Wow.
I hadn’t been expecting that, but I loved the way she just came right out with it. It was clearly on impulse, which made me believe everything about the conversation I was having with them was genuine.
“I do,” I confirmed. “Most of the people who come into my shop are coming in to have a cup or cone as a treat, but I also sell three-gallon buckets of ice cream for events.”
“I’ll have to keep that in mind,” she said.
A wave of warmth and comfort moved through me.
Wyatt’s family had every reason not to want to anything to do with me after I’d taken such a strong stance on the situation with them wanting to purchase some of my family’s farmland.
Wyatt had indicated he’d told them about it, and it blew my mind that they weren’t holding any grudges or being malicious. It was just as he’d promised—they didn’t hate me.
But more than that, they were being kind and welcoming, and it was far more than I could have ever hoped for. I didn’t think things could get any better, but I was wrong.
Of course, as I was quickly learning, Wyatt wasn’t one who refrained from surprising me. So, after we’d finished our dinner and both had a piece of the delicious cake Jules had made, Wyatt didn’t hesitate to stand, hold his hand out to me, and lead me out onto the dancefloor.
I loved it.
I loved being held close in his arms while we danced, and I was thrilled to know I’d be able to remember every single thing about this tomorrow morning.
I’d remember the look in Wyatt’s eyes as he smiled at me.
I’d remember the way his body felt pressed closed to mine.
