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“Yeah, all good. Seems you are too.”
She kisses Blake’s forehead. “Totally.”
“Glad you’re happy. I always wanted that for you.”
“I always wanted that for you too.” She glances over my shoulder. “I see Wade is still here, but most of the others are new faces.”
I toe a rock on the ground. “Well, that’s nothing new in this business.”
She’d know more than anyone, given her family’s successful ranching business. It surprised me when she moved out of town, but I suppose she had her reasons. I always hoped it was for love and nothing to do with me.
“True,” she muses, then gasps. “Is that Porter Dixon?”
“Sure is. Came back into town and asked for a job.”
“Imagine that. Just as handsome as ever.” There’s no way to respond, so I remain silent as she stares in their direction for a long beat. Wade lifts his hand in a wave, and she returns the gesture as Porter fusses with our border collies, who are no doubt eager to play after keeping an eye on the cows and calves all morning. “Have you told him?”
“Told him what?”
“That you were in love with him.” She meets my gaze head-on. “You were heartbroken for months after he left.”
“No, I…” I open and shut my mouth, unable to find any words. But my heart feels like it might explode out of my chest.
“It’s okay. We married each other for the wrong reasons. I finally listened to my gut, not my parents, and it’s time for you to do the same.” She gives me a pointed look. The baby yawns just then, and it’s the sweetest sound. “Want to hold him?”
Before I can answer, she’s already positioning the tiny human in my arms. I’m staring at his cheekbones and eyelashes and feel a strange twinge in my gut I can’t explain.
“Come on, you two,” Dad calls through the screen. “Lunch is waiting.”
Aimee smiles. “Maybe we’ll have a chance to catch up later.”
Chapter 22
Porter
We spent the morning working on separating the cows and calves for the fall weaning. Just like almost every other ranch I’ve worked on over the years, the Sullivan Ranch uses fence-line weaning, which means we keep the cows and the calves in the same field together, but separated by a fence.
It can be a big shock to both cow and calves to be separated for the first time, so the fence gives them the space they need, but they can still see each other and have the nose-to-nose contact that makes them feel secure.
Coming back from a quick lunch break, I see Sully with Aimee. I tense up so suddenly, my muscles still feel rigid when I climb back onto Arrow to head out with Wade to ride the fence.
I toss a glance over my shoulder, see Sully with the baby in his arms as the two of them walk into the house together, the sight making my stomach tangle into knots.
Jealousy is not something I’ve ever had to deal with unless it has to do with Bishop Sullivan, and the man doesn’t get it—doesn’t get that I don’t know how to let him in because it will hurt more to lose him again than anything has ever hurt me before.
Being with him last night was the best kind of high, but then he had to go and bring up the past, and now there he is with Aimee again. Logically, I know there’s nothing between them. She has a baby, and a husband, but it kicks up all my insecurities.
“Stop shooting daggers outta your eyes,” Wade says in that raspy voice of his that sounds like he’s been smoking two packs of cigarettes a day his whole life.
“I ain’t doing a damn thing,” I tell him, signaling for Arrow to speed up. I want out of here, and I want this conversation to be over.
“He’s never looked at her the way he looks at you,” Wade says, his words causing a tornado of conflicting emotions inside me.
I want that, don’t ever want Sully to look at anyone the way he looks at me.
“Like I’m more of a hassle than I’m worth?” I ask, and Wade rolls his eyes.
“That man has never looked at you like that, and you know it.”
