But then it fell flat, because he hadn't saidnothe only night it had counted.
Iris's smile faded.
Cord forced his eyes back to Molly. Better to leave the past in the past.
Except the pulsing pain behind his eye got worse.
"She's had... some trauma in the recent past," he said. He didn't know how much Molly was comfortable with him sharing.
He stuck his hands in his pockets. "I want to help her. Comfort her. Make her feel safe. But I don't know how."
Saying the words aloud made it real. He'd denied his growing feelings for her up to this point.
But there was no ignoring them.
Iris was quiet.
When he glanced at her, all signs of humor had faded.
"It bugs you, doesn't it?" she asked.
He shrugged.
"She got under your skin."
That pain behind his eye pulsed again.
"I'm not exactly equipped." He kicked the post at the edge of the porch. "When everything fell apart… with Noah… I left. You stayed for the fallout. I don't know what I'm doing here."
When she smiled, it was a little bit sad. "Haven't you had any meaningful relationships in the last ten years? A girlfriend that lasted?"
He squinted, glaring out at her property. Hers was almost in as bad of shape as Grandma Mackie’s had been. Because of Jilly's cancer? He could only imagine the doctor's bills. "My last ex claimed I was shut off."
Iris let him have the moment. Or maybe she wanted him to keep talking.
"It's better if I don't let anyone get too close. Easier."
"Don't you mean 'safer'?"
Yeah, the excuse had sounded flimsy to him, too.
He grimaced. "It hasn't been a big deal. I never wanted to let anybody close. Until..." He nodded to Molly.
He exhaled noisily, turned his back to the scenery. Rubbed his hand down his face. "And she's so young. Still in college." She might've ditched university for now, but that didn't mean she wasn't going back. She had her whole life in front of her. "Did you know she made me homemade soup?" he burst out. "I thought all soup came from a can. She played nurse for days. Without expecting anything in return."
He shook his head. He didn't understand her. A giver. Didn't she worry he was going to walk all over her?
"She's stronger than you think." Iris's quiet words sent his gaze back to the woman in question.
She stood near the corral with her arms wrapped around her waist, looking like a gust of wind could knock her over. One lock of hair had fallen against her cheek. She didn't seem to notice it.
Almost without meaning to, he started talking. "She's a whiz with engines. And she took care of the cattle while I was down. Knew how to break the ice on the pond and didn't overfeed 'em. She's a natural rancher."
"Why don't you keep her on?"
He shot a look at Iris. "You know why. I'm selling." That pain pulsed again. "It's the only way out."
"You still want out?"
