I tense at the word ‘stallion’. Did Andrea have a relationship with Wes? Did she mean the word sexually?
Andrea keeps talking. “He was wild in high school. Desert parties, taking his dad’s truck mudding, cliff diving at the lake.” Nostalgia brings a soft-focus glaze to her face. “We had a blast. And then Wes decided to join the military. He came home and visited from time to time, but he wasn’t so crazy anymore. Still fun, though. And then…” Andrea watches him talk to Derrick. “It was like a switch was flipped to the off position and taped down. Derrick drove out to the Hayden Ranch when he heard Wes was home for good, but Wes made it clear he didn’t want anything to do with anybody. We saw Warner in town a little while after that happened, and he told us Wes would hardly talk to him either. Or anybody in their family for that matter.” She cocks her head, studying him. “He’s got that haunted look in his eyes, doesn’t he?”
I see what Andrea sees, and so much more. Haunted is an accurate description. To that, I’d add anxious and easily provoked. But also loyal, confident, protective, heroic, generous, and loving. And there’s a whole lot of vulnerability hiding behind a brick wall.
“He’s working through some things,” I tell her.
“Oh, I’m sure, I’m sure,” she’s quick to say, in a way that lets me know she’s not trying to stick her nose where it doesn’t belong. “How’d you meet?”
Wes catches my eye and nods me over. Andrea sees this and pours herself a glass from the bottle I brought, then we start over to where Wes and Derrick stand.
“Remember last week when I told you I’m in charge of the new buildings going up on the far edge of town?” I glance at Andrea as we walk. She nods her head, her silver hoop earrings swinging. “It’s being built on land that used to belong to the Haydens. My family bought the land and we met at the initial purchase meeting.” Of course, this isn’t totally true.
Omitting the night we spent together five years ago hardly even qualifies as a white lie, though. Maybe one day, if Andrea becomes a real friend, I’ll tell her the full story. For now, this one works.
“Aw, it was love at first sight.” Andrea smiles at the romantic thought.
“Something like that.” We reach Wes and Derrick, and I hand Wes his drink. He takes it from me, wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me in, pressing a kiss to my temple. My heart swells, but then I remember the gesture is for show, and the feeling recedes.
Andrea leans into Derrick and looks at Wes. “Dakota was just telling me you met at the meeting about her family buying your land.”
Wes looks down at me, amusement in his eyes. “That’s right,” he says slowly, his fingers tracing the bottom edge of my shirt across my back. I swallow hard and block out the caress. “She came in talking about how she wanted to build something that would benefit the town and showcase local businesses, and I was sold. On the idea, and on her.”
If I didn’t know better, his words would melt me, cause my heart to liquefy and drip down into a puddle at his feet.
Andrea sighs. She’s clearly a fairy tale, hearts and flowers kind of girl. Good for her.
We stay another hour. Other people show up. Some know Wes, some don’t. They’re all older, mostly neighbors. For now, Derrick and Andrea are the only blasts from Wes’s past.
Before we leave, Derrick makes sure he has Wes’s number, and they make plans to grab a beer soon. I don’t know that it will actually happen, but I’m thrilled to see him at least trying. Andrea takes me by surprise by hugging me. “I’m a hugger,” she says with a shrug after she lets me go.
On the walk home, Wes glances at the purse slung over my shoulder. “I bet that purse is a lot lighter now.”
“It was kind of a workout,” I admit, using my free hand to rub my neck. “How are you feeling?”
Wes glances at me. I can tell he’s about to sayfineor its equivalent, but he pauses, mulling something over. “Weird.”
I perk up at the idea of him actually admitting how he’s feeling, but try to dampen the response so I don’t spook him. “Weird how?” I press, keeping my tone light.
His head tips side to side as he considers his response. “Seeing them was a shock. But after it wore off, it was kind of… good.” His eyebrows scrunch together. “And that’s what is weird. Something feeling good is, well, weird.” He glances at me. “Am I using the word ‘weird’ too much?”
My head shakes. “You can use whatever word you want to describe how you feel.”
We reach the end of the houses and start on the sidewalk that puts us back into the main part of town. “How’s your dad?” I ask.
“Stubborn as a mule. He and Wyatt were out working with a horse today.” Wes glances at me, eyebrows drawn. “Actually, he mentioned he saw you coming out of the hardware store with Dixon earlier today.”
Wes pauses, waiting for me to explain. I groan. “It was nothing, I promise. I went there on my way to the jobsite because Scott needed a tool, and Dixon was in there. We left at the same time, and he walked out behind me. He tried to talk to me, and I was as polite as I needed to be to get on my way.” That’s mostly the truth. He also asked me out, and I declined. Politely. I don’t think Wes needs to hear that part of it. He already despises him, no need to stoke the fire.
Wes nods. “I told my dad you knew the deal with Dixon.”
“All good,” I respond. I hope we’re done talking about Dixon. I’m more interested in the beginning of the sunset, the way the vivid pinks and oranges slip through the street, bouncing off buildings. Restaurants and bars are waking up. Music spills from a place on the corner.
Wes hesitates when we reach the hotel. He looks as if he’s weighing his words. “Still planning on doing laundry tomorrow?”
The question confuses me. He looked like he was thinking of something a little more serious than laundry. “Yep. Should be tons of fun.”
“My cabin has a washer and dryer. You could use mine. Sitting at a laundromat doesn’t sound like a good way to spend your Sunday.”
