If there wasone thing he knew for certain, it was that he couldn’t let Shelby go.This woman had him wrapped around her little finger and he couldn’t figure out how.It wasn’t just the amazing sex, he wanted to know what she was thinking, how she wrote such page-turning stories, why she left Sandy Point, where she saw herself in ten years, did she want kids, and if she wanted to know him more.Was this what his brothers were talking about when they said ‘when you met the right person you just know’?
After they had sex against the wall in her new house, he convinced her to let him stay and make them grilled cheese sandwiches.Now she sat on the island with no pants on watching him flip their sandwiches.
“I wasn’t hungry until you mentioned food, and now I think you may need to make a third one.”
He placed both the sandwiches on the same plate and cut them in triangles then brought them over to her.
“I’ll make as many as you want, but you have to share.”
She picked up a triangle and waited for him to do the same then tapped hers against his.“Cheers,” he said.Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were bright.The sadness that had enveloped her after her family left was gone.
She blew on her half before taking a big bite then moaned.“You are officially the best grilled-cheese maker I know.”
“I take a lot of pride in them.I’d say I perfected the recipe but that would be a lie.”
“Oh who taught the gorgeous Wesley Hart to make the perfect grilled cheese?I won’t even be mad at her.”
He smiled.It was his turn to feel a little sad.“My mom—she was an amazing cook and a patient teacher.I only picked up a few recipes, but my brother Levi is the true chef like her.”
She ran her hand up and down his bare arm.He was facing her and their faces were only about a foot apart.He knew she could see all the emotions he was feeling.
“You were lucky to have such an amazing mom, even if it wasn’t for forever.”
“I know, or I figured that out in time.”He kissed her before taking a bite too.
“I can’t recall a single time my mom ever cooked anything for me.I’m not sure she even knows how.”
He nodded.“Are you closer with her than your dad?”
“You noticed that huh?”
“We don’t have to talk about it.”
“I didn’t even realize how differently he treated me until my ninth birthday.All the kids in my class were having these big elaborate birthday parties.But I just wanted to go horseback riding with a few friends, make smores.Instead, my dad insisted on this absurd miniature pony themed birthday.And I was pouting because they weren’t real horses.I wouldn’t wear the fluffy party dress; I wanted to wear my riding outfit.My dad yelled at me and said he would sell my horse if I didn’t put on the dress and smile.I was going to be in trouble if I didn’t at least pretend to have fun in front of his friends.”
“That’s terrible.”Wes rubbed her leg knowing his parents went out of their way to make every birthday special and would never have treated him or his brothers like props.
“So I put on my dress, and when no one was looking I let the ponies out of the pen they were in.There were fifteen wild mini ponies in our backyard, pooping all over, eating the cake—it was amazing.”
“Did you have fun?”Wes said with a big smile, like he was proud of her rebellion.
“Yes, but he sold my horse just as he promised.Cancelled my riding lessons.”
“Damn, I really didn’t like your dad before that story, but now…”
“Guess who bought my horse back?”
“Pops.”
Her eyes misted over but she smiled as she looked out the kitchen window as if she could see it all clearly like it was yesterday.
“He bought Tink back, and had a pen built for her, a barn, and several other horses here on his land so I could see them whenever I wanted.My dad didn’t even find out about it for years because he rarely saw Pops.”
“Pops was a great man, and I’m sorry about your dad.”
“I think my mom tried to stick up for me when I was little, but she gave up at some point.My dad always said he never wanted a girl, but to be fair he was never very interested in my brother either.We had nannies, staff, and were more like accessories for them.Not everyone is cut out to be parents, that’s for sure.”She shrugged.
“Does that mean you don’t plan on having children?”He knew it was a big question to ask the woman he’d only met a week ago.But he had to know what she would say.
