They shouldn’t have been life-altering words, but they were.
Tears shouldn’t have pooled in my eyes, but they did.
I blinked them back and changed the subject. “I’m worried about Tag. Do you think he’ll be okay?”
Jesse took a deep breath, his shoulders tight against the motion. “He’s hanging on by a thread. Bea being here will help. Thanks for bringing her.”
“Of course. Their bags are in my car. I should’ve brought them in, but I wasn’t thinking.”
“It’s fine. I can help you get them.”
By some unspoken agreement, we both started walking again—the bags our new mission. A few minutes later, we found ourselves in the Texas sun, fishing their stuff from my trunk.
Once back inside, we all loaded into an elevator and Nora quickly pushed the floor button even though I asked Izzy to do it. Izzy stuck her tongue out, which made Nora get teary eyed and hide behind my leg. The tiny mini-crises with my girls kept the questions in my mind unattended, compounding the anxiety throttling my ability to breathe.
What did he mean bychancesandshot?
He didn’t mean…romantically, did he?
I certainly hoped not, because I didn’t want to hurt Jesse. Surely he knew I had a life back in Colorado and that wouldn’t suddenly change just because I was here. Surely he knew that I wouldn’t subject my heart to such a short term relationship.
But that wasn’t what he meant. I had to be misunderstanding him.
My stupidity hit me like a clap of thunder as my mind yanked me into the past—Jesse’s hands roaming my body, his starved lips, his body engulfing mine.
It all made sense now.
Thatwas what he was referring to. He wanted to kiss me again, and was afraid his comments had put me off. He wanted hischanceat getting me in his bed. To shoot hisshot.
For some reason, the realization relaxed me.
Sexual intentions were much less threatening than romantic ones.
I cleared my throat, needing to make conversation. “So, what’s the new plan? Can the ranch run without Tag and Cooper? You’ll be two men down.”
He leaned against the railing inside the elevator. The strap of Bea’s bag was slung over his shoulder, and he carried Tag’s dufflein the other hand. His eyes were wide as he considered how to answer. “I’m still trying to figure it out.”
“It’s a lot?”
“Tag leaves a big void.”
“And Cooper?”
“He mostly did menial tasks. Stuff anyone could do. Maybe I could temporarily hire someone to take his spot.”
“What if it takes weeks for him to heal?”
His eyes stopped roaming the ceiling, dropping to meet mine. “I guess we’ll just take it a day at a time then.”
I nodded, realizing that there were so many variables to consider. Things could change on a dime depending on whether Cooper recovered or not. “Well, I’ll do anything I can to help.”
“You’re already doing so much.” The elevator dinged and the doors slid open. He waved us through. “I hated making breakfast, so I’m glad you’re here.”
I smiled over my shoulder at him as I passed. “I’m enjoying that, actually.”
“You’re doing great.”
I smirked. “Cooper said I cook better than Bea.”
