“You indicated that before, but you must have kept those cardsclose to your chest, because I’ve not heard even a hint of anything negative about your business.”
“Former business, remember. It’s not mine anymore.” He sighed and raked a hand over his head. “The new owner kept the name.”
“Well, if the new owner kept the name, it doesn’t sound like all was lost. So why sell it?”
He grimaced. “Mostly because it was related to a bunch of bad memories, and I wanted it gone. I needed a fresh start. That’s why I came here. To think. And to pray, even though sometimes I feel like God is far away. And to just figure out what I’m supposed to do next.”
“So when I mentioned contracting with you and your business to help with the ranch stuff, that’s why you—”
“Stormed off like a petulant child? Yes.”
“I’m sorry, Gideon.”
“It’s okay. Surprisingly, aside from that little moment, I’ve been more at peace since being trapped in this place than I have in a long time. I don’t know what my future holds, but I’m not stressing over it like I was.”
“I’d say that’s progress.”
“Well, I’ve been a little distracted, but that’s all right.” He pulled in a deep breath. “I’ve been avoiding going home because—” What was hedoing?
“Because?”
“I...” He shook his head and sighed. “Never mind. I’m sorry, Maya, I should be keeping my distance, not allowing my attraction to fog my mind.”
She blinked. “Your attraction ... for me?”
He huffed a soft laugh. “Yeah. Surely you noticed.”
“I noticed. Surely you noticed it’s reciprocated.”
“Uh...”
“No?”
“I mean, I hoped, but...” He grimaced. “Sorry. I’m sending all kinds of mixed signals, aren’t I?”
“It’s okay. But don’t feel bad for not noticing. I got pretty good at hiding my feelings while I was deployed.”
“You felt like you should hide them from me?”
“No ... I mean, yes. I don’t know. Maybe.”
“Thank you for being so clear on that.”
She gave his hand a light punch and sighed. “And, no, I’m the mixed-signal sender. I like you, Gideon. I always have. You were special to me when I was growing up, and even that last trip here before we joined the army, it was all I could do to keep from telling you I was madly in love with you.”
Her words sucker punched him. “What? No way.”
“Way. Seriously.”
“I never knew.”
“So maybe I learned to hide my feelings long before the army.” She waved a hand. “It doesn’t matter. We’ve both obviously got some things going on that we’d rather not talk about. It’s okay. Maybe one day we’ll be able to.”
He was such a coward. “I’m sorry, Maya, it’s not that I don’t trust you—”
“But you don’t. And that’s okay. We’ve only just reconnected, so it’s not something I’ll hold against you. I think I’m just lonely. And while it’s nothing to be ashamed of, for some reason, I blame myself for that.”
“Wait. Why?”
