The itch to push him sits at the top of my chest, and I can’t help but scratch at it. It’s clear this isn’t some silly little one-sided crush on the hot older man I’m living with—it’s a forbidden thing that I can taunt him with. So with that in mind, I reach my hand across him to where the Parmesan cheese is, lean in, and stretch my body in a way that has my chest brushing right against his shoulder. “I wouldn’t saynoshower issues. I mean you did walk in on me naked.”
“Tally!” My mother’s mouth falls open, my sister squeaks, and Walker curses under his breath, his head falling downward in defeat.
“It was an accident.” I plow on, despite everyone’s discomfort. “We’ve figured out a system, though. We’re going to hang a sock on the door if either one of us isusingthe shower.”
“We’re not using a goddamn sock,” Walker growls, finallylooking at me. The pained expression on his face has me ready to burst.
My sister snorts and I bite back a smile as my mother huffs. “Why can’t you just tell the man when you’re using his shower, Tally?”
I shrug innocently. “I tried, but he doesn’t read his texts.”
Walker’s fork clatters onto his plate as he hangs his head in his hands. “Because there are so many of them.”
“Tally sure can text,” Penny agrees. I love my sister. She’s just as good at this game of teasing Walker as I am. My mother shakes her head at both of us. We used to do this all the time to our poor father, who would get all befuddled at our teasing. It was the fast talking. And the fact that we never did secrets in our family. All of us were open books, and my dad had to deal with three women who never shut up. I glance at his chair and smile. He’d be doing the same thing as Walker right now.
“Can we talk aboutanythingelse?” Walker begs.
My mother smiles. “Of course we can. Penny dear, will you be able to take pictures of the first few weddings for the social media page?”
“Oh!” I cheer. “Will Walker be wearing his cowboy hat again?”
“Jesus Christ,” he groans.
My mom shrugs. “If he wants to. Though he does look so nice with his hair done. Doesn’t he, girls?” My mom gazes at Walker with a look of appreciation, and Penny and I grin at one another knowingly.
“I don’t know,” my sister says, dragging out the last word. “Kind of looks like he’s been running his fingers through it.”
“Or like he’s been thoroughly fu—”
“Tallulah Darling,” my mother warns before I can finish.
I smirk. “Definitely should wear the cowboy hat.”
He sighs and takes another bite of food, the annoyance flushing from his cheeks as he savors his meal. It’s what I love so much about cooking, and even more so with baking. Watching someone find enjoyment in a dessert that I made is a high I’ll never be able to replicate with flowers or weddings.
“Is there anything I can do to help with the weddings?” I ask my mother, focusing on the real reason I’m here.
My mom twirls her fork in her pasta, deep in thought. “Billie and I will have the bride and the wedding party handled. If Penny’s handling social media, I guess that would leave you with Walker. Whatever he needs for setup and cleanup.” She glances across the table at me. “Can you handle that?”
I remind myself that my mother doesn’t mean to sound like she’s doubting me, or like she doesn’t want me here, but I can’t help the way it hits. “Won’t be a problem. What about before the weddings, though? There’s got to be stuff to get ready on the farm. Catering—”
“Has been handled,” she says quickly, cutting me off. Her focus shifts to my father’s chair. “Just do whatever Walker asks of you.Please. Everything that your father handled, Walker took over. He knows what needs to be done.” She sighs as she looks away from Daddy’s chair. My sister grabs her hand and squeezes.
I have to ball my own hands into fists to keep still. I’m a doer. Words of comfort were never my strong suit.
“You can count on me,” I promise.
Four loud buzzes interrupt the moment, and I almost sigh in relief as I turn to face Walker. “You going to get that?”
His eye twitches. I think he wants to say no, but he seems just as uncomfortable with emotions as I am so he digs out his phone from his pocket, welcoming the interruption. Then he sighs heavily, breaking the tension in the room. “I don’t even know who it is.”
He holds up the phone. There are a bunch of texts from unknown numbers, and they all say the same thing:Hi Walker.
I snort.
“Oh, that looks like Rayna’s number,” my mother offers.
“You gave Rayna McGovern your phone number?” Penny’s voice comes out confused. “I don’t even have your number.”
