Grandma gave her arm a pat. “If you two like each other, I’m happy for you. But don’t go around acting foolish all because some article is toying with your head. Those people don’t know you. They can’t predict the future better than anyone else, so they canshoveit.”
“Cheers to that,” Mom hollered from inside. “Now come get your drink, Lorraine.”
“I’m coming, Claudia,” she assured before turning back to Betzy. “As for you, I just don’t want to see you get hurt, okay? Sometimes men, they...they act like they wantonething, but really—”
“He’s not like that,” Betzy blurted. She wasn’t about to stand there and listen to themen can be jerkstalk like she was some naïve teenager.
“I’m sure he’s a sweet guy. Just…be careful. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
An ugly recollection shot to mind. The way Marcus had used her so blatantly. And now, he’d givenSlipper Magazinean earful since, apparently, he hadn’t done enough damage. Grandma had good reason to question her judgment after that mess.
“Thanks, Grandma,” Betzy finally said. She wrapped an arm around her and gave her a squeeze. “Now go in there and get your glass.”
She did, leaving Betzy alone with her thoughts. Grandma didn’t know all the facts, but still, her warning caused a pool of doubts to rise up in Betzy’s gut. Could she really let herself fall even deeper for Sawyer, only to send him on his way once the holidays were through?
What Grandma didn’t know is that Sawyerwasplaying a part. A part Betzy had asked him to play, of course, but that didn’t mean lines wouldn’t get blurred.
They were sure to. For Sawyer, it’d be all for show. For Betzy, it’d be different.
She’d buried that part of her heart to forget about Sawyer, but now she’d watered the seed and allowed it to sprout. As Betzy spent the week with him, a full-on tree would grow, complete with deep roots, reaching limbs, and fruit she’d be so tempted to taste.
But where would she end up in the wake of it all?
Be careful, Grandma had warned. Betzy nodded, musing that she would, in fact, heed to her counsel after all. Perhaps there was a way to do this while still guarding her heart.
Chapter 13
Sawyer closed his laptop and tucked it into his bag. Thank heavens he’d been able to get online and take care of a few things. Several deals were set to close over the next few days, and as much as he encouraged clients to send questions to the office, many insisted on going directly through him via email or text.
As if on cue, his phone let out a chime once his laptop was put away. Good thing it was only seven a.m. here on the west coast. If all went well, he’d be able to wrap up his work before Betzy was awake. A grin crossed his lips as he recalled their time spent on the snowmobile. James and Camila had joined them once they arrived, along with Zander and Duke.
The time chasing over the snowy ground with her siblings gave Sawyer a taste of the life he’d always dreamed of having. Dinnertime was even better. A large family gathered around a big table, laughter echoing clear up to the log rafters.
Their extra visitors, Matthew’s daughter and grandkids, had shown up. Lilly was five and her older brother Link was seven. Dang, they were cute. The kids’ father, who was serving overseas, hadn’t been able to join them. Sawyer couldn’t imagine. Even as he considered it once more, he felt a swell of gratitude for those who sacrificed and served in such a way.
His phone buzzed once more, breaking into his musings. He snatched it off the side table and glanced at the screen.
Ryan:Are you finally going to go after Betzy Benton this year? If so, I want details.
Sawyer chuckled under his breath and tapped out a reply.Maybe I am. I’m actually at her family cabin as we speak.
May as well warm Ryan up to what would come. His phone buzzed back a second after he hit send.
Ryan:That’s what I’m talking about, you lucky dog. Same room?
Sawyer rolled his eyes as he replied:Separate rooms. One thing at a time, my friend.
Ryan:Yeah, yeah. Sounds thrilling. 2 grand says you don’t even get past 2ndbase.
“Jerk,” Sawyer said through a laugh. Ryan had his mind made up that Betzy would be a prude. Not that it was any of his business.
Sawyer stared at the text for a blink, wondering if he should clue his uncle in on the whole scheme.No.That’d be a bad idea. The guy was trustworthy enough, but he tended to toe the line when keeping secrets.
But he should probably hint to how close he and Betzy were getting since Sawyer would propose to her before Christmas. A grin pulled at his lips as an idea came to mind.
Sawyer:10 grand says she agrees to marry me by Christmas.
He hesitated to hit send, but only for a moment. Heck, Ryan knew Sawyer had a one-track brain with Betzy’s name on it. It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.
