Leaning against the kitchen counter, Hunter nodded.“I know.”
“You have a ring?”Hayden wanted to know.
A ring.Not something that had even entered his mind.Damn, this fake engagement was getting more entangled by the minute.
“I’ll be in Bozeman this morning when the shops open.”He looked at Hayden.“I’ll speak to the team and make sure the cattle on the winter-feeding grounds will get more hay like you asked today.”
Hayden nodded but continued to glare at him.
Becket cleared his throat.“You don’t treat her right or hurt her, you’d better move as far away as you can get, you know that, don’t you?”
“I know.”
“So, what happens when you move back to Colorado?”
“I don’t know.As I’ve said, this wasn’t planned.Obviously, we’ll talk about it.”
“Talk to me before you make plans, okay?”Hayden said as he got up.
Within minutes, the brothers had left without even touching the coffee mugs.Exhaling slowly, Hunter walked toward his room.
He’d always like the Weston brothers.They were good people and treated him as an equal.He’d worked on enough other ranches to know that wasn’t always the case.Today he’d seen a side to them he didn’t care to experience again, but if it meant he could spend a few more days with Willow, he’d happily suffer the consequences.Besides, he understood how they felt, he also had a sister.
A ring.His ring on Willow’s finger.Something warm spread inside of him.He’d loved to see that.Damn it, he should remember this whole thing was very temporary.
Images of the previous night flashed before him—her impossibly soft skin, her warm, intoxicating lips, her slender body curling willingly into his.
He’d probably be a dead man by next weekend, but he wasn’t walking away.He couldn’t.It was as simple as that.
*
“Saw Hunter.Hebetter behave.”
Irritated, Willow put her phone away.The text was from Hayden, but she’d had similar texts from Cooper and Becket as well.She dearly loved her brothers, but they turned into fierce protectors every time a man so much as looked in her direction.While she was at school, she found it funny, touching, really.At this point, though, she seriously didn’t appreciate it.
It was still early; Hunter was only picking her up later.Just about her whole wardrobe was lying on her bed, because she had trouble deciding what to wear.Her slightly boho-style of clothes wasn’t something everyone liked, but it had never bothered her.This morning, though, she kept second-guessing herself.So stupid.Besides, it was winter, she’d be wearing layers over whatever she put on, plus boots, so why had it been so difficult to pick something to wear?
Because, Hunter.Those damn indigo blue eyes had haunted her throughout the night.Sleep had been a problem and the few times she’d managed to drift away, his feverish look was there, roaming over her while those clever hands were all over her body.
She hadn’t gotten to bed before the early hours of the morning, anyway.Behind her eyes were bags of sand, but it had been impossible to stop painting before the fire burning inside of her had finally subsided.
The end result had taken her breath away.It was different.It was one of the best things she’d ever done, but she didn’t think she could ever share it with the outside world.It was too personal, revealing way too much of herself.
She’d fallen in love with Hunter.It was still difficult to believe, but it was there, in every brushstroke she’d made.
At least she now knew just because she’d fallen in love with someone, didn’t mean she’d be able to read him, to know when he was hurting.It should be a relief, so why was she left with this feeling of restlessness?
Hunter wanted her, that much she knew.He made no secret that he liked touching her and kissing her.He wasn’t staying, though.Even if she were to change her mind about getting married, there was no future for them.He was returning to Colorado.
How was she ever going to say goodbye to him, knowing she was in love with him?Sighing, she hugged herself.They had another week and a bit.It would have to be enough.
The painting she’d done, she’d taken down from the easel and had put in another room so that it could dry.Nobody else, especially Hunter could ever see it.
*
Looking for theentrance of the jewelry shop, Hunter strolled through the Gallatin Valley Mall.He’d earlier checked online where one was supposed to buy a ring in Bozeman before he’d left the ranch.It’s not his usual to-do list for Saturdays.
Every window was shouting Christmas, and a tired-looking Santa underneath a huge Christmas tree in the middle of the Mall was doing his best to bring cheer.It was still early, but the place was already full of people.
