“I worked for a long time in a role that had to balance our impact on the environment and community, legal issues, ethics,andexpansion. I’m just saying—it’s very easy to spread yourself too thin and not even realize it until it’s too late.”
Trap’s jaw jumped as he watched her, and then he sighed. His arms loosened, and he leaned back up to the table. “Iampretty tired all the time.”
She smiled at him. “I know you are, baby. Tomorrow’s your day of rest, though, so hopefully you’ll get some rejuvenation.”
He reached across the table and took one of her hands in his. She picked up the mushroom with her free hand and popped it into her mouth. He smiled, and Lila Mae liked how easy it was to be with him.
Nothing felt too tight, and no topic was taboo. Even when she said something he didn’t like, they had a conversation about it. Not a glare-fest, and then a walk-out, which was how her family operated. And in the end, whatever Momma wanted was what everyone did, no conversation needed.
Donovan wore that hat now, and Lila Mae was so glad she didn’t have to bow to him, even when she’d done the research, attended the meetings, and written up a detailed report contradicting his idea.
“So…listen.” Lila Mae cleared her throat as she pulled her hand out from under his. “I was thinking, to help you with your day of rest, that I would make lunch for you tomorrow.”
He brightened. “Out at the tiny house?”
“Yeah.” She smiled at him. “At the tiny house, and since the weather has cooled off a little bit?—”
Trap started to laugh, and he shook his head. “Sweetheart, the weather hasnotcooled off.”
“Well, comparatively,” she said. “I’ve been sitting on the back deck in the evenings, and with the fan running, it’s pretty cool.”
Trap still wore a dubious look, but he gestured for her to go on as he took a drink of his diet cola.
“We could spend the day in the house and then move outside to the back deck,” she said. “I feel like I haven’t enjoyed it enough this summer.”
“That’s because your outdoor living area is definitely more for winter and spring,” Trap said.
“And I have a surprise,” Lila Mae continued undaunted.
His eyebrows went up, and that playful, teasing glint entered his expression. “A surprise, huh?”
“Yes, and don’t ask me what it is, because that just ruins the surprise.” She gave him a mock glare and finished her mac-and-cheese ball. “I think that’s all I’m going to have, so I have room for soups and salads at the next place.”
“They have sandwiches too,” he said. “And Colt can’t stop talking about the Reuben.”
“How’s he getting along with Sariah?” Lila Mae asked, then she held up one hand. “Wait. You never said if you’d come for lunch and a surprise activity tomorrow.”
He grinned at her. “I’mtotallydown for lunch and a surprise activity tomorrow.”
“Great,” Lila Mae said. “Wear your best resting clothes.” She tilted her head. “Now tell me about Colt.”
Trap sighed, and that didn’t sound good. Lila Mae knew his cowboy friends were extremely important to him and had been a great support to him over the years. He and Colt and Tyson were especially close, and Lila Mae loved seeing the fiercely loyal friendship side of Trap.
“Well, he sure seems to like Sariah, but I don’t know.”
“What do you mean, you don’t know?” she asked. “Do you not like her?”
“I like her fine,” Trap said, emitting another one of those sighs.
“It just feels like…I don’t know how to describe it. Like…he thinks he should like her, and so he does, but he doesn’tactuallylike her as much as he claims to.”
Lila Mae frowned and waited while Trap paid their bill and then slid out of the booth. She tucked her hand in his, so they could walk to their next restaurant on this progressive dinner.
“But we haven’t even been out with them,” she said. “How do you know?”
“Just the way he talks about her,” Trap said. “I don’t know. It’s probably nothing, because you’re right. I don’t go on their dates with them.”
He moved the conversation to something else, and though that forced Lila Mae to talk about her family and how her mother wouldn’t allow any pets growing up—despite the factthat they owned a pet food company—she didn’t mind so much. She wanted to tell Trap all the intricate details of her life, so she could continue getting to know him, and so she wouldn’t find herself in a situation like Colt—where other people thought she liked him more than she actually did.
