The stricken look on Birdie’s face told him he’d pushed too far. He dared not look at Wynn for fear she’d be just as appalled as his sister. He might be ready to lay hold of the perfect family, but his family wasn’t ready for someone else to step into Thatcher’s place. Wynn might not be there either.
Grabbing his jacket off the hook by the door, he stormed out without saying goodbye and walked across the lawn to his dark and empty house.
Chapter 15
Wynn
Wynn pulled apart Velcro straps to open the booth, but her mind wasn’t at the craft fair, nor was it on the crisp air that bit at her cheeks. It was stuck in the perfect moment when she and Judd had crashed together in a swirl of wanting, need, release, and… more.
Themorewas what had her stuck.
And then there was the situation with Birdie. Granted, the girl was in high school and prone to dramatization, but her reaction gave Wynn pause. She’d worried about her children and how they would respond to seeing their mom kiss their uncle, but she didn’t think much beyond that. Aunt Michelle had, though. Which made her wonder how many more family members thought along the same lines—that she and Judd were eventually going to get married.
Married? Sure, she was young. And most widows probably planned on being married again at some point. She just didn’t want to. There were the kids—they kept her busy. And now the business. She had plans for next year. Big plans. All this was getting in her head. She’d packed up supplies for today and left half of them on her porch. She needed to pull herself together but each time she tried, all she could see was Judd storming away.
Things between them were good. Or so she’d thought. Kissing was great. Why did he have to act like it wasn’t enough?
“Hey.”
She flipped around to find Judd standing just outside her tent, his hands stuffed in his pockets and his hair wet from the shower. “Hey.” She tucked a loose piece of hair behind her ear.
“Sorry ’bout last night.” He ducked his head. “Birdie overreacted.”
She let out a breath. “She’s not the only one.”
“Yeah. I know.”
Wynn sagged. “I wasn’t talking about you.”
“Wait. What?” He stepped forward, reaching for her. She moved toward him, and he touched her arm instead of pulling her close. “Are you having second thoughts about us—er, this—umm …”
She put her hand over his, halting his mumbling. “You can’t even say the word.”
“I can say it.”
She cocked her hip. “Then say it.”
He rubbed his lips together, swallowed, and then lowered his chin as he said, “Snogging.”
She snorted a laugh at how ridiculous he was—a big, strong, grown man—for not being able to admit they’d been kissing. Following right on the first burst of giggles was a river of laughter. She held her side and let it flow.
His bad-boy smile appeared, and he laughed too. His shoulders relaxed and his back curved slightly as he stepped closer. His eyes traced her lips, and she tingled all over. “Are we good?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yeah.” Because the whole thing was crazy—getting caught kissing like teenagers by his little sister. And just because everyone else jumped onto the marriage train didn’t mean she and Judd had to buy tickets. She grinned. “Birdie’s probably traumatized for life, though.”
He scowled. “If I ever catch her with a guy like that, she’d better pray he can run faster than me.”
Wynn shoved him playfully. “You’re such a hypocrite.”
“Hey, it’s a big brother’s prerogative.”
“Morning, you two.” Dorothy sashayed into the booth, taking stock of what was left and then eyeing up the two of them. She’d stopped in periodically to rearrange things, but they were both so busy that they didn’t have time to properly chat.
Wynn was hyper aware of Judd’s hand on her arm and how close they stood and what it probably looked like was going on between them. Because it was going on.
“I have to get to work. I’ll let you two talk shop.” He squeezed Wynn’s arm before nodding to Dorothy and walking off.
Wynn forced herself not to watch him go. The conversation she hadn’t had with Dorothy hung over her like a guilt shawl. She drew herself up and began the morning routine, firing up the register and plugging in the lights. She’d only need them for a while. The warm glow was inviting.
