“West?”
“Yeah, Dais?”
“Why is my fence mended?”
“Er ...I’m not sure,” he says, but that’s a lie, and as a woman accustomed to hearing men lie, I know he’s lying now.
“West?”I glare at him as he pours us both a cup of coffee that I percolated earlier.“Why is my fence mended?”
“Why are you asking me?Maybe Miss Mabel finally hired someone.”
I give him a no-nonsense look and fold my arms over my chest, and he chuckles.The nerve of this man.“Was that someone you?”
“Maybe.”He grins as if he’s trying to hide it, as if I wouldn’t know it was him.
“Why?”
“Because it needed doing.Because I wanna know you’re safe.”
“From Miss Mabel?”
“From anyone who might see a broken fence as an easy way in.”
I huff, but I can’t exactly be mad at him.West’s heart is always in the right place.“Why didn’t you tell me?We could’ve done it together.”
“Why didn’t I ask the pregnant lady who refuses to ask for help?”
“Well, when you put it like that.”I throw my arms around him and pull him into an awkward one-handed hug.West sets the mug down and wraps his arms around me too, squeezing me tentatively.“Thank you.I don’t know where I’d be without you, West.”
“You never have to find out.”
“You’re a good friend.”
He stills and then a sigh rumbles through his chest.It feels nice to hold him, to feel his firm muscles and warmth against me, but I think I’m getting more out of this experience than he is, so eventually, I let go.I take a step back and grab the coffee cup from the bench, taking a sip even before I’ve added the creamer.It tastes awful, but I kind of need the reminder that not everything in life is sweet.Otherwise, I might get swept up in the way West Winchester makes me feel.I can’t fall for the first man who showed me kindness after my husband whittled me down to nothing.Even though I may want to.
“So, what are we doing today?”West asks.
I glance at him, unsure I’ve heard him right.“You mean you’re not expected back at the ranch?”
“I’m always expected back at the ranch, but aside from fixing your fence, I don’t remember the last time I had a day off.What does a Saturday usually look like for people who aren’t married to their land?”
I laugh.“Oh, it’s all excitement, all the time.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Uh-huh.I always start my weekend with breakfast, a shower, and then a trip to Memphis to fight my way through the local SaveCo for baking supplies.”
“I’ve never been to SaveCo.”
I stare incredulously.“Are you joking?”
“Nope.”He leans against my countertop, sipping his coffee.“In case you forgot, it’s just me all alone at that house, and every meal is pretty much served at Mama’s.”
I smile sadly as I nurse my cup.“Sometimes, I’m envious of the Winchester clan.”
“Why?”
“Because no matter what, you all have each other.”
