“Don’t I know it. I’ve got some saddles that are older than me and they’re just now breaking in and getting comfortable. Boots, too.”
“Of course,” she said with a little shake of her head. “I don’t need to tell you that. You’re a cowboy. I don’t need to educateyou on the durability and timelessness of leather. You work with it daily.”
“I do,” he confirmed. “Hey, do you think it would be weird if I figured out how to display some of my favorite items from the barn? Some of my grandad’s old bridles are antiques, and I think they might look good hanging on that big blank wall in the hallway. Right now, they’re just stored in a trunk in a dusty tack room.”
“There’s enough room for it, certainly. And the hall is spacious enough that you’d still be able to pass through without bumping into anything or knocking things down. I think if it holds meaning to you, then you should find a way to incorporate it into your home. No brainer.”
She was giving good advice, and twenty minutes later, they’d wrapped up their initial tour of the place. He knew she was successful with her flower shop and loved the work she did there, but if that ever failed or she found herself in a position where she wanted more, interior design was definitely in her wheelhouse. For the first time since drawing up the plans, Spencer felt like he had a true vision for the house.
“I need to pick the kiddos up from school, but if you happen to find one of those quilts, send me a picture,” she said. “I’d like to take a peek at the color scheme and see if I can come up with some accent pillows for your bed. Might not even be too hard to make them if I can get my sewing machine up and running again. I swear those things are like printers and always stop working the moment you need them.”
Spencer walked her to the door and stepped out onto the porch that finally had a railing and was no longer a hazard. “I’m planning to head over there right after this. I’ll keep you posted.”
The smile that curved up the corners of her mouth faltered for the briefest moment when she turned to face him, her eyes becoming serious as they locked onto Spencer’s.
He swallowed thickly, noticing the shift in their exchange.
It felt like the end of a date, the culmination of an enjoyable afternoon where it wouldn’t be out of place to lean in for a hug, possibly even a kiss. But this wasn’t a date. If anything, it was a transaction. Spencer had told Trinity he’d cancel the bill for the first horse lesson in exchange for all of her home decorating help. It seemed like it was the very least he could offer.
But the way her eyes blinked up at him now, lashes heavy and thick, felt intimate. Was he reading it all wrong? If he extended a hand for a shake, it would appear too formal, too forced. But what else was there to do?
Trinity took a single step back. “You’re sure I can’t pay you for Mia’s lesson?”
“You’re sure I can’t pay you for all of your help today?” he countered, knowing it could cancel her question out.
She grinned, understanding. “I really had a great time, Spencer. It didn’t feel like work,” she said. “Dreaming and creating never does.”
Those last few words replayed in Spencer’s head as he walked across the acreage toward the ranch house, dodging the areas of muck and mud that resulted from the light rain they’d had earlier in the day. He’d been dreaming and creating all afternoon, too, but instead of just imagining furniture and decorations in his house, he’d pictured so much more. A wife and kids. Drawings on the fridge and memories in every room.
In his visions, it wasn’t necessarily Trinity that embodied that future. Or at least it hadn’t started out that way. But with every touch that she added to his home, every potential piece of furniture or artwork or decoration that she suggested made her a part of it. If he’d known that was going to be the case, he might not have asked her to help him with the endeavor.
Because now she felt intricately tied to his vision. His home. His future. And he wondered if that was fair to put that on her.He could see the excitement in her eyes with every suggestion she offered. Of course, it wasn’t because she was picturing herself living there. That would be crazy. Her excitement stemmed from Spencer’s excitement.
But he would be lying if he said he hadn’t started picturing her there, too.
CHAPTER 14
The next few days were a blur of bouquets, costume making, and errand running. Snow had steadily become a fixture in their daily routine, but Trinity was used to it. She didn’t need chains on her tires yet, just boots on her feet when she dodged the slushy puddles and snow-coated sidewalks lining the streets near Joyful Blooms.
To her delight, Josephine Major had stopped by the shop that week to help assemble bouquets and returned the following morning to assist around the store. Trinity wasn’t sure what had prompted the woman to volunteer her time, but she was grateful for it. It was homecoming weekend at the local high school and Rachel and Trinity were up to their elbows in boutonnieres and corsage orders. Having an extra hand was a blessing, and Josephine was always fun to have around.
Although Trinity did notice the woman acting just a bit more cantankerous than usual. Nothing too dramatic, just a few quips about slowing down against her will and taking it easy around the horses to avoid another injury. Doctor’s orders, apparently, which she hadn’t been thrilled to receive.
Trinity promised that other than a pricked finger from a thorny rose, there wasn’t much she could hurt herself on here. Ina strange way, being in Josephine’s presence made Trinity feel like she was in closer proximity to Spencer. Not that they were all that similar in personality, but there was something about family that created a sense of connection, and when Clara came by on a Friday afternoon to ask her nana if she’d like to join her for lunch, Trinity felt a strange wave of envy pass through her.
“Would you like to join us?” Josephine had asked as she headed toward the door with her granddaughter, leather jacket in hand. “My treat.”
“Actually, I’m going to hunker down here and crank out a few more corsages before the kids get out of school. But thank you for the invite.”
No sooner had the two left when the door opened again, the small bell chiming above the entrance. Trinity almost didn’t look up, certain it was the two women doubling back to retrieve something they’d forgotten.
So, when Spencer coughed quietly to get her attention, she nearly threw the rose she’d been stripping across the workbench.
“Oh, my goodness. You startled me.” She pressed her hand to her chest and tried to recover some semblance of composure. “I was in a zone.”
“Have my sister and Nana already left?” He stepped up to the counter. He was in his typical cowboy attire—worn-in blue jeans, a flannel shirt, and white cowboy hat—but today he had on a big tan jacket over the ensemble that looked rustic yet comfy. For the first time, Trinity could clearly envision Spencer on the back of a horse, pushing cattle or whatever it was that he used to do back on the ranch before coming here. It made her realize the life he gave up when he’d come to his grandmother’s rescue, and something within Trinity made her want to somehow capture that in a design element within his house. She wasn’t sure how just yet, but she would think on it.
“They were just headed down to Cornerstone Café. If you jog, you should be able to catch up with them.”
