Summer chuckled. “Believe it or not, she’s ecstatic. It shocked her to think the two of you didn’t love each other, but she was happy to know that Rosie is in love with Cal.”
Jesse’s eyes widened, and his jaw dropped. “What?” His voice escalated. “Rosie and Cal?”
“You didn’t know, either?”
“I suspected, but then I dismissed the idea.” He hesitated, then whooped a loud shout of joy, picking Summer up and swinging her around once. “Can you believe it? My brother and Rosie?”
She laughed over Jesse’s enthusiasm and rested her hands on his shoulders. Pleasure filled her the longer she remained in his arms. She scolded herself for not wanting this emotion to end.
“No, I can’t believe it,” she said. “As many times I’ve seen them together lately, I never knew they felt that way about each other.”
“I’m glad my brother has finally found the right woman. That’s a relief off my mind. Let’s just hope your pa takes it as well.”
“Ma seems to think he will, which is the reason she sent me here to get you.”
“Wait for me. I’ll grab my jacket.”
When he released her, the loss of his warmth sapped her strength. Closing her eyes, she breathed deeply, trying to calm her racing heart. Once she felt in control, she straightened her stance and opened her eyes. Without a doubt, she would fall into his arms tonight and beg for him to love her. As weak as her heart was right now, she knew it would happen, but she couldn’t let it. She’d never been helpless in her life, and she didn’t want to start now.
“Jesse?” she called out. “I’ll just meet you back home.”
“No. If you leave, I won’t be able to get there. My horse threw a shoe earlier this evening.”
She cursed under her breath. “Where is Cal?”
“He’s doin’ his Sheriff duties and trackin’ some leads we received earlier today.”
“Why didn’t you go with him?”
“He didn’t need my help this time.”
“What kind of leads?” she wondered.
“Last week, Denver reported that some young women went missin’, and Cal told their sheriff he’d keep an eye out.”
“Missing? That doesn’t sound good.”
“Knowin’ my brother, he’ll find somethin’.”
Jesse walked back into the room. Frozen in place, she stood as her gaze roamed over him, loving the way his shirt tightened around the cords of muscles in his arm when he slipped on the russet jacket. He would always look handsome no matter what he wore.
Slowly, he walked toward her, but she remained still. When his gaze moved down to her gray dress, shivers of delight coursed through her blood. Nothing had changed, especially the way he could always make her heart pitter-patter. She loved him, but she didn’t want to love him. He stepped in front of her, and the pounding of her heart echoed in her ears.
“You look beautiful tonight, Summer.”
Her face turned hot. “Thank you. You look very handsome, too. How are you feeling? Is your shoulder healed completely?” She hesitantly touched the fabric of his jacket by his injured shoulder.
“Yes. I’m almost back to normal.”
“That’s wonderful.”
“How about you?” he asked. “How have you been farin’?”
“Fine.”
He glanced down at the floor and shuffled his feet. “Are you still marryin’ Adam tomorrow?”
She swallowed the knot lodged in her throat. “Yes.”
