Maybe she was just in a hurry to meet with the contractor, but Brett couldn’t help feeling that she might have been in a hurry to get away from him. Hopefully, she didn’t think that he would succumb to his grandparents’ matchmaking and start falling for her.
That wasn’t why he wanted to help her with things. He just didn’t want her to get too stressed, not when she was so very pregnant.
But she had made it clear that she wanted to be independent. That she wanted to take care of herself and her children without anyone’s help.
And he, the oldest of his family who’d always felt responsible for everyone else, should have been relieved that he didn’t have to help her. But that wasn’t the way he felt at all. He wouldn’t even admit to himself what he was feeling—although, if he could bring himself to admit it, he would say that it felt a lot like disappointment.
* * *
A pang ofregret struck Trish over how she’d rushed away from Brett. He was so sweet to keep offering to help her. But she felt as if she’d already taken enough of his time and caused him enough trouble, and most of that had happened even before they’d met.
At least the estate was settled now. So he didn’t have to worry about that. And she would make sure that he didn’t have to worry about the camps either since he didn’t even think they were a good idea.
And she didn’t think it was a good idea for her to lean on him as much as she already had. He’d helped so much already. And when he’d offered to take her to the cemetery…
That wasn’t just physical support he was offering but moral and emotional support, too. And that was too dangerous.
She couldn’t let her emotions get away from her with Brett. She’d already kissed him once. If she hadn’t rushed out of the kitchen when she had, she might have kissed him again.
He probably would have been horrified. He’d made his plans clear to her that he had no intention of ever getting married. He didn’t want to divide his attention between a relationship and the ranch. He wanted to focus on the ranch, so that it would prosper without affecting his brothers’ relationships. And that was good. She shared that intention. So why was she still so nervous around him?
So aware of him?
She glanced back toward the house then, almost as if she’d instinctively known that he was walking out at that time. That was how aware of him she was. But he walked toward the barn, not her.
And she walked past it, only stopping when she reached the new smaller barn and fenced-in area for the petting zoo. She stopped at the enclosed pens and greeted each of the new animals. They were all so perfect for a petting zoo. The kids would love them. She touched her belly and was certain that her own kids would probably love them most of all.
But she needed more than the petting zoo to keep the kids busy during the day and summer camps. So after feeding her new critters, she headed toward the bunkhouse. She laid out the plans she’d drawn up for the building just as the contractor arrived. She half expected to see Brett with him, especially when the man asked if he would be joining them. When she shook her head, he looked disappointed. He was older, though, and maybe he preferred dealing with men.
She made it clear that she was the one making the decisions when it came to the camps, and the man’s disappointment turned to what looked—at least to Trish—like begrudging respect.
She didn’t care that it might have been begrudging. At least it was respect. And Trish felt a new surge of confidence. She could do this. Even though she had partners, she was still capable on her own. But she did miss Brett’s involvement, like when she’d picked out the animals.
Or maybe she just missed Brett.
* * *
Elise found Trishout in the old bunkhouse. Dust danced in the air as power equipment rumbled in the building. “Should you be out here?” she asked, raising her voice as she waved her hand around.
Trish tensed, and her skin paled slightly, leaving the circles beneath her eyes as the only color in her face. “Oh, I…” She coughed.
Elise linked their arms, drawing the other woman outside. She handed her the water bottle she’d brought out with her. “Are you okay?” she asked.
“Yes,” Trish said after she took a big swig from the bottle. “I just got caught up in the renovation. I should have thought about the dust.” She patted her belly with her free hand.
“I’m sure the dust won’t affect them,” Elise assured her. “I just came to find you to thank you for watching Lucy yesterday for me.”
“I didn’t watch her very long before her great-grandparents showed up,” Trish said.
“They must have made it here in record time,” Elise said with a smile. “They’re amazing.”
“Yes, they are, so I figured Lucy was safe with them,” Trish said. “Probably safer than with me. I don’t have much experience with babies.”
“You’ll be a great mother,” Elise assured her.
“How is everything at your mom’s foster home?” Trish asked. “Is everyone okay?”
Elise nodded. “Yes, a couple of the teenagers got into a physical altercation.”
