I’m afraid to answer.
“I think you’re scared you will be the one to get hurt. If you put yourself out there again, your heart will get broken. Because I don’t think it broke with your fiancée. I’ve seen hurt, but not broken.”
Her words pierce my heart, because they’re true.
I stand up and walk out of the room, unable to answer questions anymore.
Because what I want is Magnolia.
And I know I’m falling in love with her.
I stand on the back patio of The Willow. In the warmer months, string lights will be strung above the flagstone patio. Patio furniture and wire tables and chairs, sometimes with candles on the table if the wind isn’t high.
But tonight it’s empty. No glowing lights, just an empty stone yard. Across the open space, there’s the large empty building that Grandpa wants Magnolia to use.
What Magnolia doesn’t realize is that Grandpa doesn’t need another business to invest in. He just wants her happy—and close to me. I think he’s trying to give me the support he wishes he had given my father. So, helping my fiancée find a space in Pine Ridge to run a business with her friend? He’s going to bend over backwards to make that happen.
I take a slow, deep breath in the brisk night air. I left Magnolia inside by herself in a room full of strangers. That probably makes me a terrible fiancé—or at the very least, a horrible friend.
I turn around and step back inside, immediately scanning the room for her. I don’t see her anywhere.
Bliss stands up from the table she’s sitting at and waves me over.
“Hi, Jefferson,” I greet her dad, who’s there now. He’s a wiry man with a handlebar mustache reminiscent of Sam Elliot.
“Whitlock. You back in town yet?”
“Almost have things settled, then I will.”
“Good. Good.” He turns back to his meal, and that’s probably the extent of the conversation I’ll get out of him. He’s a good man, though.
“Are you looking for Magnolia?” Bliss asks.
I nod once.
“She said she had a headache and was heading out to the truck to wait for you.”
I look around for Max, and I find him on the dance floor, line dancing next to Zane, of course. It’s a dance that could just as easily turn into an all-out brawl.
Before I even try to pull him off the dance floor, I need to go check on Magnolia. I make my way through the building and out to the parking lot.
When I reach the truck, I find her sitting in the passenger seat, dozing, her head leaning against the window.
This is her second stress nap because of me. The poor thing will be thrilled when we break off this engagement.
I walk around to the driver’s side and open the door. She doesn’t stir, so I simply grab the coat and drape it over her. I hesitate before I pull away. It’s starting to get scary how strongly I feel for her. There’s this irresistible urge to grab her and hold her in my arms. The urge to keep her safe and make her happy for the rest of my life. There’s no one else like Magnolia out there. She’s worried people will think she’s a cliche, but she doesn’t know how special and how strong she really is.
Instead of waking her and accidentally blurting all my feelings, I pull back, climb out, and lock the truck. Then I head back inside to get Max. Time to take Magnolia home and put her to bed—inherbed.
CHAPTER 30
Magnolia
The next morning,I’m the one who sleeps in. I was just glad that when I fell asleep in the pickup the night before, that I woke up before Nash and Max came out to the pickup.
I must have gotten cold and cuddled under the coat on the seat beside me. I should have felt rested after that catnap, but we drove back to the ranch and I proceeded to sleep like the dead until late this morning.
By the time I walk out of my room, Nash is nowhere to be found. His bedroom door is open, so I know he’s not in there, and there’s no sign of him besides half of a coffeepot of lukewarm coffee. He must’ve left early this morning.
