Page 49 of Someone to Kiss
“It looks like my Aunt Birdie was here,” I tell him groggily, taking in the blueberry pancakes, eggs, bacon, a big bowl offruit, orange juice, and a little glass bowl with what looks like a piece of gummy candy.
“Stay in bed and eat all that,” he orders, his expression severe.
I poke at the piece of candy. “Is this my treat for staying in bed and eating this whole tray full of food, which is five times as much as I normally eat?”
“You live on a ranch, you have to eat like a ranch hand.”
“Am I shoveling cow manure after this?”
“Why would you do that? Our cows are grass-fed and pasture-raised. We like all that manure in the field nourishing our grass.”
“Oh.”
“It’s a prenatal vitamin. Danni brought them,” he says.
I stare down at it, tears welling in my eyes.
“You don’t have to eat everything, if that’s why you’re crying,” he teases me. “Just what you like. I didn’t know what you’d want, so I made everything I could think of.”
“No… I mean, yes, I’m okay,” I gulp out. “I just… I cry when people do nice things for me. Danni didn’t have to bring me the vitamins, and you didn’t have to bring this beautiful breakfast, and I felt so alone for the last couple years, so everything you’re doing hits me here.” I rub at my heart.
He kneels down and tugs the napkin from the tray and hands it to me, so I can blot at my eyes.
“And,” I whisper, “I’m more teary than usual because of the pregnancy hormones.”
“I’m glad you’re not crying because I’m making you miserable,” he says gruffly.
I smile and lay a hand on his cheek. “You’re making me the direct opposite of miserable.”
He leaves, then returns with a pile of books and places them next to me in the bed. He stares me down until I say, “Okay. I’ll stay in bed.” When I say it, I don’t realize it’s going to be a lie.
19
FOX
“What exactly isthe direct opposite of miserable?” I ask Bear when I stop by the house before picking up Mom.
“Look it up.” He nods to the phone in my hand. “Antonym of miserable.” He quirks an eyebrow. “Should I even ask why?”
“Wren said I was making her the direct opposite of miserable.”
He leans against the counter and crosses his arms. “What do you think, Lacy?”
Lacy has her headphones on. She’s stirring a big pot of ground beef for the handful of men who will be at the ranch today. She slides her headphones down when Bear pokes her. “Huh?”
“You think this guy has a chance with Wren?” Bear asks her.
“That’s not what I asked.”
Lacy grins at me. “Oh my gosh! The lady who’s staying at Heaven who biked into Rupert’s sign?”
“Yeah.” I decide not to correct her by telling her that Wren’s staying at my cabin right now. Lacy would be over at my place in two seconds flat, with a pan of brownies and talking to Wren until Wren’s ear falls off.
Lacy studies my face, frowning. “I thought there was something different about you.” She steps closer. “Oh. My. Gosh. You’re smiling! You’ve caught the same thing Bear came down with not too long ago.”
“And if you’re lucky,” Bear says, chuckling, “it’s a chronic, lifelong disease.”
I roll my eyes. “I got to go. Just wanted to stop in and give you that.” I nod toward the paperwork on the counter. That’s the schedule. Keep them to it. Don’t work them through lunch.” I level him with a stare. “Lacy’s making lunch for everyone and she’s filling the coolers with beverages and ice. You’ll be near that limestone ledge on the far side of the pasture around lunch. They can sit there and relax for a while and you can talk to them about what sick versus healthy cows, behavior, appetite, physical appearance, what to look out for, that kind of… stuff. Don’t run them ragged. Ease up a little and don’t grumble.”
