Page 8 of Love Me Again

“Deb, no. I can’t do that.” She made a move to get to her feet, but she wasn’t even wearing her own clothes. The blanket was tucked around her and… But, oh God, she had to escape.

“Why not?”

“I don’t want to. No offense. You all seem lovely, but I don’t want to be anywhere near him.”

“Well, that’s easy enough. You can stay in the foreman’s cabin. It’s away from the house. Away from Boone. And it isn’t occupied right now.”

“No, that isn’t⁠—”

“If you don’t have a place to stay, I’m afraid I’m going to have to insist. A storm is blowing in. You won’t be able to safely get out.” Deb nodded toward the window behind Josie.

Josie looked over her shoulder. Snow was indeed coming down at a steady clip, and God knew her tires were not up to the prospect of driving through a storm, but…

“Now, I understand wanting to keep your distance, but safety trumps all. We’ll put together some things for you, then Molly will take you out to the foreman’s cabin.” Deb was already bustling out of the room, the grandmother at her feet. Only Molly stayed behind.

Josie looked up at her helplessly. “I can’t…”

“I know it seems crazy, but you might as well agree. She’ll get her way eventually.”

“I can’t stay here,” Josie said, desperately even to her own ears. “I didn’t come here to be taken care of. I just need a divorce.” A piece of paper. A legality.

That was it.

This glimpse into Boone’s family was the absolute last thing she needed.

Molly patted her shoulder reassuringly, and it was so jarring. All this physical contact making her realize no one had touched her—in kindness or otherwise—since her father died.

“I get it. Believe me, if anyone suggested I stay on the same ranch as my ex-husband I’d run screaming into the blizzard, but…” Molly sighed, looking out at what appeared to be said blizzard steadily coming for them. Whatever she was going to say, she clearly decided not to.

She beamed at Josie. “Come on. A free place to stay, my mom and grandma’s cooking, it’ll put you right.”

Josie didn’t know how to argue with that, especially when the only thought in her head was a petulant: but I don’t want to be put right.

CHAPTER 4

By the time Boone had steeled himself to go into the house, everyone was gone. No sign of Josie or his mother.

But Josie’s junker of a truck was still out front, so she was still…here.

Here. Somewhere.

With his mother.

This was honestly way too much information to absorb in one day.

Then it got worse.

Shane and Gavin stepped in through the back door, stomping snowy boots on the mat, shaking the snow off their hats and shoulders.

Boone glared at his oldest brother.

“You didn’t really call Gavin.”

“No, Gavin and Lou are staying here during the storm,” Shane replied evenly as Gavin’s wife, Louisa, stepped in behind them.

“So, how does someone not know they’re still married?” Gavin asked, making it very clear Shane had told him what had happened, even if he hadn’t called him to come over because of it.

Louisa’s baby bump wasn’t quite as pronounced as Cora’s, but it was getting there. Boone took a step back before he stopped himself—which he only did because Lou usually called him out on it. He wasn’t fast enough today.