Page 98 of Then You Happened
I mean . . . it’s just the circumstances. I’ve been lonely and he. . . he . . . makes me feel good. It’s his belief that I can do this when everyone else seems to want me to fail that is making me feel this way.
“You’re mad?” Jack asks. To him it might seem that way, but I know my face has gone bloodless as if I’ve seen a ghost for an entirely different reason.
It isn’t possible.
Falling for Jack isn’t part of this deal.
No way.
“No. Not mad.” I shake the spooked look off my face and force the smile on my lips to be real, which isn’t that hard when I have the most pathetically sweet dog’s face on my lap and Jack Sutton staring at me like a little boy about to be scolded.
I turn to Gracie because she’s much easier to look at than he is.
“I know she’s another mouth to feed when you have plenty already, but I set up food delivery for her . . . on me. That way, she isn’t a burden on you. I just hoped—”
“I do believe you are rambling, Jack,” I tease with a laugh. “Do I make you nervous?”
He stops and looks at Gracie, who’s patiently staring at me. “Only when I think you’re going to make me take her back.”
“I’m not going to make you take her back,” I say.
“Good. Great, isn’t it girl?” Jack says with another ruffle of the fur on her head. “I thought you could use some company.” He winks. “Someone to talk to. Besides, I’m not too fond of you being here all alone at night.”
And for the second time in as many moments, I have to cover the emotions he pulls out of me. I have to keep in mind that Jack’s time here is finite. He has a life to get back to and a ranch of his own that he needs to go run.
I swallow the sadness the thought brings and know I can’t hide the tears welling in my eyes as I look at him. Hopefully, he’ll mistake them for happy ones over Gracie.
“Thank you.” My voice breaks when I say the two words.
And I mean them.
I think I just might need Gracie more than she needs me in the coming months.
34
TATE
Ruby’s coat glistens in the sun. The bangs of her mane fall over her eye as those deep brown eyes stare at me like she knows what I’m thinking.
Click.
“You’re such a pretty girl,” I praise as I hand her a slice of apple. She takes it and moves to trot along the worn path that circles the ring, hooves kicking up dust to contrast against the bright green of the trees beyond.
Click.
I close my eyes and picture my next shot. How it will look once I edit it on the computer. I would take a panoramic so I could capture the reflection of the sunset and then pull out all the vibrant colors with the computer program.
Now, if only I can capture what I need.
“They’re negotiating.” Will’s voice is edged with a palpable excitement as I turn to him.
“Negotiating?” I ask, my pulse kicking up a notch.
“With Steely.”
A smile fights its way onto my lips as I try not to get too excited over what exactly negotiating means.
“Does the negotiating sound like it’s a good thing?”
