Page 51 of Stubborn Heart

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

He lifted a brow, indicating he didn’t necessarily believe me. “Are you sure?”

I nodded. “Of course. I just didn’t know you were planning to stop in today.”

“I told you I was going to come in one day this week,” he reminded me.

“I know. But I figured you’d say something after running with me in the morning,” I reasoned.

He licked the ice cream off of his lips and smiled. “I thought it would be more fun to surprise you.”

I looked away from him.

God, I felt like I was coming out of my skin.

Wyatt couldn’t do this. Not here, not now.

My mom and grandmother were sitting across the shop, and they had their eyes pointed in our direction. I didn’t need them seeing just how horribly I was being affected by having Wyatt there. I didn’t want them to worry I’d be caught up in a guy and do something that would jeopardize the future of the farm and our family.

And Wyatt was oblivious to all of it. He didn’t understand why this would never turn out the way he wanted. He didn’t have the slightest idea how badly he was wasting his time right now.

In fact, he was content to be the charming and flirtatious. He didn’t even seem to care that he was doing it right in front of my family, either!

“Wow, that’s new,” he said softly, forcing me to return my attention to him.

“What’s new?” I whispered.

He licked his ice cream before he answered, “You’re always so bold and forthcoming. I’ve never seen you so bashful before now.”

I hated that he could sense my discomfort. Granted, in a different scenario, I might have appreciated it, but in this case, I didn’t like it. I didn’t want him to see me as anything but strong. “My mom and grandma are here right now.”

Wyatt raised a questioning brow. “Is that a bad thing?”

My eyes widened as I leaned in. “Not if you’re not going to be on your best behavior. And it doesn’t seem like you plan to be.”

Amusement moved through his features. He let out a laugh and asked, “What do you think I’m going to do, Rhea?”

I swallowed hard. I had no idea what he might do, but he seemed to be far too relaxed in this situation that anything was possible.

And it terrified me at the same time it saddened me. On the one hand, I was obviously concerned that Wyatt might do something to give my mom and grandma the wrong impression about what was happening between us. On the other hand, I’d found myself softening a lot toward Wyatt. So much about him and the way he was had been unexpected in a good way, and I wasn’t exactly sure I wanted to give any of that up.

“Please,” I whispered. “Please don’t make this worse than it already is.”

For the first time since he’d entered the shop, a wave of concern washed over Wyatt’s face. Whatever he was thinking, he didn’t share. Instead, he seemed to know just what to do to turn this around for me. “You were right.”

“Right?”

He held the cone up and said, “I was seriously missing out. And the strawberry is fantastic. Is it your favorite flavor, too?”

Feeling some of the tension leave my body, I stood up a little straighter and said, “I like them all.”

“Really?”

Shrugging, I reasoned, “It’s ice cream. What’s not to like?”

Wyatt let out another laugh. “Fair point. Are you going to have any?”

I shook my head. “I just had some with my mom and grandma. If I had known you were coming, I would have waited.”

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