Page 55 of A Forever Kind of Rancher

“That might be weird.”

“It’s only weird if you make it weird, Boone. Maybe you should figure yourself out.”

“There’s nothing to figure out. I’m not in any way confused about what’s happening right now.”

“Well. Good for you. You’re the only one of us who’s managed to get entangled with somebody and not be confused.”

“It’s not an entanglement. I’ve known her for a long time, and she’s a friend. She needs somebody right now. And I’m not going to lie and say there’s nothing more happening. But, you know, I would never put pressure on her to make it too much. And that’s the problem,” he said. “Yeah. That’s the problem. If I go inviting her to a family thing she might think I’m pushing her for too much too soon.”

“Or she might be grateful. You should leave it up to her.”

That was the second time he’d had that feedback from one of his brothers. The second time they had pointed out he was making the decisions for Wendy, and maybe he shouldn’t do that.

He could understand. And he even agreed. Because he didn’t think it was right to make decisions on a woman’s behalf. But he was just... He could foresee issues here, and again, he didn’t hold out blind hope something wouldn’t be awkward when it was clear it would be.

Except not inviting her...

Dammit.

“Fine. I’ll invite her. I’m looking forward to seeing you.”

“You too.”

He got off the phone, and decided to walk straight back to his place. And there she was. In all her glory. He’d already been back to see her today, already made love to her. And she was looking at him with wide eyes. “I have to go get the girls in, like, ten minutes.”

“I could get it done in ten minutes.”

Her cheeks turned pink. “I’m sure you could...”

“That isn’t why I’m here. My brother Flint and his fiancée, Tansey, are coming into town tomorrow. We’re having a barbecue and I thought maybe you and the girls might come.”

“As in... Tansey Martin.”

“Yes. Tansey Martin. I know she and their breakup are very famous. As is their reconciliation, since there are now songs about that, too, and about to be a whole album.”

“My girls are going to freak out.” She shook her head. “We probably shouldn’t go. Because it’s a family thing, and they’re just going to be starstruck.”

“Oh, they are. Not you.”

She laughed. “Okay. I will be a little bit, but I’ll be able to control it. Because I’m an adult.”

“It’s okay. She brings that out in people. You can be starstruck. But also if...if it seems weird to you to come to a thing with my whole family...”

She frowned. “It’s weird for you, isn’t it?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Your face said it. You don’t want me to go.”

“Wendy,” he said, regret tugging at his chest. “I do want you to go. I’m honest, right? I’m being honest. I was just a little bit worried about some of the...”

“You’re worried about getting too involved.”

“Yes. Because everything feels great right now, but it isn’t going to last.”

“Why not?”

She looked at him, so open and trusting, and it killed him.

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