Page 11 of Close to My Heart

Wes raised his eyebrows.

“I just want to relax today. My neck and head hurt.”

Wes was up in a second, moving closer to me. His hands softly massaged my neck and shoulders. “Even with the pain meds?”

“It’s muted, but my neck is stiff.” I moaned when Wes massaged a little harder. “That feels amazing.”

“Will you be okay to hike in the fields?” His voice was low, settling deep into my chest.

“I will be.” His hands were magic on my sore muscles.

He moved to my scalp, sending tingles down my spine. “Does that feel better?”

His voice coasted over the shell of my ear. “So good.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to invite him back to bed and to help me forget everything about my messed-up life. The only problem was you couldn’t have a meaningless hookup with the guy you’d been friends with forever.

There was no coming back from that, no matter how much I wanted it.

Wes’s phone buzzed. He kept one hand on my shoulder while he pulled it out of his pocket. “Sounds like everyone’s ready to go.”

He stepped back, typing a message. “I’ll tell them we’ll drive separately in case you don’t feel well.”

“That sounds good.” As much as I loved his family, I just wanted to be with Wes. I didn’t want to hash out the details of last night with anyone else.

We headed downstairs, and Wes found an extra pair of women’s boots for me to wear. Then we climbed into his truck. He handed me a blanket he kept in the back before he turned on the engine and turned the heat up.

“Did you tell anyone about what I said?” I asked him as he backed out.

Wes glanced over at me. “About your grandmother’s demands?”

“Yeah.”

“I told my dad. Was that okay? He won’t talk about it with my siblings unless you say something.”

“I’m not ready to hear everyone’s opinions on it.” I felt strangely vulnerable.

With one hand resting on the top of the wheel, he said, “We can keep it to ourselves.”

“Good.” I rested my head on the chair as he ambled over the rocky lane. The sun had come out and the ice had melted, but it was still cold.

Wes reached over and covered my hand with his. “We’re going to get through this.”

I laughed without any humor. “I’ll get through it. I always do.”

“You’ve got me and my family. We’ve got your back.”

“Thanks,” I said automatically even though his promise didn’t resonate with me.

I always handled my family. I wouldn’t involve Wes or anyone else. The Calloways were too good to get tied up with the Rosesmiths.

My mom looked down on him because he was raised on a farm, and in her eyes, he was just a police officer, but I respected him even more because his family was good and kind. They weren’t tainted or influenced by money, status, and wealth. That’s what I loved about them.

“So, what kind of tree should I get?” Wes asked lightly, and I sat up straighter in the seat.

“You have that huge great room. I think you could put a tall one in that space.”

He gave me a look. “I’m not sure I want to carry a tall one home.”

---