Page 65 of Close to My Heart

“We know where our passions lie.” The occasional branch snapped under the weight of our feet as we ambled over the uneven terrain. We had all day to make the hike, and for once, I wasn’t in a hurry to do anything else.

“The only problem is that my business relies on me keeping the Rosesmith Estate. If Grandmother sells it, I won’t have anything to tour or anywhere to hold events.”

“That’s why we got married, so you could ensure you kept it,” Wes hooked me with an arm around my neck and pulled me into his side. Then he kissed the top of my head. It was an affectionate move, one that seemed easier after a night of intimacy.

We’d blurred the lines, and we’d only been married for less than twenty-four hours. It was going to be hard to protect my heart going forward. He was infiltrating every inch of space in my head and body.

We hiked in silence for a while, the only sounds the rush of the wind through the tops of the trees, the chirping of the birds, and the movement of the water against the shore. We stopped to eat snacks a few times, but I wanted to keep going. I wanted to show him that I could keep up and finish the hike. When my feet started to hurt, I didn’t say anything.

I worked out but I didn’t usually hike fifteen miles. By the time we made it back to Wes’s house, we were starving.

“I wasn’t anticipating that we’d hike the entire path when we set out. I’ll throw some steaks on the grill. Can you get the baked potatoes ready? We need a hearty meal.”

“I can do that.” But first, my feet hurt.

I sat down on the bench on the deck and pulled off my boots, then peeled off my socks. The blood on the white cotton wasn’t a good sign. But it made sense with the pinch of pain I’d been getting the last few miles.

Wes fell to his knees in front of me. “Why didn’t you say you were hurting?”

I shrugged. “I wanted to finish.”

Wes growled his displeasure. “You have to take care of yourself better.”

I didn’t take offense because I knew what he meant. I was determined to finish anything I started, even if I skipped meals or didn’t get enough sleep. I’d always been a hard worker.

“I’ll grab my first aid kit. Don’t move,” he said as he rose and went inside the house.

His dog jumped onto the bench, leaning his weight against me. He turned his head and tried to lick my face. I ducked out of the way, giggling as he kept lunging toward me.

Wes returned with a first aid kit and fuzzy socks. “Otto. Down.”

Otto immediately responded to the command in his voice and hopped down.

Wes carefully cleaned the area, placed a foam piece and then a bandage over the blister. “This should help keep the pressure off until it heals.” Then he helped me put on the socks over the bandages. “No more hiking for you.”

I loved that Wes worried about me. It was something I hadn’t gotten from my family. And when was the last time anyone brought me fuzzy socks to wear? I wanted more time with him. “Can we go out on the water tomorrow?”

“Fishing might be our best option. You can just sit on the rock and cast.”

“That sounds nice.” It felt like we were dating, but technically we were married. It was messing with my head a little because I was getting that warm and cozy feeling you only got in a committed relationship. And we weren’t that. Not exactly.

Wes stood and narrowed his gaze on me. “I’m going to throw on the steaks now. You okay to get the potatoes ready?”

“Absolutely.” I was starved.

We went inside together, where he grabbed the steaks from the fridge, and I cleaned the potatoes. He seasoned the meat, then took the platter outside to fire up the grill.

We’d been living together, but there was something about preparing a meal together that heightened those feelings of domesticity.

I cut a slit in each potato and rolled them in tin foil, then placed them on a plate to carry them to Wes.

“What else can I do? Maybe whip up a salad?” I asked, racking my brain for what was in the fridge.

Wes took the plate of potatoes from me. “You can, but you don’t have to.”

I smiled. “I want to.”

Inside, I tossed the lettuce in a large bowl, adding parmesan, tomatoes, and olives. I wondered if Wes felt the same way. Or was he immune to the benefits of sharing his house with someone?

---