Page 84 of A Montana Secret Admirer
“Everything is… good,” Serenity said simply.
“Good? Just… good? Really, girl. I need more than that. Have you guys said the ‘L’ word yet?”
Serenity shook her head before turning her back to her friend and fighting a smile. This was the one thing Wendy couldn’tunderstand. She’d insisted that what Serenity had needed was to be secured, and what better way to do that than to tell Reese the truth?
Wendy groaned with an exaggeration that could only be hers.
The truth was, Wendy was probably right.
Serenity hadn’t told Reese she loved him. She knew she did, of course. But something continued to hold her back. Maybe it was the feeling that something like that needed to be said in person.
“He hasn’t said he loves me, either, you know.”
“Yeah, but he said it in that letter. Unless you’re lying about that.”
Serenity snorted. “I didn’t lie about the letter.”
“So, you know he loves you, and you haven’t said you love him back. How is that fair?”
She lifted a shoulder, hating the guilt that came with this line of questioning like it always did. “I don’t know that I’m ready.”
“But youdolove him?”
“Of course I do.”
Wendy threw her hands into the air, and this time, Serenity laughed. “Then what’s the problem? You two have been doing this dance for three months. What do you think is going to happen when he finally does come home?”
“I don’t know.”
“Exactly. You don’t know. It’s gonna be awkward. You’re better off knowing how each of you feel before that happens, right?”
Serenity smirked at her friend. “You just want me to tell him I love him so you can get a vicarious shot of endorphins.”
“Is that so bad?” Wendy shot back. “I told you, I’m starved for something interesting to happen in town.” She gasped then, drawing Serenity’s total attention. “Did you hear about Leo Chambers? He’s the brother, right? Reese’s brother?”
Before Wendy uttered another word, Serenity knew where this was going. There was only one rumor going around about Leo, and it had to do with Kat—the woman who had come to supervise the build related to Jane’s charity. “Yes,” she drawled. “Leo is Reese’s brother.”
Wendy rounded the counter and got closer. “Is it true that he’s off the market?”
Serenity bit back a laugh. “You’re as bad as the rest of them. Maybe you need to pick up a book.” She gestured toward the shelves that lined the far side of the shop.
Wendy waved a dismissive hand. “I’ve read all of them already. I need something new.”
“Have you considered writing one?”
That caught Wendy off guard. She opened her mouth then shut it a couple times. Her eyes locked with Serenity, and a smile spread across her lips. “That’s actually not a bad idea.” Her finger tapped along her chin, and she let out a laugh. “Not a bad idea at all. I bet I could write a doozy.” Then a frown touched her lips.
“What’s the matter?” Serenity asked as she started working on cataloguing the new wares they were to sell.
Wendy’s eyes rounded, then she turned abruptly so she didn’t meet Serenity’s stare.
“Wendy?” Serenity sang. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing,” Wendy said far too quickly.
“I don’t believe that for a second. What’s got you suddenly questioning if you can do this?”
Wendy flushed a deep red color and shook her head.
