Page 68 of A Montana Secret Admirer
Reese forced a smile, but he was fully aware that it probably looked more like a grimace than anything else. He rubbed the back of his neck and glanced toward the door to make sure no one would come in and overhear what he was going to say. Specifically, Serenity.
Clearing his throat, he moved closer to Leo. “I need to know I’m not crazy.”
Leo laughed. “Too late for that.” But when he noticed the serious expression that Reese wore, he sobered. “What’s going on?”
“I just talked to Bo.”
Understanding filtered across Noah’s face, but he didn’t speak right away. He was aware of the plan. That was probably what Jane was here to talk about. Reese dragged his focus from Noah and continued. “You know that training program they have over in Georgia? The one that would get me trained on working with children and horses? It’s accredited. I know it’s not a requirement to do what Jane’s going to have me do, but it would put us at the top of the list for programs this side of the Mississippi.”
Leo’s brows scrunched together, but he nodded.
“Bo said that he wants me to go. Someone pulled some strings for me, and they’re willing to enroll me in the program.”
This time, Leo’s face broke into a wide smile. “That’s amazing!”
Noah was the one who looked on with apprehension. No doubt, he was thinking of the secret admirer situation, along with whatever Jane might have heard straight from Serenity’s mouth.
“Why don’t you look excited?” Leo’s happiness dimmed. “Don’t you want to go anymore?” Then his eyes narrowed. “This doesn’t have to do with that woman and her kids, does it?”
“Hernameis Serenity,” Reese bit out. “What’s your problem? Trouble in paradise? Can’t deal with the woman in your life?”
Leo’s expression darkened further. “There’s nothing going on between us, and there never will be.”
His brother was wrong. Reese had never seen Leo react to someone like he had with Kat. And his denial was only going to make things worse. Reese wasn’t about to give his brother any pointers, though. Not when he was judging Serenity for having a hard time with commitment.
Leo shook his head with a look that could only be described as pity. Maybe there was some concern in their depths, but it was too hard to see. “She’s not ready for a relationship, Reese,” Leo muttered quietly. “And you’ve been ready since the moment you saw her. Who knows if she’ll ever want anything more than what she’s willing to give you right now? You can’t put your life on hold just because there’s a chance that she might change her mind. I know it all seems to go back and forth, but it’s a complicated situation.”
There was a strange sort of humming sound in Reese’s ears. His body practically vibrated with the irritation that Leo’s words incited. Before he could tear his brother a new one, Leo continued.
His voice softened a few degrees, and he moved closer. “Maybe this is what you’re supposed to be doing. Have you considered that taking a step back would force her to decide if you’re what she wants?”
Reese froze.
“You know what they say,” Leo sighed. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder. She’s gotten so used to you being in her life, easy to access. You’re…comfortable.”
The way Reese’s stomach seized up at that word—it was a miracle he didn’t make himself sick. Leo was right. Serenity knew that he wasn’t going anywhere. He’d said as much himself. He cared for her, and he was willing to do things based on her timeline.
And what did people do when they were comfortable?
They didn’t grow.
He could be stunting her healing process simply by sticking around.
The more he thought about it, the more his gut roiled. What if he was nothing more than a security blanket?
Reese scowled at his brother, who remained staring even after a few minutes. Noah had gone quiet during their argument, and he stood off to the side rubbing his neck. He knew more than Leo. Heknewjust how deep Reese’s affections for Serenity ran, and he’d kept his mouth shut during the whole thing.
It wouldn’t have been surprising if he’d spoken up, though. He could have shared Reese’s secret, but it would have only served to solidify Leo’s opinion that Serenity simply wasn’t ready for more, and Reese was the one hanging in limbo.
Maybe Leo was right. Maybe the next stage in Reese’s life was to dive head-first into this training program so he could make something of himself. If he did, then he wouldn’t have to stick around after Serenity inevitably left. She hadn’t mentioned anything about wanting to stay for the long haul.
Heck, she still wasn’t comfortable with telling her son how serious they were starting to get.
But were they really serious?
He let out a growl before stalking away from his brother and his cousin. Mere days ago, he would have willingly given up on his dream job for Serenity. He would have never admitted it to Leo, but if Serenity had asked him to follow her to the city and be with her there, he would have done it.
His heart was all in, and there was no denying it.
