Page 29 of Forever After All

Oh, she’d get her dance too. He’d make sure of it.

Stella whirled him around in the middle of the dance floor and rested her hands on his shoulders. “So, heard any good news lately?”

Stella and her husband had been regulars at the ranch until her husband died. After that, Stella came to Wolf Creek and never left.

They all needed the ranch in one way or another. For Stella, Linc guessed it was about keeping her husband’s memory alive.

Linc searched the older woman’s face for any clue. “Um, the Rockies might beat the Marlins tomorrow.”

Stella furrowed her brow and pursed her lips. “I’m talking about Jess’s date.”

“Idon’twant to talk about Jess dating,” Linc said. Hopefully with enough finality that Stella got the picture. “And how do you even know about it?”

“I heard she didn’t click with Hanson,” Stella said quietly.

“I don’t know what clicking is, but I’m glad it didn’t work out.”

Stella leaned in. “Listen, if you’re gonna make a move on that girl, you better do it before she finds someone else who will.”

“She doesn’t like me like that,” Linc said. “Now, will you please stop talking about Jess, and dating, and anything else that gives me heartburn?”

“No, this is serious. Jess is a little rough around the edges, but she’s a good girl.”

“Agreed,” Linc said.

“But I don’t think she needs to be looking for her next date,” Stella said slowly.

“I don’t know what she should be looking for, and I’m not in the mood to talk about it.”

Stella pointed one finger at Linc. “Put on your big boy underwear and ask that girl out,” she demanded.

“I just heard her tell someone half an hour ago that we were friends. Do you know what that means?”

“It means you haven’t told her that the two of you are more than friends yet,” Stella said.

“No, it means Jess thinks I’m just her friend. If she wanted to be more, she would have said it.”

Stella looked at him and slowly shook her head. “You’re thick-headed, boy.”

“Thanks. It saved me from a few concussions.”

Stella sighed and looked over Linc’s shoulder. Jess was back there, and Linc knew what Stella was seeing–a beautiful, smart, brave woman who deserved more than an ex-convict.

Stella’s shoulders slumped. “That girl doesn’t know what love is. Nobody told her. I’ve noticed a change in her. She knows something is happening, but she doesn’t know what to call it.”

Linc stared at Stella. What if she was right?

But what if she was wrong?

“Thanks for the advice. I’ll give it some thought.”

Stella patted his shoulder as the song ended. “That’s about as much as I can ask for. You be good to her.”

“Always,” Linc promised.

“Now, go dance with her before some of Ridge’s pro football player friends get there first.”

Linc rolled his eyes. He wasn’t built like a pro football player, but he could hold his own. He had a feeling that wasn’t Jess’s type.

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