Page 86 of An Unfinished Memory

“I have to go soon, and I, uh, don’t know when my next day off will be.” He’d been reading my mind. I let air leak out of me. He was back on call this evening. A sinking feeling that this was the beginning of the end hung over my mood. “I got the okay from the lawyer to hire another employee for Eliot using some of my inheritance money, but it won’t happen in time for all the fall work. I switched some days to help Eliot with working and moving cattle, then the horses. Are you coming out for that?”

I didn’t miss the hope in his question. I wasn’t opposed to going to Buffalo Gully. When we didn’t have to hide anymore, I’d go to the house we’d built and shared and see people who knew us as a married and divorced couple. I wasn’t looking forward to it. The talk. The gossip. What would reach Wilder? How would it affect him? More importantly, what would Ray say? That was who Wilder would listen to, and if Ray saw me as a distraction, he’d encourage Wilder to concentrate on the future election.

So I’d be a lot like him, sneaking in and out, unless I was going to the ranch.

While my schedule was more predictable, I’d have similar constraints to his. “I can’t take the time off. Ranchers are working cattle here, too, and I’ve committed to being around and open on the weekends until snowfall. I’ve also planned a heavier schedule the two months before my camping trip.” A trip I was excited about but also ignoring that I’d most likely be alone.

“We’ll find a way.”

“I know.” Except I didn’t, and I wasn’t going to ruminate on the topic today. Wilder was right. This had been a good weekend. I checked on the kids one more time. Their laughter rang through the air like they were playing right next to the siding. I spun in Wilder’s arms. “We can sneak one kiss before you have to go.”

“Agreed.”

His hold tightened when our lips met. I let myself get lost for one heartbeat, maybe two, when a guy cleared his throat.

“Holy shit!” Aggie’s voice resounded in the kitchen.

I jerked away, but Wilder didn’t let go. We both turned our heads and found Cody and Tova crowded by the door to the garage on the other side of the dining room. A baby carrier hung from Cody’s hand. Aggie was behind them, a tote bag in her hand, her eyes wide.

“Don’t let us stop you.” A smile played across Tova’s face. Fatigue hung around her eyes, and her dark hair was in a sloppy bun that still looked trendy. She wore baggy gray pajama pants and what I suspected was an old sweater of Cody’s.

“Shit. Sorry.” Wilder didn’t shove me away but changed his position to keep an arm wrapped around my back.

Aggie’s wide gaze met mine. I was living the worst-case scenario, and I had to look like I was a deer with a semi bearing down on me.

She blinked, then her expression went neutral, and she set the bag on the floor. “Here are the toys they left at my place. I don’t want to intrude.”

“Aggie—”

“Talk to you later.” She gave Tova’s arm a squeeze. “Thanks for letting me meet Charlie.”

“Thanks for dropping those off,” Tova said. Aggie rushed out, and Tova and Cody turned their attention to me and Wilder. Cody was scowling.

Shit, shit, shit. I messed up. She had to have seen the shock and dismay on my face and known I was lying to her. And now Tova would think I was shirking my babysitting duties. Wilder gave me a squeeze as if he sensed my tumultuous thoughts.

“We’re watching the kids, I promise.” My pulse kicked up. I couldn’t have people I admired, a couple of the people I was closest to in the world, think I was making out instead of watching the children they trusted me with.

Cody’s scowl deepened.

Tova’s smile widened. “If we didn’t know how a person can keep an eye on kids and still get some, we wouldn’t have just had a baby.”

“What’s going on?” Cody asked.

“Is he the reason you’ve got a spring in your step lately?” Tova asked. For a woman who just had a baby, she looked delighted to dive into other people’s business.

Heat flooded my cheeks. Was it that noticeable I was getting laid regularly? “We wanted to wait until you got home and had a chance to adjust to being a family of five before we told people we’re seeing each other again.”

Cody’s gaze danced between us. “One of you is moving?”

“No,” we both said, and Cody arched a brow. Tova’s smile turned to a grimace.

Wilder cleared his throat. “I’ll go grab Grayson and Ivy. They should meet Charlie before us.”

“Or you can wait and elaborate. Charlie’s sleeping anyway.” Cody turned the carrier to show us the tiny littleface peeking out from a blanket. Dark fuzzy hair covered her head, and she was the perfect mix of Cody and Tova.

“She’s gorgeous,” I gushed. Another little niece.

“She’s cute. Good thing she takes after Tova.” Wilder smirked, clearly loving the glare he got from his brother. “All right, all right. We’re doing long distance. We know we have different lives, but we don’t want to see anyone else.”

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