Page 40 of If You Loved Me

And yet.

Sarah had quickly become the light leading me from the darkness. I was probably crazy by normal people’s standards. We’d only truly known one another for a short time. But there was no denying the connection we had. Maybe there was a feral side of me that wanted to protect the people I loved. And maybe being with Sarah put me at risk of giving into that side of me. But the thought of letting that light blink out, of not giving it a chance, had my stomach forming a pit.

Dropping my sister’s hands I grasped her shoulders. “I know you’re afraid of me being taken away again. I can’t tell you how much I wish I could go back in time and change what I did. Call the police or just grab the kid and run. But that time isn’t now. I promise that I will try harder to do things differently. To prevent myself from getting in trouble. Because you’re right. The world isn’t a just place. It never has been.” The image of our father leaving our home for the last time flashed across my mind. Coming and going like a swift wind.

“But I will do my part in making this easier on you, okay?”

Those hazel eyes darted back and forth between mine like she was trying to see if I was being sincere.

“Okay,” she said with a whispered breath.

I brought her in for a bear hug and tussled her hair withmy gloved hand. She swatted me away and I loved seeing her like that. Wild hair pointed in all directions, a childlike smile on her face. It reminded me of simpler times. Before…everything.

We went back to working on the chicken coop. Me hammering and her holding the wire tight. We were halfway done when she asked, “And what about Sarah?”

Crouched, I settled my elbow on my knee, letting the hammer hang from my hand. “I would love for you to get to know her. See what she’s really like. I think you’ll come to like her a lot.”

Callie Rose stared out at the rolling fields. When she looked at me, the worry was gone. Replaced with a joyful smile, moisture gathered in her eyes. “If you care for her this much already, then I think you’re right. I’ll probably like her very much.”

Something lessened in my chest like I was finally letting go of a weight that I’d been carrying for so long I’d almost forgotten just how heavy it was.

Chapter 17

Sarah

Jones Campbell was the epitome of a Southern blue blood. Citrus smelling pomade kept his blonde waves perfectly sculpted against his scalp. Bright blue eyes stared back at me and I was pretty sure he had a mouth full of veneers because no one’s teeth were that perfect. The collar of his button-down peeked over the edge of his sweater—the perfect tie-in for a gentleman’s fall ensemble.

He was clean…almosttooclean.

I wondered if he’d spend more time getting ready for date nights than I would. The thought immediately shifted my focus to another man. One with rugged, dark features and callouses on his hands that felt good when they scraped against my skin.

Blinking the image of Ranger away, I cleared my throat and tried to focus on the man in front of me. The one I was supposed to be giving a fair shot so myparents would support my small business and catapult me toward my dreams.

Just laugh and smile and pretend you’re having a good time,I told myself.

“So, how’re you liking Pebble Brook Falls?” I asked him right after the waiter took our drink order. When he’d texted me about going on a date, he’d offeredSauvage—the fanciest restaurant in town. It made sense given that it was one of my mother’s favorite spots. She probably told him I would love it because it was whatsheloved. There wasn’t anything wrong with the place per se. It just reminded me of all the things I didn’t live up to.

“It’s perfectly fine.” His Southern accent was smooth and melodic. For some reason, it grated on my nerves. “Nothing compares to the city in my mind, but I think this town is suitable to set down some roots, find a wife, and build a family.”

I nearly choked on the sip of water I took.…find a wife.

“Certainly sounds like you’re on a mission.”

Jones’s smile was wide, but the sincerity didn’t quite meet his eyes. For a moment I wondered if he felt the same pressures from his family to follow a certain path.

He unfolded his napkin into his lap and said, “I think it’s time for me to grow up. I’ve sewed my wild oats. Went through the typical partying stage. After a while, I started to realize how lonely that life was. It didn’t take me long to know it was time to shift my focus. So, I followed my parents here and will be taking over my father’s real estate business. Everything feels like it’s set in my life. Everything except for having a partner by my side.”

There was a subtle shift in the way he looked at me. For the life of me, I couldn’t quite read what it was. But the words he’d said about wanting a partner. Someone to do life with. I found myself liking the idea of that.

“Well, there are plenty of eligible bachelorettes in Pebble Brook Falls. Most of them were brought up to be the perfect housewife and partner. I’m sure you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for in no time.”

“And what if I’m looking at the woman I want right now?”

Crimson heat crept up my neck. I was still fairly new to this whole dating thing but I didn’t think most men were this forward. His blue eyes bore into mine like I was the most interesting thing in the world. It was intimidating. Yet, I found myself staring right back at him. The heat of his words trailed to other places.

Looking away, I cleared my throat. “I guess we’ll just have to see.” My voice was smaller than I wanted it to be. I couldn’t figure out how he made me feel or what I even thought of him. I wasn’t sure if that was because my mother had set this date up and the idea of her being right about anything to do with my life seemed off the wall. Or if it was because my mind kept wandering to another man—one that was wild and untamed and made me feel like I could take on the world by his side.

Just give him a chance. Feelings aside, I couldn’t negate just how much was riding on my interactions with this man. There was no doubt my mother would acquire a report ofhow things went between us, even if I wasn’t the one to tell her.

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