Page 89 of Wrangled Love

“Sure thing.” He balances the dish in one hand and offers Caleb his free one. “Come on, bud. Let’s go show Pops your new hat.”

Caleb grins, taking his hand as they follow Heath onto the deck.

“I’ll be there in a minute,” I tell them, wanting to double-check that Mama Julie’s all set before I do.

She’s back at the counter, cutting peaches, and I stand behind her.

“Where’s Walker?” I ask.

“He said he was going out.” She rolls her eyes. “I’m guessing he’s meeting the usual crowd at the bar. That boy strolls in at two or three in the morning like it’s no big deal.” She lets out a disapproving click of her tongue. “You think you’re done when they turn eighteen, but truth be told, you worry even more once they’re grown if they’re making the right choices or getting mixed up in something they shouldn’t.”

“Not me, though. Right?” I tease.

Mama Julie leans over, pinching my cheek. “You’re the exception, honey.”

It’s a missed opportunity that Heath and Walker aren’t around to hear it, so I can brag that I’m the only one Mama Julie’s not constantly worrying about.

Walker’s the source of the most stress, hands down. He’s always got some woman in a frenzy and has a habit of starting fights when he’s had a few too many drinks. Heath, on the other hand, is all business and usually too rigid for his own good.

Sure, I have my flaws too, but they’re not the kind that have kept Mama Julie up at night. My birth mom did enough of that for both of us when I was growing up.

A timer goes off, and she hurries to the oven, pulling out a tray of homemade rolls. The tops are golden brown, and the kitchen fills with the rich scent of butter, making my mouth water. She’s a magician in the kitchen and she treats every meal like a special occasion.

“Jensen looks at you like you hang the moon,” she says casually.

I should’ve seen this coming. Mama Julie’s intuition is unmatched, and between the town gossip and how Jensen and I have been acting around each other, she’s no doubt pieced it together. She’s a hopeless romantic, inspired by her own love story with Pops, full of grand gestures and weekly flower deliveries.

“It’s just for the summer,” I say quickly, the words tumbling out as a knot tightens in my stomach.

She sets the tray on the stovetop, then faces me with one brow arched. “Honey, that man is head over heels for you, and judging by the look on your face, the feeling is mutual.”

I move closer to the island, leaning forward to prop my elbows on the counter, and sigh. “I think I’m falling for him.”

It’s the first time I’ve admitted it out loud. I’ve been wrapped up in our blissful bubble, basking in the glow of the nights Jensenand I spend together in his bed and the quiet moments with him and Caleb, hoping I could ignore the truth. This was always meant to be temporary, and I was never supposed to get attached to either of them.

The truth is, I’m on the verge of a double heartbreak.

Somehow, in the span of a couple of months, an adorable five-year-old boy has woven his way into my heart. Caleb finds magic in the simple things and makes everything more enjoyable. What started as a favor to nanny him will end with me dreading the day I have to say goodbye.

What I hadn’t anticipated was his dad slowly unraveling my defenses, too. Jensen showed up in Bluebell guarded and complicated, but his complete devotion to his son is what sparked my growing feelings for him.

It’s unsettling to imagine a future where the cottage, once my peaceful refuge, becomes a lonely, quiet place without Caleb’s laughter or evenings spent with Jensen on the front porch.

“Why does it have to end if you both want more?” Julie asks. “Have you told Jensen how you feel?”

I glance at the floor, shrugging. “What is there to say? I can’t ask him to give up the life he’s built in New York. His business is there, and Caleb will have opportunities this town can’t compete with.”

Mama Julie takes off her oven mitts and comes to stand beside me, lifting my chin so I have no choice but to meet her eyes. “Have you stopped to consider that what those boys need most isyou? Schools, therapists, and jobs are a dime a dozen, but the kind of love and stabilityyouoffer? That’s once in a lifetime.”

“I’m scared,” I admit. “What if this isn’t enough for Jensen?” I motion around us.

When he arrived, he was set on staying just for the summer, and I’m afraid that no matter how strong his feelings are for me—and how at ease Caleb is here—it still might not be enoughto convince Jensen they should stay. That’s why I’ve avoided the conversation. Because pretending is safer than hearing him say that he and Caleb will still be leaving soon.

“You won’t know unless you ask. You’ve never been afraid to speak your mind or back down from what you want. Don’t start now, my girl. I’m so darn proud of you, and no matter what happens, you’ll always have me and Pops in your corner.” Her sincerity is evident by the smile on her face.

“Thank you. I needed to hear that,” I say.

She draws me in for a bear hug. “That’s what I’m here for, honey.”

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