Waylen chuckled. “Sounds about right.”

Hunter peeked an eye at his brother. “You know how it is, getting him to follow the doctor’s orders. If I could just find a way to make him eat his veggies…”

He’d be okay. The doctor said his condition was reversible. Even so, Hunter couldn’t help the sting of guilt.

Dad never would have run the business so hard if Hunter hadn’t enabled it.

The worn leather armchair across from his crinkled as Waylen settled into it. “So…uh…I saw Daisy today. She was eating at Martha’s…alone.”

Hunter’s eyes snapped open, a different kind of guilt washing over him. “Aw, man. I’ve just…I’ve had a lot going on.”

“I know.”

“The business is swamped.”

“I know.”

A heavy pause settled between them.

“Listen, Hunt. You know me, I don’t like to poke my nose in where it doesn’t belong?—”

“That’s not something I know about you.”

“—but, it’s been two weeks,” Waylen continued.

Hunter ran a hand through his hair, sitting up. “I know, I know. I’ll be there tomorrow, help her with the house.”

Waylen frowned. “Help her with the house? How about just spend some time with her? She’s yourfiancée.”

The words hit Hunter like a bucket of cold water. “Yeah. Yes, you’re right. It’s okay though. She gets it.”

Waylen took a sip of his beer and leaned forward, his expression tight. “Maybe she does get it. But I wouldn’t count on that lasting too long.”

Hunter considered for a moment, a seed of worry sinking in. How long before Daisy realized she could do so much better?

They may be more effort than they’re worth.

“Okay.” Hunter nodded. “Okay, yeah. I’ll get over there. First thing tomorrow.”

ChapterFourteen

This plan really should have been thought through a little better.

Daisy groaned, her back aching as she set another box on the stairs, a gust of wind following her from the open door, which revealed a mountain of furniture and boxes piled on the covered deck.

Asher Quinn had been a godsend, using the horses to help haul everything up from the docks, but he’d had to leave for another delivery at the Grand. And now, she was stuck, fifty boxes deep, and alone again.

Where was Hunter?

Daisy glanced at her watch. Only a few days until Thanksgiving, and so much left to do. There were still episodes to put out, though she had a nagging voice in her head telling her that nobody would watch without Hunter in the background…Even so, she couldn’t afford to wait for him.

Daisy breathed into her hands, rubbing them together for warmth, and strode back to the deck. Gritting her teeth, she hoisted up another box and began dragging it inside, careful not to scrape up the walls. It only took two more trips for sweat to begin beading across her temple despite the gusts of winter air, and Daisy felt her determination waver.

There was no way she could do this on her own.

“Need a hand?”

Daisy turned, her heart pitching in excitement to see Hunter. Instead, she found Logan.