Page 32 of Marrying Bonnie

Bonnie swore she could still feel his skin against hers.

“He invited you to stay for dinner tonight, and that’s why you think he has feelings for you?” Wyatt’s face was serious, but the tone of his voice gave him away.

Bonnie threw a roll at him. “Funny. When you say it that way, it makes me sound like a ninny.”

Chrissy ignored them both. “It does sound like he’s holding out an olive branch.” Chrissy spooned some more mashed potatoes onto her plate. “The question is, if you found out he was falling in love with you, how would you feel?”

“I don’t know.” Bonnie groaned. “What if it didn’t work out? I’d be out of a job and wouldn’t see Gunner again. What if he’s still mourning his wife? Plus, I’d be jumping into another messed-up family with money issues. Who needs that? I walked away from our family’s money and swore I didn’t need anyone else’s.” She groaned. “Mom would have all kinds of things to say if I ended up marrying a rich man. She’d tell me it could’ve happened earlier if I’d only listened to her and would never let me forget it.” That last part made her shudder. “Very little good can come from any of this.”

Chrissy rested her chin in the palm of her hand. “Unless he’s the love of your life.” She raised an eyebrow.

“Sure, there’s that.” Bonnie stabbed a piece of chicken with her fork and shoved it into her mouth. “So what am I supposed to do?”

Wyatt thought for several moments. “You know what Gran would say, right?”

Bonnie leaned into the back of her chair. “Pray about it, and everything will work itself out.”

“Sounds like good advice to me.” Wyatt winked. “Does he go to church? If not, you could invite him to join us one Sunday.”

“You don’t think that’s too forward?”

Chrissy shook her head. “Not if you invite both him and Noel.”

“Exactly,” Wyatt agreed. “Put the ball in his court, so to speak.” He pointed a finger at her. “Just let me know if he treats you wrong. I’m serious about that.”

Wyatt was smiling, but Bonnie knew he’d be there for her if she ever needed him. She’d always been able to rely on her brother. “I appreciate it.”

She finally took another bite of her cold mashed potatoes.

She could pray. Maybe invite Jace and Noel to church. And then wait. She had no intention of quitting her job, and Jace wasn’t going anywhere.

Maybe it was best to just continue like she always had. Maybe the change she was seeing in Jace was all in her head. Or maybe he did just want to be friends. Whatever the case may be, she’d have to take the wait and see approach.

Totally not her cup of tea.

* * *

“I wishI’d been there to see her face when Bonnie asked her to leave."Just the thought of it had Jace grinning ear to ear.

Noel tapped her meal with her fork. “Yep. Between that and this amazing roast, Bonnie may officially be my hero. I kind of wish I were a fly on the wall in Mom and Dad’s house tonight.”

“Me, too.” Jace took a bite of his roast. It was some of the best he’d ever tasted. Bonnie crossed his mind, and he wished she’d taken him up on his offer to eat with them.

He wanted to regret spilling his guts to her about his family and about what happened with Samantha, but he couldn’t. He’d spent the last year and a half keeping everything personal from Bonnie. Telling her had been therapeutic in a lot of ways.

The best part was having the chance to learn more about her. He was quickly discovering that spending time with her was highly addicting.

Which brought Jace back to wishing she were here with them tonight. Yet, after he’d drilled it into her that she shouldn’t have anything to do with his evening meals, how could he blame her for not?

Gunner finished his helping of potatoes but hadn’t touched much of his roast. The kiddo never did care much for meat, though, unless it was chicken.

Jace warmed up three chicken nuggets and handed them to his eager son.

They finished their evening meal. Jace bathed his son, they played for a while, and then Jace got the sleepy little guy down for the night.

After tucking him in, Jace glanced out an upstairs window, relieved to spot her car in the driveway. Truthfully, the turn into the ranch could be difficult to see at night, and he hated the idea of her driving around out there unable to find it.

He withdrew his phone and sent her a text. “Noel and I enjoyed the roast. It was amazing. Thanks again for having that ready this evening. I hope you had a good visit with your family.”

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