Page 37 of Worth the Risk
“My family may have mentioned it the day I signed the papers, the same day you decided to give me a sneak peek in the window.” He winks and I laugh loudly at that.
“I didn’t know anyone was in the house and what were you doing staring into my window?”
“I wasn’t staring into your window, I glanced in your houses direction.”
“So, basically you’re stalking me?” I tease.
“Yep. And I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.” He grabs my face with both hands and kisses my lips in three quick pecks. “Can I see you tonight?”
“Yes.” I answer a little too quickly but I can’t find it in me to care. He wants me.
“Great. I’ll pick us something up for dinner from Knox’s?”
“That sounds great. I’m going to go to the bakery for a few hours. I have some orders to catch up on and getting things ready for next week.”
“If you need any help, I’m there.” That makes me smile. He’s always showing up for me.
“I should be able to handle it all myself, but thank you.”
“As long as you know you don’thaveto handle it on your own.”
“I do and I appreciate the offer. Really.”
“Oh, I have plenty of offers for you, darlin’. I’m hoping you’ll take me up on a few of them.” I smile at that and stretch up onto my toes to kiss him. He kisses me back, gripping my hips tightly before letting go. “I’ll see you later.”
“See you later.” He opens the door and kisses my cheek before stepping out and bouncing down the steps. I shut the door and let out the girliest squeal I have ever squealed in my life. I have wanted this for so long and finding out that Rhett still wants me too, that he never sent those messages to me. It feels so good to let that go, but it also makes me feel incredibly vulnerable.
He wants me now but if he decides I’m not what he wants it will break me. We were together for a summer eight years ago. He may think he wants me, but there’s so much that he doesn’t know about me. Things he should probably find out before deciding he truly wants to be with me. I need to try and slow down. I take a deep breath and get ready for my day at the bakery.
Kneading dough is therapeutic. It’s the perfect time for me to reflect and process. It also really helps with my anxiety. I’m playing around with some new recipes and treats for the special orders next week. Another thing I love about living in Silverthorne is all the events the community comes up with. There’s always something happening to take part in. I’ve been to most of them starting with the Autumn Craft Festival at 13. Mary had asked Uncle Buck if she could show me and Colt around with her and Rhett while he was running his chili and beer booth there, like he does at most town events. She had bought me kettle corn and I remember smiling for the first time in months at hearing Colt laugh for the first time in months. I may have started falling for Rhett for that reason alone. When she dropped us back off with my uncle she gave me the small purple mesh pouch.
“You’re a lovely girl, Winnie. I hope you’ll be happy here.”
My throat feels a little tight recalling her words that day and my fingers automatically go to my wrist, the wooden beads make a light knocking sound as I fidget with them. She had given me the bracelet I had admired at a local jewelry booth that day. It made me feel cared for and special. Something my mom had always managed to do so well, that I didn’t realize how much I would miss it until she was gone. My uncle is a wonderful man, and had taken us in without a thought. He’s kind and funny and he showed Colt and I love that I could have only wished for after losing our parents.
There was just something about having a woman care for you in the most thoughtful ways that we tend to care for one another. Mary had never let me feel less than one of her own. Would she be disappointed in Rhett and I? If things with us didn’t work out would I lose her? The whole Holloway family? That was a big risk. I relied on them. Loved them. Something else to add to the list of topics to cover tonight. It’s so easy to get swept up in him when he’s next to me, invading my space and scrambling my brain. I look down at the bread I’m kneading. It’s time to get it into the proofing drawer before I add the strawberries to it. I set a timer for two hours and call Mare. She has sent me a handful of texts this morning but I needed to process this on my own for a while—now I need to talk to someone about what happened this morning. It only rings once before she picks up.
“Winnie! How are you feeling, babe? You haven’t answered any of my texts!” I can hear beeping in the background and squeaky wheels so she must be at work.
“I’m sorry, I’m fine. I was…a little busy this morning.” I hedge.
“Busy? With what? The bakery?”
“Among other things…”
“Put me out of my misery here!” I let out a long breath.
“I kissed Rhett this morning…or he kissed me. We kissed.” Silence. Then I hear rustling, quick footsteps, a door closing, and finally a ridiculously loud scream right in my ear.
“Shut up! Shut up, shut up, shut up!” Pull the phone away from me at her shrieking.
“I’m not saying anything.” I laugh.
“Well start talking! What was he doing there? How was it? Better than you remember? What does this mean for you guys? Will there be a repeat?”
“Um he came over last night and ended up staying the night.” She gasps and I rush to add. “Just to take care of me.”
“Aww, Win. That’s the cutest thing. So he stayed the night…where does the kiss come into play? I thought you were still upset about what happened a few years ago…?”
