Page 111 of The Wedding Ranch
She hitched a breath, tensing beneath his touch.
“When you told me you were Jeff’s sister, it was a shock.”
Shivering slightly, she nodded.
“Our stories are complicated. Individually and together. But we’re good for each other. Don’t you agree?”
“Every time you look at me, you’ll think of it. It’s too much to overcome.”
“Lorri, let me decide what’s too much for me.”
“I would never want to hurt you.”
“Youdidn’t.” How could he convince her? “I’m here by my choice. I missed you when you were out of town. I… I’m not saying I can snap my finger and forgive Jeff, but I can tell you that I know I need to.”
“Forgiveness can be hard.”
“I’m aware of that. It’s taken me a long time to forgive myself, and some days I still forget. I want to live in the present, and the future. We said we’d help each other with that.”
She walked to the living room and sat on the couch. He sat next to her and noticed her trembling.
“Wait a second, I know exactly what you need.” He ran to the door, letting Mister follow along. He grabbed a large bag from his truck and jogged back to the house.
Lorri hadn’t moved.
He stood there in front of her holding a big black trash bag.
She managed a laugh. “What is that? Is this some kind of metaphor about my baggage?”
“No, although you did say it was like a trash bag, didn’t you?” He laughed. “No. That Sunday after the steer incident at the fair, I thought you were going to go back and I might see you again.”
“To buy the quilt. Yeah, and I didn’t make it back.”
He handed her the bag. “I’ve been waiting for just the right time. I think this is it.” He wanted more than anything to sweep her into his arms and take care of her.
Lorri reached into the plastic bag, and lifted the thick fabric corner. “It’s the quilt.” She looked surprised. “You bought it for me?”
“I did.” He sat down on the couch. “Coming to see you is the first time I’d set foot on this land since the day my father sold it. That might not mean much to you, but it was a big step for me.”
“I know, and then I let you down.”
“No. You didn’t let me down. Things have moved fast—like an undertow.”
“It has.”
“Whatever this is here between you and me, it’s powerful, and honestly I don’t want it to stop.”
“We both have a lot of baggage, and we don’t know much about each other.”
“Tell me something I don’t know,” he said.
“I was pivotal in the new material for Bloom.” She watched him for a reaction.
“I know.”
“You do?”
“Admired the draft on your desk, then saw it in the paper. Put two and two together.” He shrugged. “Tell me something else I should know. Your hopes and dreams. Your favorite flavor of ice cream? I don’t know. Start anywhere.”
