Chapter 20
As soon as the door closed, I locked it and walked straight back to the bedroom. I flopped down onto the bed and laid there while staring at the ceiling with my phone in my hand. I realized that the room still smelled faintly of Wes’ cologne, a scent that I never thought would be in my house in a million years and I slowly started to replay every moment from last night—the laughter, the spark between us, and the way his calloused hands had felt against my skin.
I sat up, and looked around the room, realizing that the loneliness from him being gone needed to go away and quick. I started to straighten up the bedroom and made the bed. I didn’t have the heart to wash the sheets just yet, as I wanted to keep his scent as long as possible.
My phone buzzed on the nightstand, jolting me from my thoughts. I realized that I never replied to Preston’s text. I reached for my phone and swiped up on the screen.
Preston: I will be at Stella’s at noon to grab a bite to eat. Hope you can join me.
I stared at the message, my heart skipping in a way that had nothing to do with last night. Preston was my client’s soon to be brother- in- law, and after the family dinner I attended, we both could feel a connection. He was charming in a different way, clean-cut, with a drop-dead smile and very charming personality. He was definitely not what I pictured when I pictured myself with someone, which in a way was exciting and nerve wrecking at the same time.
I slowly sat back down on the bed with my phone clutched to my chest. What am I supposed to do now? I had spent years watching Wyatt from the sidelines, always trying to stay out of his way and now after last night I wanted more. Last night had felt like a dream—one that I wanted to repeat over and over. But Wes was complicated, a tangle of family ties and old wounds. Preston was easy, new, untouched by the messiness of my past.
I finally worked up the courage and typed out a reply, then deleted it. I threw the phone down on the bed and walked over to the closet and grabbed a sweatshirt. I pulled the sweatshirt on and tucked my phone into the front pocket. If I was going to figure this out, I was going to need way more coffee. I padded to the kitchen, while my mind was spinning.
The house was quiet, sunlight slanting through the windows. Flint was sprawled out on the floor in the sunlight and was very content. If only I could be that content but I was so worked up I had no idea what I was going to do. I poured more coffee into my cup and added more creamer, my thoughts drifting back to Wes. The way he looked at me, and touched me last night, it was like he was seeing me for the first time and not pushing me away. The way he kissed me and showed me what it was like to be fucked by a man was amazing and something that I don’t ever want to forget.
I sat down on the couch and started to scroll through my phone. No text from Wes. I shouldn’t be disappointed but at least a text saying that he made it to the ranch would have been nice but then why would he. It’s not like we are a couple or anything like that.
Instead, I opened Preston’s text again. His words were simple and to the point, he wanted to see me. I slowly smiled despite what happened last night, fingers hovering over the keyboard.
I will be there for lunch.
I hit send before I could second-guess myself. Maybe I needed this—a distraction, a chance to remember who I was before Wes came back and turned everything upside down.
My phone buzzed almost immediately.
Perfect. Can’t wait to see you again Maisie.
I glanced at the clock. I had a couple of hours to pull myself together, to wash away the remnants of last night and figure out what I wanted. I finished my coffee and headed for the shower. It felt so good to have the hot water wash over my body, scrubbing away the scent of Wes and the confusion that clung to my skin.
By the time I stepped out of the shower, the house felt different—lighter, somehow. I decided to dress in a pair of skinny jeans and fun natural colored western print t-shirt. I put on some ankle boots and tucked the front of the t-shirt into the front of my jeans. I blew dried my hair and put it into a messy bun on the top of my head and added simple makeup. Before I stepped out of the bathroom I looked in the mirror, searching for the girl that I used to be—the one who didn’t get tangled up in complicated boys and one-night stands.
My phone buzzed again, making my heart skip a beat. But it was just Hattie, saying that she was going to stop by this evening with takeout and that she needed to ask me. I hesitated; fingers poised over the keyboard. I didn’t know if Wes had said something to her about what happened, but we both agreed before he left that we wouldn’t, so know I am concerned about what she wanted to ask me.
Sounds good, I will grab stuff to make margaritas. I hit send and put my phone into my purse and headed out the door.
I walked the few blocks to Main Street, to hopefully get the nerves out of my system and work up the courage to walk through the diner doors.
Stella’s Diner was already bustling; the smell of burgers and fries filled the air and I spotted Preston at a corner table and started to head his way. He stood as I approached, pulling out a chair with a smile.