Chapter 19
MARCUS
The last thing Marcus had expected was to hold Wynter while she cried.
The woman was a fortress. She’d been able to handle moving to ten different schools in ten years.
She’d been able to deal with the bullies who put her down.
She’d managed being left by a father, losing her mother, and losing her grandfather.
Wynter was strength personified.
He couldn’t recall a single instance when he’d seen weakness in her.
Until tonight.
They sat for a long time in the dark on her couch with her cuddled up beside him. So many questions filtered through his mind. He wanted to know what had upset her. He craved fixing whatever it was and promising that she would never have to handle it all on her own again.
No, it was more than a craving. It was a deep-seated need.
Marcus couldn’t help but tighten his arms around her as he confirmed his instincts.
Wynter might not realize it, but she depended on him just as much as he depended on her.
He couldn’t explain it, but their souls were connected.
Despite her running when they were younger.
Despite his frustration over her stubbornness.
None of that mattered in this moment. He’d be the rock she needed right now.
Wynter’s stubbornness was no match for his own.
He tamped down the fury that threatened. Fury over the way Wynter insisted on putting distance between them. Fury that she didn’t feel safe confiding in him. Fury that all she wanted was surface level.
No more.
One way or another, he’d get through to her.
He had to.
The following morning Marcus showed up bright and early.
He got straight to work in the barn, unsure of how Wynter would feel after her breakdown the night before.
It hadn’t exactly been awkward when she’d finally relaxed against him.
They’d sat in the quiet of the house until she took in a deep breath, apologized, thanked him, then admitted she was too tired for anything more.
He’d left even though it was the last thing he’d wanted to do.
Now, as he stood in front of the shelf that hung a little crooked and the workbench with a couple doors hanging on broken hinges, he couldn’t bring himself to focus on what to do first.
The bench had been built into the wall of the workspace.
It was a combination of cabinets surrounding a lower, open space.
The cabinets surrounding the countertop were worn with age and weathered by use.
He could sand them down and refinish them after he repaired the hinges.
One door had a crack that nearly reached the center.
Yes, it was in poor shape, but it could be salvaged.
While he frowned at the work before him, he heard footsteps at his back. Marcus glanced over his shoulder and spun when he found Nora standing a few feet away. Her eyes glimmered with something—nostalgia maybe?
“I remember when Jack built this. I thought it was too much. He’d be retiring in less than ten years, and yet he insisted he needed it.” She rubbed at her arms, pulling attention to the fact that all she wore was a sweater.
Marcus lurched forward, removing his buckskin coat, then draped it around her shoulders. “You shouldn’t be out here without a coat,” he murmured gruffly.
She peered up at him with a sad smile. “You visited last night.”
He nodded.
Nora tilted her head slightly. “Wynter…” She pursed her lips. “We had an argument.”
Understanding dawned. That was why she’d been upset. Wynter loved Nora. She could have easily been upset with herself over the argument they’d shared. Knowing that tidbit of information helped to assuage any need to dig deeper and ask Wynter to help him understand what was going on.
He turned back to the workbench. “I think I can restore this if you’d like.” When he cut Nora a look out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the slight smile gracing Nora’s lips. “It just needs some new hardware, stain, and a replacement door here.” He motioned to the cracked piece of wood.
“That sounds wonderful.”
They stood in silence, Marcus’s focus shifting back to Wynter while Nora got lost in her own thoughts. Something still didn’t sit right with him about how Wynter was behaving toward him. She had never seemed like the type to have a fling. She was serious. And relationships were important.
At least that was how it felt when he’d been around her.
Marcus turned toward Nora. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Why…” He gripped the back of his neck and blew out a hard breath. “Why isn’t Wynter dating anyone?” It was the closest he could get to asking why she wasn’t interested in anything serious while at the same time not giving himself away.
Nora’s eyes searched his. He felt utterly vulnerable beneath her piercing gaze, and it took all his self-control not to scoot away and avoid it. Then she finally answered. “I suppose it’s because she hasn’t found the right man yet.”
That stung more than he wanted to admit. He was right here. He could be that man for her. Couldn’t Nora and Wynter see that he wanted nothing more than to be her everything? So why wasn’t she letting him in?
Did Nora know something more? If she did, it wasn’t likely that she’d give him any clues. It wasn’t fair.
Nodding, he turned back to the job. “I guess I’ll get back to work. This will probably only take about a week of work if I come in the evenings. Mateo wants me to help out a little more back home.”
He hadn’t been thrilled with the notion of going back to work at the ranch, but with all the changes that had been made over the last couple of years, he also knew he couldn’t leave his family in the lurch.
Sure, they had guys who worked for them now, but they were somewhat temporary.
Jason had left. Others could follow. As much as Marcus wanted to insist to himself that his brother didn’t need him, he knew better.
A light touch on his arm had him startling, and he glanced down to find Nora smiling up at him. “You’ll come to dinner, won’t you? As often as you can?”
There was no hiding the smile that threatened to overtake him. It spread wide across his face. “Tonight?”
Her eyes twinkled. “I’m making roast if you’re interested.”
His mouth watered. “Your roast is the best. I wouldn’t miss it.”
Marcus set to work pulling all the doors off the workbench and set them aside. He’d need to sand them down to refinish them. Then he pulled the tools and other materials from the cupboards before putting them aside.
He got so lost in his work that he didn’t hear the arrival of another visitor. While it was cold outside, he’d shut the doors to the barn and worked in just a T-shirt. Vaguely he’d been aware of a draft of cold air, but it wasn’t until he heard her voice that he realized why it had happened.
“Wow.”
Marcus stiffened, crouched low as he focused on sanding down the lower shelves of the workbench. He glanced over his shoulder to find Wynter with her hands behind her back. She was wearing cowboy boots, jeans, and a wool coat.
Absolutely stunning.
While her eyes weren’t as puffy as they’d been last night, they were still a little red. She smiled at him, indicating she didn’t want him to ask her how she was doing. This was her way. She was fine. And maybe a little embarrassed.
She didn’t have to be. But she wouldn’t listen if he tried to assure her of that.
Slowly he rose to his full height and tossed the sanding block to the countertop. “You look beautiful,” he rasped.
Color flooded her cheeks, and she scoffed.
“Don’t,” he warned.
When her brows pulled together, he clarified.
“Don’t brush off the compliment.” Marcus moved closer to her and tucked her hair behind her ear. “You’ve always been beautiful. From the first moment I saw you.” The reality of that fact hit him hard in the chest.
Yes, she’d been beautiful. He might have been her friend, but he wasn’t blind. He’d noticed the way other guys looked at her, even if they were bent on teasing her. Somewhere deep inside him, he’d known she would be more to him.
Marcus palmed her cheek and traced his thumb along her soft skin. He had a feeling she could tell he cared for her. He didn’t have to tell her outright that he wanted her to stay. She knew it. And yet she’d insisted that she wasn’t interested in more.
So why was she leaning into his touch?
Why did she fall apart in front of him last night?
Why did it feel so good to be with her this way?
So right.
He opened his mouth, prepared to ask her if she’d reconsider. But she cut him off with her next words.
“Supper’s ready.”
Marcus frowned when she took a step backward.
More distance.
Did she know what that did to him? To his heart?
He nodded, his hand dropping to his side. “I’ll be right in. Let me get a few things cleaned up here, first.”
“Okay.” She turned from him and headed out of the barn.
He watched her go. Waited until the door slid shut before he spun around, grabbed his hat and threw it to the ground. What could he do to make her understand that she was making a mistake?
Maybe he was the problem. Maybe Wynter didn’t realize what he was offering her. She craved security. He could offer that to her. And what was the best way to do that? Be consistent, which was what he’d been doing for the last couple of weeks.
It would take more time, though. He knew that. But his impatience was getting the better of him. Would it be so bad if he pulled her aside and told her he’d move to California if that was what it would take to keep her? Would it even make a difference?
He couldn’t tell. There was only one thing in this life that seemed to be the best way to show permanence in someone’s life. And while it wasn’t exactly bulletproof, a marriage proposal was about as serious as it got.
The second the thought entered his mind, he dismissed it. Wynter wasn’t ready for that. Not yet. But maybe soon.
They’d known each other for years. It wasn’t like he’d be asking a stranger to marry him. And he could play it by ear. As far as he was concerned, he had two options. Move with her. Or ask her to stay by promising to be hers forever.
Marcus scooped up his hat and placed it back on his head.
He’d give it a few more weeks before he made his decision.
Last night had been heavy but a step in the right direction.
Wynter hadn’t exactly opened up to him, but she’d leaned on him when she’d needed someone.
She hadn’t gone to her grandmother or her friends. She’d gone to him.
That had to mean something.
When he sat down at the kitchen table, he could feel Wynter’s eyes on him. Every time he looked in her direction, she turned away. He bit back his smile and made sure to participate in the conversation Nora started.
She asked him about his family. His plans for the holidays. And other small talk. It was easy enough to entertain her while also maintaining his attention to the woman across the table from him.
Until it wasn’t.
“And what about a girlfriend?”
Marcus stiffened.
“Grams!”
“What?” Nora chuckled. “Marcus is a handsome man. Wouldn’t you agree?”
He turned toward Wynter and could have laughed at the way her mouth hung open, but he was more interested in hearing what she had to say.
“That’s beside the point,” Wynter stammered.
“I disagree.” Marcus grinned and leaned back in his seat.
She stared daggers at him, and he chuckled.
“Well?” Nora pressed, drawing the focus back to him. “Are you dating anyone? You asked about Wynter earlier today.”
Well, shoot. His face heated exponentially, and he could feel Wynter’s attention burning a hole into the side of his face. Clearing his throat, he leaned back in his seat. “There is… someone… I’m interested in. But I’m not sure about how she feels.”
The room went deathly quiet.
That’s right, Wynter. Ball’s in your court.
“I’m sure all you have to do is ask her. Communication is very important,” Nora broke the silence with her reassurances, but the quiet descended again, making it clear everyone in the room knew who he was referring to.
Wynter eventually couldn’t handle the tension in the air. She pushed back her chair and gathered the empty plates. “I’ll serve us up some of that spiced cake.”