Chapter Fifteen
“It looks incredible in here!” said JenniLynn Garrett, eyes wide as she swept over the now-finished living space of Andrea’s ranch.
“Thank you,” Andrea said. She relieved JenniLynn of the large bin she’d hauled in from her car and placed it beside the front desk. “Come in, come in.”
JenniLynn kicked off her snow boots, then shrugged off her wool coat. “Thank you,” she said. “It smells like a dream in here. And looks like heaven.”
Andrea had to agree, and felt a surge of pride at JenniLynn’s compliment.
She’d been confident that she could make some improvements to the ranch but was still in a state of disbelief at the degree to which the finished project matched her original vision.
Downstairs, at least. Upstairs was next to tackle.
But downstairs was just right. She’d lit an apple cinnamon candle and made sure the fireplace was roaring, and with the afternoon sunlight blanketing the space in a warm glow, Andrea was sure of one thing: this could be her forever home.
“You’re a lifesaver,” Andrea said, opening the top of the container to inspect the newspaper-wrapped bone china dishes that would allow her to host the large group the next day.
Her own set was for eight, and Andrea was putting out lunch for ten, including herself. She’d run into JenniLynn at the Feed and Seed and had asked her where in town she might buy new dishes, and JenniLynn had offered to loan her a set.
“Why don’t you come in for a coffee?” Andrea said.
JenniLynn glanced at her watch. “Sure, why not?” she said. “I’ve got to pick the kids up soon, but I’ve got a few minutes.”
JenniLynn trailed Andrea into the kitchen, where Andrea had just finished organizing serving platters, glassware and flatware for the lunch.
A pile of freshly laundered cloth napkins sat waiting to be ironed, and earlier that morning, she’d gone for a walk behind the ranch and trimmed some evergreen boughs to make into a festive table centerpiece.
She’d considered canceling the lunch more than once. She and Seth hadn’t spoken for a week, but the invites had already been sent, and hosting some of the prominent and well-connected community members could only serve to help promote the ranch, if no longer the dinosaur park.
“Looks like this is going to be quite the production,” JenniLynn said. She turned to Andrea, her eyes filled with amusement. “Are you sure you don’t want to just order some takeout?”
“Honestly, yes. I truly do. But given that this will be everyone’s first impression of the place, it needs to be decidedly…
coze-viting.” The second the words left her mouth, she felt a pang of longing in her chest, thinking of Seth, and his genuine enthusiasm and appreciation for what she’d done with the ranch.
And, for the millionth time since she’d shut the door to his car on Thanksgiving, she felt a mixture of relief and regret.
Relief that she’d figured out what was going on before she’d gotten in too deep.
Regret that Seth had failed to meet what she now knew was an impossible image for a man who would never be a part of her life.
But there was no time for regret. She had guests arriving in twenty-four hours, and she needed to execute the menu that was sketched out on loose-leaf on the counter.
Andrea glanced over the paper and chided herself for her ambitious choices.
Herb-crusted rack of lamb with red wine reduction.
Butternut squash soup with truffle oil drizzle.
Wild mushroom risotto. Honey-roasted root vegetables.
Pomegranate and arugula salad with maple balsamic vinaigrette, followed by poached pears in vanilla and chai for dessert.
Impressing Seth might have been top of mind when she was planning the menu, back when he was meant to be at the lunch.
“So, if you don’t mind me asking,” JenniLynn said.
Andrea winced. She knew exactly what was coming, and in fact, she did mind her asking.
“I thought Seth was going to be here. I noticed his name isn’t on any of the place cards.
” She nodded toward the tented cards where Andrea had written each guest’s name in gold pen.
Andrea took a long breath in, then looked at JenniLynn. “The dino project is really interesting. But we’re going in different directions with how we’re spending our time.”
JenniLynn raised an eyebrow. “Spoken like a true politician. Takes one to know one. But I can’t read between the lines. What happened with you two? When I saw you at the hoedown, you were practically glowing together.”
A flash of that night played in Andrea’s mind as she struggled for what to say to JenniLynn. Seth’s hands around her waist. The smoky-smooth depth of his voice speaking in her ear. The pride in his eyes sharing his brother’s plans to propose to Mike.
Had she counted him out too quickly? Did it even matter now?
She’d made it clear to him that they were done.
He’d likely moved on. A man as gorgeous and alluring as Seth Taylor didn’t sulk in corners.
They were sought after. They chased ambitions.
They took care of themselves. They charged forward. Which is what she needed to do too.
Andrea shook her head. “I’m just…” She paused and looked out the window. “I’m not ready for anything serious.”
“Well, listen,” JenniLynn said. “When you are, you just let me know. There aren’t many men in the area I’d set you up with. To be honest, Seth Taylor would top my list. But if he’s not for you, I know a few guys who would do backflips for a chance at a date with you.”
Tears pricked Andrea’s eyes. “Thank you,” she said. She sniffed and willed away the lump in her throat that was threatening those tears to spill. She cleared her throat, then looked up at JenniLynn. “I really wish you’d been elected as mayor. You’re smart. And you understand people.”
JenniLynn gave her a tight grin. “Well, it wasn’t meant to be this time,” she said.
“But I appreciate that. Sometimes, I guess things just happen on their own timeline. Maybe I’ll run again.
And maybe,” she said, her expression softening, “whatever happened between you and Seth will happen again when it’s meant to be. ”
It took everything in Andrea not to wrap JenniLynn in a big hug, but even though the woman’s words were stoking the small ember that she hadn’t allowed to quite burn out, she knew that her emotions were the driver in a situation that called on her to put her scientist’s hat back on. To look at the observable evidence.
Seth betrayed her. She had a history of trusting too easily. So although she’d had the rug pulled from under her, and she wasn’t a practicing scientist, she’d be wise to grasp onto the lessons she learned from years of searching for the truth through plain evidence right in front of her face.
“You okay, Andrea?” JenniLynn said. “You look like you just traveled to another planet.”
“Sorry,” Andrea said. She smiled and shook her head. “Have you ever thought about a career as a therapist? You know how to get someone thinking.”
JenniLynn put her mug on the counter and held out her arms. Andrea accepted the hug, squeezing JenniLynn and reveling in the natural care and no-nonsense approach.
“Doesn’t take a genius to tell that you are fighting a battle that might not be necessary,” she said, looking Andrea square in the eye.
“And if what Carol told me yesterday is true…”
“What’s that? And who’s that?”
“Mike’s godmother. Who works the front desk at the Tenacity Inn. She told me that Daniel told her that Seth’s been moping around the Triple T, acting short and giving everyone but the horses attitude. He’s got it bad for you, girl.”
And there it was. The small-town rumor mill in action. Three degrees of separation. While she liked hearing that Seth was suffering too, JenniLynn’s words caused a deep ache in her, and a flash of Seth’s clear blue eyes holding hers the night of their visit to the observatory made her unsteady.
His words echoed in her mind. If you ever find yourself ready, I’m here.
Had she actually been more ready than she’d let herself believe?
Had that distrust in herself been completely unfounded?
Traced by the past hurt of someone so completely unlike Seth it was like the two were from different galaxies?
She squeezed her eyes shut, recalling the other kernel of a feeling she’d done her best to ignore that night. She’d known she was falling in love with Seth. But she hadn’t been ready to confront that truth.
She looked away from JenniLynn. “I’m sure it’s just a busy time for his business,” Andrea said, doing her best to keep her tone light and even. It was time to change the subject. “Listen, do you think people would prefer scones with lemon curd as another dessert option or a chocolate torte?”
JenniLynn raised an eyebrow. “Or—”
“Both,” they said in unison, and for the first time in days, Andrea laughed.
And despite the ache in her heart at what she knew was a gentle push from JenniLynn, a push she intended to ignore, it felt pretty good.
* * *
Seth pushed a wheelbarrow into the barn, where he found Buck scrubbing the inside of a trough with a stiff metal brush, headphones over his ears and humming to himself.
He was happy that Buck was distracted. It seemed like everywhere he went in the past week, people were eager to shoot the shit, and he didn’t feel much like talking.
Buck looked up as Seth entered and shoved the headphones aside. No such luck.
“Hey, Seth,” Buck said.
“Buck,” Seth said, tipping his head slightly, hoping Buck would be content to turn his attention back to his work.
“How’re you doing?” Buck asked.
“Fine, you?” Seth said.
“Can’t complain,” said Buck. He dropped the brush into the trough with a clatter and wiped his hands on his jeans. “You, on the other hand, have been sulking around here like a teenager who’s been grounded the night of the big party. What gives?”
“I’m fine,” muttered Seth, grabbing a bag of feed from a stack piled up near the entrance.
He knew exactly the look that Buck was giving him, but what was he supposed to say?
That he’d spent the past week chiding himself for how he managed Thanksgiving with Andrea?
That he’d wanted to pick up the phone a million times to call her, but couldn’t take the inevitable cold shoulder that she was likely to serve up in return?
That he’d screwed up the most perfect thing he’d never known he needed in his life?
“If what I’m hearing from your brother is to be trusted,” Buck said, “this has something to do with that lady who’s lately had you grinning as wide as the sky above.”
“I don’t want to talk about it, Buck,” Seth said, slitting the top of the feed bag open with a pocketknife and emptying the contents into the wheelbarrow. Talking wasn’t going to do any good. Best to just pretend none of it had ever happened and move the heck on with his life.
“That’s fine. I can talk, and you can listen.”
Despite his annoyance, Seth chuckled. Most people who meddled in his business he would just tell to go straight to hell, but Buck wasn’t one of them. “Alright,” he said.
“Now, as you know, not only am I irresistible to the ladies,” Buck said, raising an eyebrow and pretending to flex a bicep under his dusty work jacket, “but on the rare occasion I bungle things up, I know a thing or two about how to get the girl back.”
“Oh yeah?” said Seth. He opened another bag and added it to the wheelbarrow. “Illuminate me.”
“You need not go any further than the best film decade of all time for some ideas. In my mind, the strategies fall into three neat categories.”
Seth rolled his eyes and leaned against the stall door. Buck wasn’t going to let him go until he had the opportunity to philosophize about his beloved ’80s films.
“Just hear me out,” Buck said. He held up a finger. “Number one—the public declaration slash epic speech. Ronald Miller standing up for Cindy in Can’t Buy Me Love. Jake Ryan showing up after Sam’s disastrous birthday in Sixteen Candles. Shows vulnerability. Determination.”
“I don’t do public displays,” Seth said, the irony of his Thanksgiving dinner speech in front of his entire family landing like a brick. He grimaced at the memory.
“Okay, okay,” said Buck. “Number two—the over-the-top gesture. Duckie showing up at prom to support Andie, despite knowing she loves Blane in Pretty in Pink. Lloyd Dobler’s boom box serenade.”
“Too showy,” Seth said. He tossed the empty feed bags in the trash and calculated how long he’d have to listen to any more of Buck’s dumb advice before he could make a polite exit. “Nuh-uh.”
“Then I think,” Buck said, “you’d be best to go with number three—the chase.”
“You think I should stalk her?”
Buck’s laughter echoed off the planks of the barn’s walls. “Nah, I’m talking about the best movie moment of all time. Harry running through the streets of New York on New Year’s Eve to confess his love to Sally before it’s too late. Now that’s true love.”
“I’ve at least seen that one,” Seth said. “But she’s not leaving town as far as I know, so I won’t be doing any chasing.”
“Well, then you just go to her,” Buck said. “Makes your job easier.”
“Thanks for the unsolicited feedback,” Seth said. “And if you’re ever ready to join the twenty-first century, I can recommend a few new movies for you.”
“Nah, I’m good,” said Buck, and chuckled lightly. “They don’t make ’em like they used to anymore.”