by Casey Peeler
As we are replenishing the water bowls, she asks me about growing up here. She asks how long I’ve known Weston, why I left, how I knew I wanted to be a vet, and then she drops a bomb that I never saw coming.
“He likes you.” I literally drop the water bowl onto the floor when I hear these innocent words.
“What are you talking about? We’re friends. Always have been.”
“Yeah, but I think he likes you likes you.”
“Nah. Watch your step. I’ve got to grab a mop.”
I clean up the water and Bryndle finishes filling the remainder of the bowls. It’s obvious she has been taught responsibility and has a love for animals.
When we finish, I go to the freezer and grab a Popsicle. “Want one?”
“Sure! Daddy never lets me have dessert first. You have orange?”
“Sometimes it’s okay to break the rules,” I say with a wink.
Taking one, I pass it to her and we eat them as we walk back to my truck. Climbing in, she buckles her seat belt and looks my way.
“I’m glad you moved back.”
“Why’s that?”
“I don’t know. Don’t get me wrong, Maw Jane is great and Paw lets me get whatever I want, but you’re different.”
I smile her way, and hope and pray she’s not thinking what I think she is. I’m not her mama. Her mama died a long time ago, and I’d never try and replace her.
“Bryndle, I totally get it, and I’m here if you ever need to have a girl’s day or even talk about stuff you think your daddy won’t understand.”
“Thanks. He’s a good listener, but sometimes I know he’s not so sure how to answer.”
“Yeah, sounds like he’s got being a daddy almost down pat.”
“Well, sometimes. There was this one time he made me wear these ugly pants because they were the newest thing at the hunting store. Timber, they were awful and they were two sizes too big. I don’t know what he was thinking. I’ll wear camo all day long, but I have some rules.”
Laughing, I realize what a little lady I have in front of me. Arriving at the house, I can smell the food cooking on the grill. Taking a whiff, I know it’s steak, and my mouth is already watering.
We walk inside and Bryndle takes one last bite then ditches the Popsicle. Smart girl. I follow her out to the back porch and find Weston standing there with his back to us, and in this moment he looks different. He looks like a man, not the boy I used to know, and my lady bits are alive and in overdrive.
Chapter 13
Weston
Hearing the screen door slam, I take one last pull from my beer before closing the lid on the grill and looking over my shoulder.
Something must be wrong with me because Timber is standing there with a deer-in-the-headlights look. Discreetly, I make sure that my barn door is closed and then get distracted when I notice the orange glow around Bryndle’s mouth.
“What have you been eatin’?”
“It’s Timber’s fault, she made me do it.” I look up to see her pop that Popsicle out of her mouth.
“You know the rule. No sweets until after supper.”
“But sometimes rules are meant to be broken. Right, Timber?”
“Of course! Especially when you’ve helped around the clinic and deserve a reward.”
“Fine, you win on this one.” Timber starts to smirk. “What?”
“What are you going to do? Make her bring it out from her belly? You didn’t think that one through.”
I shake my head at her and then toss her a beer. She chucks the Popsicle in the trash can and then pops the top of the beer. “Bryn, go get cleaned up. It’s almost ready.” She makes her way inside and I turn to check the steaks while trying to wrap my brain around these ridiculous feelings I’m having toward Timber.
“Need me to do anything?” Timber asks as she steps beside me.
“I think we’re good. How was she?”
Timber sets her beer down, crosses her arms, and looks in my direction. “Weston Parker, you’ve outdone yourself. That little girl is ah-maz-ing, and it’s all because of you.”
What in the hell? “Hold up… where is Timber Sellers and what have you done with the Timber tornado?”
She shakes her head. “I don’t think you hear it enough. I’ve been gone and haven’t been around to see her grow over the years, but it amazes me how a guy, who didn’t want anything to do with kids, took this situation and rolled with it. It shows that you really aren’t the arrogant ass that everyone always thought you’d be.”
Before I realize it, I’m inches from her face and I can tell she’s holding her breath, but when the patter of footsteps echo in the distance I snap out of it and take a huge step back.
Timber
Breathe Timber, breathe. I keep repeating it to myself as the door flies open and Bryndle appears with her tablet and headphones, not paying either of us any attention. Thank goodness. Weston opens the lid of the grill and starts to remove the steaks. As I begin to increase the distance between us, Weston turns to me. “Let’s finish what we started later.” I bite the inside of my cheek and nod my head. What the hell am I doing and what if Bryndle was right?
During supper my head is spinning from what happened outside. Weston looks between Bryndle and me, but there are times when his eyes linger on me longer than they should. When we finish, I help them clear the table and begin to do the dishes when Bryndle informs me that is her job. I take a step back, knowing she takes pride in her responsibilities. “Can I dry?” I ask her.
“Sure.”
“I’ll put them away,” Weston says and we get them done in record time.
When we finish, Weston tells Bryndle to get ready for bed. They’ve got a long day at the farmer’s market tomorrow and I’ve got to work at the clinic. As I begin to excuse myself, Weston cuts his eyes in my direction. I’ve seen that look before and it means I better stay put.
“Let me tuck her in. You’ve still got a beer to finish.”
Bryndle reappears and when Weston tells her it is time for bed, she doesn’t argue. Instead, she rushes into me, catching me off guard, and hugs me.
“Night, Timber. Thank you for helping me with my hair and letting me break the rules.”
I hug her tightly and look up to Weston, who turns his head quickly. It’s almost as if he can’t handle the sight in front of him. When she pulls away, she hugs him too and then hurries off to her room.
Weston takes two beers from the fridge and motions for us to go outside. Taking a seat on the back deck, he hands me one. I quickly take a gulp because I have no idea where this is going. Weston doesn’t say anything. He sits and stares at his beer.
After what feels like an eternity, he begins to speak while still looking at his beer, “Thank you for tonight.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean thank you for doing the hair thingy with her and letting her go with you. She needs that.”
“Uh huh, what are you really wanting to say? Remember I know your ass.”
“Never mind.”
“No, what is it?”
“Shit, I can’t explain it. There’s something about you being here. Would you mind coming around more often?”
“Of course not. I’d love to come by and help Bryndle.”
Weston turns toward me, takes a sip of his beer, and looks me in the eyes. I can feel what he’s going to say before he says it, and I’m scared to death to hear it aloud. This man isn’t one to express his feelings, but he’s always been a straight shooter.
“No, I’m not talkin’ ‘bout Bryn. I’m talkin’ ‘bout us. I can’t explain it, Timber. You’ve always been just one of the guys. Heck, you know all kinds of shit about me, but I swear since the moment I realized you were the girl that Skooter sent me that pic of at Brandy’s, I knew something was different. I’ve sworn off women. I vowed to only have one girl in my life, but seeing you with her, eavesdropping outside of her room, that laughter… it did something to me. Tonight when you l
ooked at me when she told you goodnight, I felt whole.” I start to speak, but he doesn’t let me. “I know I sound like a complete pussy, and this is probably way out of line, but would you think about it? Think about me and you?”
Oh dear heavens, Bryndle was right. Weston has completely poured his soul out to me, and the last time it happened was when he was going to have a baby. I take a deep breath, and try to process what has happened.
“You don’t have to answer tonight. Just think about it.”
I take another sip of my beer and stare into the night sky. “I will.”
Chapter 14
Weston
Timber has done a kick-ass job of avoiding me like the plague the past two days. She’s come by to see Scarlett, check on Bryndle, but when she sees me coming she bolts. I never say shit like I did the other night out loud and look what happened. It made her run for the hills. Now I want to kick myself in the ass for doing it.
This morning when she comes to give Scarlett her next round of vaccines, I’m going to be ready.
As her truck pulls down the drive, I continue to help the crew pick peaches, but when she’s made her way to Scarlett, I excuse myself and become a man on a mission.
Approaching her, I take caution due to Scarlett’s state and Timber’s well-being. I help her with Scarlett, and don’t mention our conversation. She doesn’t mention it either, and I’m about to go batshit crazy.
When we finish, I stand there and wait for her to look at me.
“What?”
“Have you thought about it?”
“Damn, Cowboy, calm your horses why don’t ya. I’ve been thinking.”
“And…”
“I don’t know. What happens if I say okay and then it all goes to hell? Have you thought about that? I’m not trying to be negative or anything, but let’s be real. What happens if we give this a go and it ends badly? Better yet, what happens if you aren’t man enough for me or something?” Ha! Right then I know that she’s been thinking long and hard about this. She always flies off at the mouth when she wants something she shouldn’t.
“How ‘bout this… let’s just keep it between us and see what happens?”
“I’m not hiding shit. I’m not a teenager keeping my boyfriend away from my parents,” she says as she takes her vet bag and begins to walk toward her truck. I follow her and I know it’s pissing her off.
“Fine, then let’s see what happens. That’s all I’m sayin’.”
She tosses the bag on the back of the truck and turns around to open the driver’s side door. Without thinking, I place my hand on it and shut it. Then I move in close to her.
“Move, Weston.”
“No,” I say as I get closer.
“What the hell do you think you’re doin’?”
“This.” On a whim, I push her against the truck and plant my lips firmly on hers. She does her best to push me back, but I wrap my free arm around her waist as her lips mold to mine. When her body falls into mine, I begin to pull away. She has to know there’s something there.
She pushes my chest when I take a step back. “What the fuck, Weston? You can’t go kissing me in front of God and everybody. Lord knows your entire crew got a view and everyone and their mama will know by lunchtime.”
I cross my arms and let the Timber tornado hit and vanish. “You done?” She crosses her arms like me and stands there without a word. “Now, I know you’re all worried about the romance factor and want a guy that, what was it? Oh yeah, rocks your world. Well, if your body reacted like that with one little bitty kiss, I think it’s safe to say we’ve got nothing to worry ’bout.” I can see the frustration on her face as she’s fighting an internal battle. She doesn’t reply, flip me off, or anything. She opens the truck door, slams it shut, and takes off for the clinic.
Timber
When I am out of Weston’s view, I let out a slow breath and tell my girlie bits to get in check. I’ve tried to avoid this conversation because, let’s just say, I’ve thought long and hard about it and each time I do my mind wanders to how good Weston is in bed. It’s so odd for me to keep going back to that because he’s always been just a friend. I’ve avoided talking to him this week so that I can process it all, but dang it, even when I saw his ass at a distance my mind went straight in the gutter. I’m worried that if I say yes and sparks don’t fly, it will ruin our friendship, but it’s evident that one little kiss proved that part will be okay. Now, being the girl that I am, I really want to make him earn it. Is that terrible?
Walking into the clinic, I’m met by Daddy and the list of patients for today. We have several animals in for surgeries and a few well visits. I take the first dog in to surgery for a routine spay, and once she’s done and in recovery, I move on to the next one. By the time lunch rolls around, I realize I’m starving. Daddy takes over the routine well checks and I go home to fix something to eat.
Walking in the house, I see Mama in the kitchen preparing a sandwich, chips, and sweet tea for me.
“Thanks, Mama.”
“No problem. Daddy told me you were on your way and I thought I’d surprise you. Plus I thought it would be a good time for me to get you alone and find out what’s going on.”
Taking a bite, I slowly chew my food so I have time to process what she’s asking and how I want to answer. “What do you mean?”
“I mean the fact that there’s something you’re not telling me, and I have a feeling it has to do with a certain someone.”
“Mama, I don’t even know how you know but I don’t know what to do.”
“Well, I can’t help if you don’t spill it.”
“Okay, fine. Bryndle might have mentioned that Weston liked me while she was helping at the clinic and then that night he let his guard down and told it to me straight. Mama, it’s dang Weston. That man has always been arrogant and closed off. Never in my life have I thought about him in any other way,” I say as I cross my arms on the table and let my head fall onto them.
“What about now?” I look up at her.
“Oh, it gets worse. He kissed me today in front of everybody at the farm. Who does that?”
“Oh bless! Please tell me you didn’t hurt him or anything.”
“No, Mama I didn’t because… I liked it and… I shouldn’t. I keep telling myself that I can’t like him. It would ruin us as friends. Plus, what happens if it doesn’t work and poor Bryndle is attached to me?”
“Honey, she already is. I’m not going to tell you what to do, but I’ve known both of you your entire lives. I’m not saying to dive in head over heels, but if he’s interested there’s gotta be something more for him too. He’s never looked at a girl since that baby was born. He knows he can trust you, you’re stunning, and you have stepped up for that little girl. It’s every single dad’s dream.”
“But Mama, do you think he really wants me or just a mother for his daughter?”
“Timber, a man’s ego is as vulnerable as a woman’s heart. I’ve watched him these last ten years and he’s kept himself at a distance.” I take a moment to let that sink in. “Weston Parker isn’t going to break down that wall until he’s good and ready. This isn’t about Bryndle; it’s about him whether he realizes it yet or not,” Mama says before leaving me to eat my lunch.
Taking what Mama said to heart, I finish my lunch. When I don’t think I can eat any more, I discard the food, place my dish in the dishwasher, and head toward the clinic.
Walking back inside, I can see that Daddy is knee-deep in patients. How on earth did this happen? I wasn’t gone that long. I quickly slide on my lab coat, grab a file, and go to work. Before I know it, it’s five o’clock, and I’m exhausted.
Taking the last of the charts to the back room, I begin to put them away when I hear a slight knock. Turning around, I come face-to-face with a certain cowboy, and my heart goes wild like the horses he tames.
“Hey,” I say flatly.
“You got a minute?”
“Nope. I gotta get these damn
things filed. I don’t know why he won’t go paperless.”
As I toss the folder on top of the filing cabinet, I hear a chuckle. Turning, I see Weston holding his hands up in surrender and trying his best to refrain from any more laughter but his lips deceive him and he tries to cover it up.
“Go ahead. Let it out. I know that was one of the dumbest things I’ve ever said. My daddy going paperless? Hell, he can’t wait to throw the flip phone in the lake when he retires.” Pausing, I look at him. “What you here for anyways?”
He takes his perfect hardworking body and props himself in the doorway. “I came to apologize for earlier. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Damn right,” I say as I stare him down and watch him try to form the words he wants to say. “Look, just spit that shit out. You sweating bullets isn’t your best quality.”
He takes his hand and rubs the back of his neck and my body betrays me. What the hell? “So I know you’re coming to help Bryndle get ready for the dance Friday. I was wondering if I could take you to breakfast after I dropped her off at school?”
“Really? Is this your way of asking me out?”
“Hell, I don’t know.”
“You don’t? It’s a simple yes or no.”
“Yes, fine. It’s a yes.”
“I can’t.”
I swear I see him wince. I take the folder on top of the cabinet and file it quickly, trying to refrain from letting the words fly out of my mouth.
“Never mind,” he says as I hear his boots start to shuffle.
“Wait, Cowboy. It’s not that I don’t want to. I can’t Friday. I’ve got to help Daddy at the free clinic in Patterson. I told him I’d help, but have to be back in time to hear how the dance went.”
A small smile spreads across his face. “So what about supper Friday?”
“What about Bryndle?”
“I’m sure Paw wouldn’t mind watching her, or she mentioned going to a friend’s house for the night.”
