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Yeah, I’d dated a little, but I’d just never found anyone I’d connected with in years.

I was developing friendships here in Crystal Fork. I had Hannah, Lauren, and Anna, but they had their own lives here. Husbands. Family. Other friends. Lauren was my only single friend, but she had connections here that were like family to her.

As Hannah had said, they’d all invited me to go to Billings and for other outings, but if it involved going out of the area, I just couldn’t do it.

Honestly, I probably shouldn’t let myself get too close to anyone in Crystal Fork, but I loved people, and I liked having friends.

I didn’t think there was any harm in trying to have a good relationship with Devon if that was possible.

I liked and respected Kaleb and Tanner, and it would be far easier if I didn’t dislike their younger brother.

I was also really fond of Millie Remington, their mother, and it was hard to skirt around the topic of Devon all the time because I had nothing good to say about that particular Remington.

Maybe I was just paranoid about his motivations.

I was pretty wary of almost everyone right now.

Hannah had said that she hoped I could see the other side of Devon.

I guess I was hoping for the same thing.

Today, Devon had intrigued me even more because he’d actually been sort of…nice.

If he had been his normal growly self and pestering me with question after question, I wouldn’t be here making dinner for both of us.

I also had to admit that even though Devon was pegged as a womanizer, I’d actually never seen him with a woman in Crystal Fork. He was normally with his brothers, his mother, or friends. I had no doubt that he had his share of women, but he obviously didn’t bring them home to Crystal Fork.

Woman had to be falling all over him. He was ridiculously hot with a droolworthy, muscular body. His enormous wealth and power also probably made him a magnet for women who wanted a remarkably successful man.

Yet, if the rumors about him were true, he’d never had a real, committed, serious relationship. Everyone around town said he just had brief flings with women who looked and acted like supermodels.

It was obviously Devon’s choice to stay a bachelor with no romantic attachments.

Part of me really wondered why.

There was nothing wrong with not wanting a relationship, but there was usually some reason for making that choice.

Had he really never met the right woman, or did he avoid entanglements because he had a reason for avoiding relationships?

It was really none of my business, but I’d found myself wondering about that a lot over the last few hours.

I sighed as I finished preparing the meat and vegetables and went to wash my hands.

I’d ended up stopping at the local market to get things for a quick dessert, something I hadn’t planned on before Devon invited himself to dinner.

I was doing stuffed baked apples with cinnamon, raisins, and nuts because it was easy. They had a little brown sugar, but it was healthier than most desserts.

They were cored and stuffed. I’d put them into the oven before we ate dinner.

The doorbell rang as I was drying my hands, and a glance at my watch told me that Devon was right on time.

I’d showered and changed into a pair of nice jeans and a green, cropped sweater.

I smiled as I went to the door, knowing my outfit was a step up from my usual attire in the evenings, which consisted of baggy sweatpants and an oversized T-shirt.

Since I was always alone, I went for the most comfortable clothes I could find in my closet.

I opened the door to find Devon similarly dressed and grinning at me in an ivory, cable-knit sweater, and jeans.