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“I have. Just got home on Friday.”
“Welcome home.” He didn’t look like he was in the mood for small talk. “Is Shannon here?”
“Yeah, man. Come on in.”
They walked into the kitchen to find Shannon about to take a bite of a chocolate chip cookie.
“I hope these are still your favorite,” Micah said as he walked over and handed her the flowers.
She dropped the cookie onto the counter and took the flowers.
Duncan was happy for his sister and hoped maybe she and Micah were finding their way back to each other after all these years. Her glare pierced through him, and he gave her a weak grin and walked to the back yard, leaving them alone.
He took his seat beside Dréa again, and she intertwined her fingers with his as she continued to chat with everyone. Duncan’s mind was not on what she was saying, though. He knew Shannon was right. He needed to be a stand-up guy and do the right thing. He needed to talk to Jamie, even though he really didn’t want to.
It had been excruciating seeing her Friday and then having her at the house today. All the feelings and emotions he’d pushed aside when he left for Denver came rushing back the moment she was standing in front of him again. All he had wanted was to stare into her eyes, to feel her arms wrapped around him. He nearly groaned aloud at his train of thought but caught himself.
If he was going to talk to Jamie, it would have to be in a public place—a park or the church, maybe. There was no way he could walk into her apartment again. He wasn’t sure he trusted himself to be alone with her.
When the conversation died down and the number of people in the yard dwindled, Dréa squeezed Duncan’s hand.
“Hey, are you okay?” she asked.
“Mhmm.”
Her eyebrows scrunched together. “I wish I could read you better. It’s one of the downsides of a short courtship.”
A little laugh escaped him. “Courtship, huh? Are we in a Jane Austen novel?”
“Don’t mock.” She poked his chest with her finger. “And who wouldn’t want to live in a Jane Austen novel?”
“Every guy on the planet.” He winked.
The concern on her face was not yet gone. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Yeah, I’m just tired. It’s been a busy day with lots of people around.”
“I thought you’d be used to that. It sounds like this is how it’s always been around here.”
“Sometimes, but I got used to the wide-open spaces in Colorado.”
“So, are you saying you’ll consider moving when we get married?”
His eyes met hers. As much as he enjoyed Denver and loved her family, he wasn’t sure how he felt about relocating permanently.
“I know we haven’t made a decision yet, but like I said before, your work is freelance. You can do it from anywhere. I have a job in Denver, one that I love.”
“I know.”
“I don’t want to take you far away from your family. They’re all so wonderful. But please, can we talk about it seriously? Because it’s a big decision.”
Duncan took her face in his hands. “I know it is.”
“And you don’t even own a place here. You’re still living at your parents’.”
His hands dropped into his lap. “Because I’m gone so much. It’s worked out fine so far.” He didn’t mean for his tone to sound defensive, but it seemed like a dig against his current living arrangement.
“I’m only saying that it’s easier for you to relocate. You don’t have a lease or a mortgage to worry about. Just consider it.”