Page 33 of A Montana Secret Admirer (Sagebrush Ranch Sweethearts #4)

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

“There’s my favorite pretty lady.”

Serenity glanced up as she entered Horseshoe Antiques and smiled at Wendy. The girl was young and vibrant. She had a southern accent that put all southern belles to shame and at the same time made everyone feel welcome.

Wendy Scott was a ray of sunshine, and she’d become one of Serenity’s favorite people since they’d started working together.

Serenity moved around the back of the counter in the shop and put her purse on a shelf. Wendy leaned against the countertop and grinned. “So… you gonna tell me how it’s going?”

Tilting her head, Serenity bit back her smile and pretended to act like she didn’t know what Wendy was referring to. “I’m good. How are you doing?”

Wendy rolled her eyes then scrunched up her freckled nose. “Come on, you know what I’m talking about. It’s the only thing we discuss when you come into work.”

The laugh that threatened to be released almost hurt as Serenity forced it to remain in her chest. “I haven’t the slightest clue what you are referring to.”

“Serenity, you’re killing me. I don’t have any cute boys to talk about. I have to live vicariously through you and your not-so-secret secret admirer. It’s been three months. Give me something .”

Three months.

Sheesh, it really had been that long. While Serenity had refused to accept that she was in a sort of long-term relationship with Reese, that was kind of what had happened.

He called her every day to talk to her about…

everything. They’d exhausted topics like his coursework, her new job—though she hadn’t told him where her job was located—her children, and anything else they could think up.

Except the future.

Somehow, they’d managed to avoid speaking about what would happen when he came back. She wasn’t sure where she would be or if his feelings would change. It was her biggest fear. She didn’t like the idea of losing him because their chemistry had fizzled out.

So, they kept that side of things hidden in the back of their minds. Well, at least she did.

“Everything is… good,” Serenity said simply.

“Good? Just… good? Really, girl. I need more than that. Have you guys said the ‘L’ word yet?”

Serenity shook her head before turning her back to her friend and fighting a smile. This was the one thing Wendy couldn’t understand. She’d insisted that what Serenity had needed was to be secured, and what better way to do that than to tell Reese the truth?

Wendy groaned with an exaggeration that could only be hers.

The truth was, Wendy was probably right.

Serenity hadn’t told Reese she loved him. She knew she did, of course. But something continued to hold her back. Maybe it was the feeling that something like that needed to be said in person.

“He hasn’t said he loves me, either, you know.”

“Yeah, but he said it in that letter. Unless you’re lying about that.”

Serenity snorted. “I didn’t lie about the letter.”

“So, you know he loves you, and you haven’t said you love him back. How is that fair?”

She lifted a shoulder, hating the guilt that came with this line of questioning like it always did. “I don’t know that I’m ready.”

“But you do love him?”

“Of course I do.”

Wendy threw her hands into the air, and this time, Serenity laughed. “Then what’s the problem? You two have been doing this dance for three months. What do you think is going to happen when he finally does come home?”

“I don’t know.”

“Exactly. You don’t know. It’s gonna be awkward. You’re better off knowing how each of you feel before that happens, right?”

Serenity smirked at her friend. “You just want me to tell him I love him so you can get a vicarious shot of endorphins.”

“Is that so bad?” Wendy shot back. “I told you, I’m starved for something interesting to happen in town.” She gasped then, drawing Serenity’s total attention. “Did you hear about Leo Chambers? He’s the brother, right? Reese’s brother?”

Before Wendy uttered another word, Serenity knew where this was going. There was only one rumor going around about Leo, and it had to do with Kat—the woman who had come to supervise the build related to Jane’s charity. “Yes,” she drawled. “Leo is Reese’s brother.”

Wendy rounded the counter and got closer. “Is it true that he’s off the market?”

Serenity bit back a laugh. “You’re as bad as the rest of them. Maybe you need to pick up a book.” She gestured toward the shelves that lined the far side of the shop.

Wendy waved a dismissive hand. “I’ve read all of them already. I need something new.”

“Have you considered writing one?”

That caught Wendy off guard. She opened her mouth then shut it a couple times.

Her eyes locked with Serenity, and a smile spread across her lips.

“That’s actually not a bad idea.” Her finger tapped along her chin, and she let out a laugh.

“Not a bad idea at all. I bet I could write a doozy.” Then a frown touched her lips.

“What’s the matter?” Serenity asked as she started working on cataloguing the new wares they were to sell.

Wendy’s eyes rounded, then she turned abruptly so she didn’t meet Serenity’s stare.

“Wendy?” Serenity sang. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing,” Wendy said far too quickly.

“I don’t believe that for a second. What’s got you suddenly questioning if you can do this?”

Wendy flushed a deep red color and shook her head.

Serenity heaved a sigh. “Come on, you can tell me.”

Another shake of her head.

“I’ll figure it out eventually. You might as well spill,” Serenity insisted.

This time, Wendy faced Serenity, and the look on her face was almost hilarious. Her eyes darted all over the place before she finally said, “I’ve never had an actual boyfriend.”

Serenity’s mouth hung open. She couldn’t be serious. Not one boyfriend? “I thought you dated before. You’ve talked about them?—”

“Dated, yes. But I’ve never gotten serious. I don’t know what it’s like to be in a committed anything besides what my friends tell me and books I’ve read. How would I be able to write something I don’t exactly know anything about?”

Serenity stood frozen for a moment, then she let out a burst of laughter. “Do you think that anyone who’s written about dragons knows anything about them? Fiction isn’t real. It’s a fantasy—even romance novels. Write what makes you happy, and it will bring joy to others.”

Wendy’s lips pursed as she considered her advice. Then she nodded. “Yeah, maybe. Or maybe I need to do some hands-on research.” Her eyes met Serenity’s, and they both laughed at the implication of what she was saying.

She’d need to find a boyfriend first.

But the question was, would it be a real relationship, or would she go undercover? Serenity wouldn’t put it past Wendy to do the latter.

Thankfully, with Wendy’s attention on the idea of writing a novel, she was no longer pushing for details about Reese.

Or Leo, for that matter.

Christmas was right around the corner, and snow covered the ground outside. Serenity watched the flakes fall as she considered how much time she and Reese still had to go before he’d be back, and they could see if something would spark between them again.

Tegan asked about Reese a lot more lately, and occasionally, he wanted to speak to him on the phone. That gave her a little more hope that everything would work out when Reese came home for good.

The closer the holidays got, the more anxious she was becoming. If Reese came home to visit, she wasn’t sure she could see him without it hurting too much.

It was just one more selfish thought she hated about herself.

Wendy had moved to the bookshelf, and she was tapping her chin with her finger again as she considered the titles before her.

Something told Serenity that Wendy wouldn’t be worried if she was in Serenity’s position.

How could Serenity get to a point where she wasn’t terrified of the unknown? Of losing someone she had feelings for?

When she finally figured that out, maybe then she’d be ready to give her heart completely to Reese for good.