“For you?”
She nodded. They’d reached the front of the line, and she unloaded her basket for the checkout clerk.
“And?”
“He wants to pursue things. Seriously. Even back home.”
“And?”
“And it won’t work, obviously.” Surely her friend understood all the reasons that idea was a nonstarter.
“You think the boys would be upset?”
She nodded.
“They’re adults, Maria.” Kit rolled her eyes and swiped her credit card to pay for the items. “They need to get over themselves.”
Maria held in a painful breath.
They had gotten over Roy and Sophia, but how often did they get together with their dad? Not regularly. Roy might be okay with that, but Maria wanted to see her boys as often as possible, even though they were all grown up.
And if her actions upset them while they were all living on the same ranch, how would that go? Not well. And not worth it.
“Do you need me to call Levi?” Kit began fishing in Maria’s pocket and she laughed and stepped out of reach.
“I’ll do it, you know,” Kit threatened, taking the shopping bag. “You deserve love. Anyway, they’re probably just not used to the idea of you with someone else. Or, for that matter, their mom wanting and needing love.” They headed out the door into the afternoon warmth, where the smell of ocean salt filled the air. “How did they react to Roy and Sophia?”
Maria shrugged. “Okay.”
“Are you too afraid to demand the same level of respect from them?”
“It’s different.”
“Bull crap. That thinking keeps women in their place.” They moved across the parking lot to Kit’s car. “Go find Clint. Kiss him. See what happens. Let the future in. And you know what I always say about the future.”
“What?”
“It’s in the future. Don’t worry about it.”
Maria just shook her head.
“I’m serious. Quit being a chicken and go.” Kit gave her a push as though she had a destination in mind.
“Go to Clint?”
“Yes.”
“And do what?”
“What I just told you to do.” Kit unlocked her driver’s-side door, then opened it with an exasperated flourish.
“Now?”
“Now.”
“I don’t know.”
Kit tossed the bag of supplies onto the passenger seat. “Since when has Maria Wylder been afraid of anything? Those boys can handle more than you realize. Quit babying them and go get your life back. Starting with that man who makes you light up every time you think of him.”
She got into the car and let down the passenger-side window. Maria tried the door. Still locked.
“I’m sorry, but you need some tough love right now, sweetie.” Kit gave her a forgive-me smile and put the car in gear. “You can thank me later!”
Maria, too stunned to do anything, watched as her friend drove away.
Chapter 7
“Kit says I need to get my life back.”
There was a moment of silence on the other end, and Maria wondered if her cell phone had lost its connection to Clint’s. She supposed, though, there wasn’t much of a reply to that statement. It also wasn’t much of a conversation opener when you were calling someone you’d just fled from.
Did she really light up every time she thought about Clint, as Kit had said? She checked her reflection in the craft store window. She was smiling.
He’d made a grand proclamation she couldn’t handle. One that had been completely over the top for this stage of their relationship, and her best friend had just driven off and left her in the middle of town.
And she was smiling.
She needed to get her head checked.
Finally, Clint made a sound on the other end of the line, letting her know he’d heard her statement about needing to reclaim the interests in her life.
“She left me outside the craft store.”
He made another small sound of acknowledgment.
“I’m sorry I ran out of the condo.”
“You know you’re important to me, right?” he said at long last. She didn’t answer, and he added, “And I understand that it scares you.”
It did. It scared her a lot, but she couldn’t figure out why.
No, she knew. She feared he would sweep her into his world, she’d fall in love, wrap her life around his, and then he’d leave. One day… he’d just go. Like her dad had. Like Roy had.
There had been signs, of course, but with her father she’d been too young to understand what they’d meant. With Roy she hadn’t believed he’d truly leave after all they’d been through together.
“I want to date you even when we go home, and our real lives intrude and everyone gets nosy and interferes,” Clint said. His voice was gentle, but firm. He knew what he wanted with such certainty. But how long would it last? How long before it changed into something resembling apathy?
She made a small sound.
“Did Kit really leave you at the craft store?”
“She was instituting tough love, apparently.”
He chuckled.
“She told me to reclaim my life.” She sighed, shaking her head at the moving clouds above.
“Sounds like that could get epic. Where are you?”
“Downtown. I can walk back to the condo.” It would probably take her half an hour, but she’d walked farther and in worse weather.
“I know a guy with a scooter. He could swing by and pick you up.”
She hesitated. She wasn’t sure if he meant himself or not.
“It’s me, Maria,” he said, laughter in his voice, as though he was sensing her doubts. “I’m the guy with a scooter.”
“I knew that.”
“Be there in five?” The question in his voice warmed her.
Was that why she’d called him? For a rescue? Or had it to do with that something that made her smile when she thought of him? That something she couldn’t seem to escape, even when she tried to run from it.
“That would be nice,” she said.
She ended the call, wishing they had more time in Indigo Bay to sort things out. They had only a day and a half left, and that wasn’t long.
What would they do? Could they bring this home to Sweetheart Creek like he believed? Before she could sort out her thoughts, the scooter glided up in front of the craft store, Clint looking like a hero on his robin’s egg colored machine.
“It’s blue!” she said, grinning. It looked good. Fresh, bright and retro. The thing had adventure and fun stamped all over it.
“One more coat of blue to go, then a clear one and it’s done.”
“But you’ll dirty it driving around town. You’re going to have to clean it again.”
He gave a small nod.
“I could have walked.”
“When are you going to learn you’re important to me?” he asked, handing her a helmet. “Everything that’s important to you is important to me.”
“Everything?” she joked, reaching for it. He didn’t let go until she looked up, met his eyes.
“Every little thing,” he said with emphasis, warming her from the toes upward.