Ignite (Cloverleigh Farms #6)(89)

She nodded, closing her laptop. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“Thank you, but I don’t think that will help. I just need to move on.” I wiped my nose with the back of my knuckles.

“I know that feeling.” Her smile was sympathetic. “Easier said than done, isn’t it?”

I took a shaky breath. “Yes. I don’t have good control of my feelings.”

Sandra laughed gently and nudged her tissue box closer to me. “Oh my goodness, honey. Does anyone?”

“Most people have more than I do. I have a history of falling hard and fast for the wrong guys.”

“I was that way too. And then I finally found the one that deserved me.”

“I’m working on that.” I blew my nose. “But what’s so great about this feeling that I keep going after it?”

She smiled again. “When you find the right person, you’ll know the answer to that. Don’t give up on love, Winnie.”

I grabbed another tissue. “This guy is a single dad, and I got to know his girls a little bit. They asked to see me while I’m home this weekend. I said yes, but now I don’t know if I should. It’s going to be hard to keep it together.”

“Just remember that you’re stronger than you think.” She paused. “And also that he’ll be really sorry someday. Does he honestly think he’ll find someone better?”

I smiled. “Thanks. But he’s pretty set on remaining alone for the rest of his life.”

“Ah. He’s that guy.” She nodded knowingly and leaned back in her chair. “I was married to that guy for twenty years. Trust me on this. He’s probably stewing in a big pot of misery right now.”

I shrugged. “Hard to say for sure. He’s pretty spare with his feelings in his texts.”

“Listen, if you decide to see him, make sure you wear something amazing, just to rub it in a little. He deserves it.”

That made me laugh. “Okay.”

“And when you get back, let’s get you out and about. I know some nice young guys I’d be happy to introduce you to.”

The idea had less than zero appeal, but I tried to smile and nod. “That would be nice. Thanks.”





Thursday evening, I called Ellie while I was packing. After going over some details for the wine tasting, I told her I was seeing Dex and the girls on Sunday.

“You are?” She sighed. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

“The kids asked to see me! How could I say no?”

“I guess you couldn’t. I saw him the other day.”

I gasped. “Where?”

“The dentist, of all places. In the waiting room. He was there with the kids.”

“How did he look?”

“Grumpier than usual.”

“Did he recognize you? Say hello?”

“He gave me a grunt and a nod.”

I smiled sadly. “Sounds about right.”

“So you’re meeting for coffee?”

“Yeah.” I stared at the clothing in my closet. “Sandra says to wear something amazing.”

“Do it. Make him crazy.”

“But it’s cold there, right? I don’t think I own any make-him-crazy sweaters and jeans. He used to like the skimpy stuff.”

“You know what? It’s not the clothes, Win. It’s you. It won’t matter what you wear. Show up and just be yourself—that’s who he fell in love with, right?”

“I guess.” I pulled a dresser drawer open and took out the white sweater I’d been wearing the last time I saw him. It was soft and cozy and oversized—I wore it when I wanted to hide from the world, not when I wanted to set it on fire.

But I folded it up and tucked it into my suitcase. It wasn’t tight or revealing or the slightest bit sexy, but it was comfortable and warm, and I felt like me in it.

If plain old me wasn’t enough for him, there was nothing I could do about it.





Twenty-Seven





Dex





Friday afternoon, I pulled into the complex parking lot and noticed an unfamiliar car in Winnie’s driveway. At first, I assumed it was the real estate agent or maybe someone looking at the place, but then I saw Winnie herself come out the front door and check the mailbox.

My breath caught, and my heart hammered in my chest. My foot slammed on the gas, my tires screeching as I swerved into my driveway. I didn’t even pull into the garage, and I nearly forgot to turn off the engine as I jumped out and ran for her front porch.

Her eyes went wide as I raced up the steps, and she backed up against the door, hugging the mail to her chest. “Dex. Hi.”

“Hi.” Breathless, full of pent-up feelings for her, my entire body vibrated with the need to touch her. My hands twitched at my sides. “Did you just get in?”

“Yes.” Her eyes glanced at the strange car in her driveway. “I borrowed my mom’s car to run by and grab the mail and just, um, check on things here.”

I nodded, although I barely heard a word she said. She was so fucking beautiful. It had only been two weeks since I’d seen her, but it felt like she’d been gone for a year. How had I forgotten the midnight blue of her eyes or the gold in her hair or the way her cheeks grew pink when she looked at me?