Second Chance at Sunflower Ranch (The Ryan Family #1)(4)

“Married? Kids?” Jesse asked.

“Was married. No kids. My wife died a while back, but I’m moving on a baby step at a time. I’m dating a really nice woman who works in pediatrics at the hospital. She can’t make biscuits and gravy like Pearl does, though.” Another wink.

Jesse almost sighed with relief. At least Grady wasn’t dating Addy.

“I’m so sorry to hear about your wife,” Jesse said.

“Thank you,” Grady replied. “You and Addy were best friends if I remember right. Bet y’all have got a lot of catching up to do.”

“Yep, we sure do.” Jesse shifted his focus over to Addy. Their eyes caught for a moment, and then she blinked and turned toward Mia.

“Before you start on the books, you should take care of your sheep and the alpacas. They’re your responsibility when you are home,” Addy said.

“I’ll start that tomorrow,” Mia said.

Her expression and tone reminded Jesse of a few recruits he’d gone through basic with—full of defiance and attitude.

“No, darlin’.” Addy smiled. “You’ll start right after breakfast.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Mia said with a head wiggle. Jesse was glad that he had never married and had kids if that was the way they acted.





Chapter Two



Addy thought she’d have another week to prepare herself before Jesse came home to Honey Grove. Seeing him there in the kitchen, with a chest that seemed to be an acre wide and his green eyes with those gold flecks, had left her speechless. She’d thought that twenty years would erase all those old feelings. But she still felt a thrill at seeing him.

Like “Delilah,” the song that Blake Shelton sang a few years ago, she thought. The lyrics said that she couldn’t blame anyone but herself because she never bothered to look at the best friend sitting right beside her. She’d been afraid to tell Jesse how she truly felt, and she’d paid the price.

Like always, Sonny said grace before they ate. As soon as he said “Amen,” Addy began to pass the food around the table.

“Jesse, I understand you were a medic in the Air Force,” Grady said as he helped himself to the scrambled eggs. “See much action?”

“Little bit,” Jesse answered.

Addy almost smiled. Jesse had never been a guy who talked a lot. He had probably exchanged more words with her than anyone else in the world. She wondered if he’d overcome the “man of few words syndrome” as she had tagged it when they were in high school.

“Any overseas? Did you ever run into Cody?” Grady asked.

“My brother and I were in different places. Haven’t seen him in almost two years now. We all made it home for Thanksgiving a couple of years ago. He couldn’t get away last fall,” Jesse answered.

Addy was surprised that he had answered with more than a simple yes or no. She could feel Jesse’s eyes on her, but she couldn’t look right at him again.

Stop it! she scolded herself. You’ve got to live on the same ranch with him, so you can’t avoid him forever.

Her hands trembled as she took a biscuit from the platter and sent them on to Sonny. “Mia and I will be glad to move out into the bunk house, and let you have your old room back.”

“Oh, no!” Pearl shook her head. “The whole reason we hired you full time was so you’d be right here close by if I need you to help with Sonny.”

“I’m glad to unload my stuff in the bunk house,” Jesse said. “As kids, us boys couldn’t wait to grow up and get to live out there. Last time all three of us were home, we stayed out there. I got to admit, it wasn’t as glamourous as we thought it would be, but it will suit me just fine.”

The only time he said more than a couple of words was when he was nervous. Despite her resolve not to look at him, she stole a quick glance across the table and caught his eye again. Just like old times when they didn’t even need words, she could actually feel his angst. Was it because seeing her affected him as much as seeing him did her?

“Well, you got the bunkhouse all to yourself unless Cody makes up his mind to come home,” Sonny said.

“Has he mentioned that kind of thing?” Grady asked.

“I can hear it in his voice when he calls us,” Pearl answered. “He’s weary with that way of life.”

“With Addy and Mia’s help and the locals that we hire from town during busy times, we don’t use the bunkhouse anymore,” Sonny said. “You might have to chase out some spiders and mice and talk your mother out of some linens. No one has stayed out there since you boys were all home the last time.”

Addy felt her cheeks burning at the thought of what had gone on in that bunkhouse twenty years ago. She and Jesse had been emotional about him leaving Honey Grove, and she had cried, and…

The blush deepened, and she shook the memory from her mind.

“Great!” Mia said. “I didn’t want to move out there anyway, and I doubt that Jesse would feel comfortable in a bedroom that’s painted lavender. Mama loves that shade of purple.”

“I remember,” Jesse said softly.

Addy wondered if he remembered anything else about that night. She had spent endless nights staring out the bedroom window at the bunkhouse in the distance and reliving that night she and Jesse had spent in the bunkhouse.