Page 22 of Rescued Love

The pace of Sweetwater Valley is perfect for me. There’s a certain comfort in knowing the people around you and trusting them to have your back when you need it.

I clear my throat, my voice tentative as I try to avoid asking at Nathan directly, “How was it out at the sanctuary today?”

Ansel is looking at me curiously, but I don’t meet his gaze. Which probably only makes him more suspicious instead of less. Fucking hell.

“It was good. Nathan already had the stalls cleaned out in the barn,” Ansel adds on a muttered, “thankfully.”

Surprise fills me. Sure, Nathan might have been coming from the direction of the barn the other day, but his hands were so soft. It was hard to imagine him doing work with them. To find out that he’s been out there helping his grandfather makes something warm in the middle of my chest.

He was a royal asshole to me, no doubt, but he’s also helping someone who I look up to and try to help as much as I can myself. I can respect that while still thinking of the gloomy man as a dickwad.

I’m complex like that.

I force out a laugh along with a smile, both feel fake as hell. “Since you hate that job,” I tease my friend.

Dixon pipes up, “Who doesn’t?”

“It’s a necessary evil,” I point out.

Ansel drops his arm from around me and shifts slightly like he’s looking over my shoulder at something, but I don’t bother to turn around. Maybe he’s looking for someone to chat up. He’s not the kind of guy to do random hook-ups, never has been, but he’s had his fair share of girlfriends over the years. He’s been single for a while though and, honestly, it’s not the greatest look on him.

He’s the settle down kind of guy. Hell, he’s not even scared of commitment. I’m hoping someone comes along soon and puts him out of his misery. Whoever it is will be one lucky womanbecause he’s the kind of guy who will put his all into the relationship.

I can only hope she’ll appreciate him.

Ansel leans closer to me and murmurs softly, “What’s going on with you?”

Before I can acknowledge his words, Dixon grumps, “It might be necessary, but no one wants to shovel shit. Last time Ansel stuck me with the alpaca stall and those little demon pebbles have a way of sticking in my boot treads like none other.”

When I look over at him, he’s pouting slightly, and I genuine fucking amusement bubbles up inside of me. I throw my head back and laugh. Dixon smirks like he knows he just broke whatever momentary funk I was in.

Before I can tease him about needing to clean his boots, Ansel shouts, “Hey, man.”

A feeling of dread swamps me as I turn my head toward the entrance quickly. Nathan is striding our way, and I know, I just fucking know, the empty chair is for him. Ansel and Dixon invited him out tonight. It’s something they would do; and why wouldn’t they?

I’m sure if they knew he was an asshole to me just days ago that they wouldn’t have extended the invitation. But that would require me to tell them, and I didn’t. I figured I’d let Nathan blow into town and then right back out again.

Then, when the coast was clear, I’d go back out to Mr. Jacobson’s place. No one would need to be the wiser that his grandson was kind of a dick. There’s no reason to make waves like that.

Nathan’s eyes take in the table and then land on me. Guilt and something like remorse flash in his brown depths and cause an ache to throb in my chest.

Odd.

What the fuck is that?

I find myself rubbing the spot without thinking about it before shaking off the feeling.

Before I can even try and process that he’s here, he’s standing next to our table and his gaze shifts to Ansel and Dixon. He’s standing far too close to me. I can feel the heat coming from his body and it makes me want to curl up on his lap and snuggle in.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

I’m not snuggling with this man. Nope. Not happening. Not after the way he treated me without even knowing who I was or why I was there.

Assumptions aren’t a good look on a guy, and I don’t care how hot he is.

Nathan gives a slight chin lift to the guys, his voice deeper than I remember as he rumbles, “Hey guys. Thanks for inviting me out. I didn’t even realize how stir crazy I was getting out at the sanctuary.”

Ansel nods toward the chair, “No problem. Join us and I’ll introduce you.”