Page 35 of Hogging the Hunk
The piglet’s tiny tail shook every time I scratched her between the shoulder blades and I wondered what I’d do with the creature. Obviously, it would come home with me tonight while I taught it to bottle feed. After that? Maybe Maren would adopt it.
Thinking about Maren automatically springboarded me into a pool of thoughts about Beckett. I might drown in them and I did not care.
“You were ticked that Ronald was talking about Beckett the way he was.”
There was no point in denying what Bonita already knew. If I wasn’t throwing her a thousand clues by my behavior, she also had access to Button Blossom’s gossip chain through all the organizations and clubs she belonged to. The women of Button Blossom could knit infant hats and running collections for the county food pantry while unearthing juicy secrets at the same time. They lived in a real life serialized drama, and they relished it.
As a bachelor, I was aware I was one of those topics.
Beckett was another.
In their minds, it was only simple math.
“Standing up for someone doesn’t equate feelings for them,” I protested.
“Keep telling yourself that if you want. As I said, there’s no shame in pursuing your own happiness. Even Ellie knows that you’ve noticed Beckett. She’s told me so.”
My blood flow came to a sloshing halt. I had been so careful to conceal the confusion I had about Beckett. Ellie had made it clear what she expected, and that meant no dating for me.
For now.
“This all sounds like wishful thinking. Beckett’s an exceptional woman. Other than being neighborly when we see each other, I’m not chasing her.”
Strolling into the room, Bonita’s eyes twinkled. She wasn’t convinced. “Neighborly?” Bonita snorted. “You know my husband and I grew up across the street from one another, right? I know all about being neighborly with a cute boy. It led me to the altar. Thirty-three years of marriage and four children later, we’re still being neighborly.”
Placing the piglet, who seemed to be in excellent health, other than a lower than normal body temperature and an empty belly, back in her heated box, I rummaged through the cabinets until I found a stash of new towels. Despite trying to train my mind on the task at hand, I kept picturing Beckett across the street in her tiny RV, trying to dry herself after her dalliance in the rain with paper towels. I’d show Bonita that I could be courteous and considerate without losing my heart to Beckett.
“I can be neighborly without it turning to romance.” Straightening my shoulders to defy Bonita, I headed for the front door.
“Uh huh.” Bonita rolled her eyes so hard they were in danger of dislodging themselves. “Where are you going now?”
“I’m going to go offer this to Beckett. She probably has limited supplies in her clinic.”
Bonita clapped and giggled. “Go. Ride to Beckett’s aid in your lab coat armor and your truck for a steed.”
Taking a page from Ellie’s tactics, I lightly scoffed. “She has to be dripping wet after taking her sign inside. I’m being courteous.”
“That’s very thoughtful of you. Go do that,” Bonita said, slinking away like Aspen, only steadier on her feet. “All I want is an invitation to the wedding when it happens.”
Chapter Ten
Beckett
“Are you molding?” Granny asked, poking her finger toward my cheek.
I deflected her hand. “No. It’s a face mask.”
She studied me over the rims of her glasses like I was a new species. “Made out of the algae that grows on the pond?”
“No. Green tea and charcoal.”
“You look like a swamp monster’s cousin.” Granny grinned when Maren attempted to conceal a snort by tucking her chin into her chest. “What’s that fancy stuff supposed to do?”
Raising myself to my full height, I ignored their derision. I couldn’t help it if they weren’t up-to-date on self-care. “This combination helps detoxify the skin, though there are all sorts of them. Soothing dry skin, reducing swelling, preventing wrinkles. Maybe you ought to try one of those.”
My teasing made Granny scoff. “These creases aren’t going anywhere. I hate to break it to you, but cracks and crevices on your face are a part of life. If you’re lucky, you won’t escape them. It means you lived a long, full, interesting life. Why is everyone trying to pretend like they’re younger than they are?”
“I refuse to shrivel up like a prune because I wasn’t careful with the skin I have.” I poured myself a mug of apple cider and popped it into the microwave to heat it up. Winter weather had invited itself early, and was as welcome as an obnoxious uncle who told inappropriate jokes and ate all the best pies at a family reunion. “I have no problem with maturing. It just doesn’t need to be hurried along by sunburns and toxins.”